IBM 72X8017 8-Bit ISA Baseline Network Card 2x RJ-11 PS/2 Token Ring 1987

IBM 72X8017 8-Bit ISA Baseline Network Card 2x RJ-11 PS/2 Token Ring 1987

The IBM 72X8017 is an 8-bit ISA network interface card from IBM's Baseline Network Card line, dating from 1987. It features two RJ-11 connectors configured for IBM PS/2 Token Ring network connections, and fits into the 8-bit ISA slots found on IBM PCs and compatibles of that era. The card carries PCB markings P/N 72X8017, EC A49861 9400, and CS 05M 52220.

Specifications & What's Included

• Part Number: 72X8017
• EC: A49861 9400
• CS: 05M 52220
• Bus Interface: 8-bit ISA
• Network Type: Token Ring
• Connectors: 2x RJ-11 (PS/2 Token Ring)
• Form Factor: Half-height ISA expansion card with full-height bracket
• Manufacture Date: 1987
• Multiple ICs and memory chips visible on PCB; main controller chip present (markings not fully legible in photos)
• Card only — no cables, drivers, or documentation included

Applications

The IBM Baseline Network Card was designed for use in IBM PC, XT, AT, and PS/2-compatible systems running IBM's PC LAN Program or compatible Token Ring network software. Token Ring was IBM's primary local area networking standard through the late 1980s and into the 1990s, competing with Ethernet before Ethernet ultimately became the dominant standard. These cards connected workstations to IBM Token Ring networks at 4 Mbps using shielded twisted-pair (STP) cabling terminated with RJ-11 or DB-9 connectors. Today, cards like this are sought by collectors and enthusiasts restoring vintage IBM PC or PS/2 systems, as well as researchers and museum curators preserving early IBM networking infrastructure. They are also occasionally used in legacy industrial and institutional environments that still operate original Token Ring infrastructure.