3Com 100BASE-T4 User Manual

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3Com 100BASE-T4 User Manual
100BASE-T4 and 100BASE-TX
Fast Ethernet solution for UTP cabling
Introduction
As the use of high performance PCs and
servers and high-bandwidth applications
increases, the use of high throughput
networking grows. The most popular method
for high performance PC and server
connections is 100BASE-T Fast Ethernet.
Fast Ethernet provides a high performance
solution at a low cost and simple integration
with 10BASE-T Ethernet.
With broad usage of Fast Ethernet products
has come the need to support a broader
range of network cabling types. Many
100BASE-T Fast Ethernet Cabling
Standards Overview
100BASE-T Fast Ethernet is an IEEE
802.3 international standard for Ethernet
at 100Mbps. Fast Ethernet utilizes the
same protocol (CSMA/CD Media Access
Control) as standard 10BASE-T Ethernet.
This high speed performance along with
3 cable type specifications (100BASE-TX,
100BASE-T4, 100BASE-FX) allow
100Mbps connections across most
types of network cabling
100BASE -T4 (see diagram)
The 100BASE-T4 specification defines
100Mbps Ethernet transmission across
Category 3, Category 4, or Category 5
UTP cable at distances up to 100 meters.
100BASE-T4 uses 4 pairs (8 wires) in
the wire bundle.
100BASE-TX (see diagram)
The 100BASE-TX specification defines
100Mbps Ethernet transmission across
Category 5 UTP cable and Type 1 STP
cable at distances up to 100 meters.
100BASE-TX uses 2 pairs (4 wires) in the
buildings contain unshielded twisted pair
(UTP) wiring which was installed many
years ago. While the majority of desktop PC
connections are made with Category 5 UTP
(data grade UTP) cabling, many connections
are made with Category 3 or Category 4
UTP (voice-grade UTP) cabling.
3Com now provides a complete set of
products which support 100Mbps Fast
Ethernet on Category 3, Category 4, or
Category 5 UTP cable.
wire bundle. Most 100BASE-TX products
support category 5 UTP cabling only.
100BASE-FX (see diagram)
The 100BASE-FX specification defines
100Mbps Ethernet transmission across
62.5/125 micron multimode fiber at
distances up to 412 meters (distances up
to 2 K supported with full duplex 100BASE-
FX). 100BASE-FX uses 2 strands of multi-
mode fiber.
Applications
Management
CSMA/CD MAC
MII Interface
Customer Choice
Fiber
(100BASE-FX)
Two-Pair
Category 5 UTP ,
STP (100BASE-TX)
Fast Ethernet Physical Layer (PHY) Options
Four-Pair
Category 3,4, 5 UTP
(100BASE-T4)