We manufacture and markets a full line of Media Independent Interface (MII) and Fast Ethernet cables and accessories: MII Cables
MII Transceivers
100Base-TX Two Pair Category 5 Cables
100Base-T4 Four Pair Category 5 Cables
100Base-FX Multimode Fiber Cables
Please E-mail or Call our Expert Technical Support with your Specific Requirements.
Introduction to 100BASE-T Fast Ethernet Cabling
Cabling specification 100Base-TX
Cable type Category 5 UTP (uses two pairs) or IBM Type 1 STP
Advantages Full-duplex mode offers 200-Mbps transfer
rate; requires only two pairs.
Disadvantages Patch panels and jumper blocks must be rated for
Category 5.
Cabling specification 100Base-T4
Cable type Category 3, 4, or 5 UTP (uses four pairs)
or IBM Type 1 STP
Advantages Operates on virtually any existing twisted-pair
cabling; adapters are less expensive.
Disadvantages Requires four pairs of cabling; cannot support
full-duplex operation.
Cabling specification 100Base-FX
Cable type Multimode fiber (uses one pair of 62.5-/125-
micron fiber)
Advantages Allows for extended distances between devices;
immunity to electromagnetic interference;
added security; uses same cabling as FDDI.
Disadvantages Connectors are more expensive than copper
alternatives.
Migration Strategies
Today there are many networks based not only on twisted-pair cabling, but also on thin-coaxial cabling
with BNC connectors. Clearly, there must be a strategy that will allow today's networks to smoothly migrate to Fast Ethernet.
Many companies want to protect their investment in the cabling and connectors they've already installed. These companies should consider auto-sensing network adapters for their workstations.
Such adapters can be used today for 10-Mbps Ethernet (either coaxial or UTP), and they can be used in the future for 100-Mbps Fast Ethernet. Such auto-sensing cards allow workstations to automatically
switch to Fast Ethernet (when, for example, the servers and repeaters are upgraded) without the need for a LAN administrator to pop open each PC on the network and reconfigure DIP switches on the
adapter card.
For those who are ready to install Fast Ethernet today -- and need to do so gradually and keep some
10-Mbps devices -- a number of options exist. Perhaps the simplest is to install a Fast Ethernet adapter in the existing server, alongside the 10-Mbps Ethernet adapter, and use this connection to
support a Fast Ethernet repeater and workstations.
The Fast Ethernet standard is designed to provide flexible solutions for a wide variety of cabling
situations. With the availability of 10/100 adapters, 10/100 adapters with BNC/coaxial support, and 10/100 switches, organizations should be able to migrate in a manner of their choosing.
|
