Abstract: A network for personal computers includes a network arbiter (10) disposed centrally with respect to a plurality of network stations (12), (14), (16), and (18). Each of the network stations (12-18) includes a personal computer (20), a network peripheral (24) and an interface (22). Each of the interfaces (22) interfaces with the arbiter (10) through a communication link. Each of the network stations has associated therewith a network program (82) that is operable to be executed by a central processing unit (56) in the background to an application program (80). Each of the network programs (82) has associated therewith at the network station a network status memory (86). When information is generated that is to be sent to a network peripheral, an interrupt program (92) interrupts output data from the application program (80) and controls the central processing unit (56) to output the data on a line (94) to the network interface (22). This data is then routed to the arbiter (10) along the line (98).