Chapter 8 Full-Duplex Fast Ethernet Network Requirements; 100Base-Tx; Cable Type - Cabletron Systems 100BASE-FX Cabling Manual

Full-Duplex Fast Ethernet Network
Requirements
This chapter provides test parameters and specification requirements for Full-Duplex Fast Ethernet
network cabling.

100BASE-TX

All Cabletron Systems 100BASE-TX products require that installed facility cabling
and cable hardware meet the following minimum specifications. If a network
cabling installation is not within the limitations presented here, the operation of
the 100BASE-TX products may be affected.
It is important to remember that full-duplex Fast Ethernet operation requires
dedicated single links from one port of a Fast Ethernet switch to another Fast
Ethernet switch or a Fast Ethernet workstation. If both endstations are not capable
of full-duplex operation, a standard Fast Ethernet link will be automatically
established.

Cable Type

100BASE-TX network operations are more demanding than those of standard
Ethernet, and high-quality cables are required. The 100BASE-TX specification for
Fast Ethernet networks requires UTP cabling meeting Category 5 specifications.
Categories of UTP cabling below Category 5 may not meet the quality
requirements of the networking specification, and may therefore be unable to
meet the tested characteristics listed below.
The Category of cabling used in a network installation is dependent upon all the
components that make up the cabling run. If an installation utilizes Category 5
cabling, and the wallplates and patch panels to which that cabling is connected
are Category 3 compliant, the cable does not meet the EIA/TIA end-to-end
specifications for a Category 5 installation.
Chapter 8
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