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7
Chapter 1 Introduction
Fast Ethernet Technology
The growing importance of LANs and the increasing complexity
of desktop computing applications are fueling the needs for high
performance networks. A number of high-speed LAN
technologies are available to provide greater bandwidth and
improve client/server response times. Among them, Fast
Ethernet, also known as 100Base-T, provides the smoothest
migration path for the current 10Base-T technology. The non-
disruptive and smooth evolutionary nature of Fast Ethernet, plus
its prevailing market acceptance, guarantees it as the most cost
effective and high-performance networking solution of the future.
100Base-T networks essentially look and act like 10Base-T
networks, only faster (see Table 1-1, page 8). 100Base-T
provides 10 times the performance of 10Base-T while retaining
most of the same cabling rules and the CSMA/CD media-access
method. 100Base-T also uses the same packet format, packet
length, error control and management information as 10Base-T.
As such, 100Base-T is recognized as the true and rightful heir of
10Base-T.
For flexibility, the 100Base-T specification contains three
different cabling schemes, 100Base-TX (Cat 5 UTP), 100Base-T4
(Cat 3,4 or 5 UTP) and 100Base-FX (fiber optic). 100Base-TX is
probably the most popular choice since it enables users to retain
their existing 10Base-T cabling infrastructure and easily migrate
to Fast Ethernet.