Choosing The Correct Fiber Cables - 3Com 3C17708-US - Switch 4050 Getting Started Manual

30 C 2: I
HAPTER NSTALLING THE
Choosing the correct
Fiber cables
S
WITCH
The Auto-MDIX feature only operates when auto-negotiation is enabled.
If auto-negotiation is disabled, all the Switch ports are configured as
MDIX (cross-over). If you want to make a connection to another MDIX
port, you need a cross-over cable. Many ports on workstations and
servers are configured as MDI (straight-through). If you want to make a
connection to an MDI port, you need to use a standard straight-through
cable. See Table 7.
3Com recommends that you use at least Category 5 twisted pair cable —
the maximum segment length for this type of cable is 100 m (328 ft).
Table 7 Cables required to connect the Switch 4050/4060 to other devices if
auto-negotiation is disabled
Switch to Switch
(MDIX to MDIX)
Switch to Hub
(MDIX to MDIX)
Switch to PC (NIC)
(MDIX to MDI)
CAUTION: If you want to install the Switch using a Category 5E or
Category 6 cable, 3Com recommends that you briefly connect the cable
to a grounded port before connecting network equipment. If you do not,
the cable's Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) may damage the Switch's port.
You can create a grounded port by connecting all wires at one end of a
UTP cable to an earth ground point, and the other end to a female RJ-45
connector located, for example, on a Switch rack or patch panel. The
RJ-45 connector is now a grounded port.
Choose from the following cable options:
The 1000BASE-SX ports can be connected to multimode fiber cables
only.
The 1000BASE-LX and LH70 ports use multimode or single-mode fiber
optic cables.
Cross-over Cable Straight-through Cable