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8
CHAPTER 1 Intel Express 100BASE-TX Switching Hub
Cabling Requirements
Incorrect cabling is often the cause of network configuration
problems. It’s important that you understand cabling requirements
before connecting Fast Ethernet devices to the switch.
UTP requirements
The 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet specification requires you use
Category 5 (CAT5) unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling to operate
at 100 Mbps per second. If you use lower grade cabling (CAT3 or
CAT4), you’ll get a connection, but will soon experience data loss or
slow performance.
You’re limited to 100 meters between any two devices with UTP
cable. However, you can extend the total diameter by installing a fiber
optic media adapter and using fiber optic connections between
switches, or between the switch and a router or bridge.
See pages 10–11 if you’re unsure whether your network topology
meets these distance limitations.
Fiber optic requirements
The optional 100BASE-FX fiber optic media adapter (Intel product
code ESMODFX) lets you use multimode fiber optic cable to connect
two switches, or to connect the switch with a router or bridge. The
media adapter uses an SC fiber optic connector.
With multimode fiber optic cable, signals can travel up to 412 meters
with no repeater when the link is configured at half duplex. If
configured at full duplex, the signal can travel up to 2 km.