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10/100 Workgroup SwitchesInstant EtherFast
®
Series
2
Hardware Installation
Planning Your Network Layout
Building a Fast Ethernet network involves more topology rules in addition to
the 10BaseT network rules. These rules specify distance limitations and
cabling specifications. Data loss, collisions, and other network problems
causing down time are likely to occur if the rules below are not followed.
• Use UTP Category 5 (EIA 568, Cat 5) Ethernet cabling with four pairs of
wires and RJ-45 tips for all Fast Ethernet connections.
• Use the chart below to position your switches, hubs and workstations.
*Hub refers to any type of 100Mbps hub, including regular hubs and stackable hubs. A
10Mbps hub connected to another 10Mbps hub can span up to 100 meters (328 feet).
• No more than two hubs should be uplinked in a row in a Fast Ethernet net-
work. A set of stacked hubs, which must be stacked with a stacking cable,
counts as one hub or node on the network.
• In Fast Ethernet networks, your 10/100 Switch acts as a repeater, regenerat-
ing data signals before passing them on to the next device. Passive hubs do
not function as repeaters.
From
Switch
Hub*
Switch or Hub
Switch or Hub*
Hub*
Workstation 1
Maximum Distance
100 meters (328 feet) 1
5 meters (16.4 feet) 1
100 meters (328 feet) 1
To
Configuration A shows one possible way to set up an EtherFast Switch in a
Fast Ethernet environment. Note that the Switch requires UTP Category 5
network cabling for all its Fast Ethernet connections, like all Fast Ethernet
network hardware.
All of the workstations below can access all resources on the network -
10Mbps users can access the 100Mbps nodes, and vice versa. While allowing
the 10Mbps and 100Mbps segments to communicate, the Switch optimizes
data traffic by switching the data packets to their destination through the
quickest route possible, which improves performance, even on the faster
100Mbps network segment.
Configuration A
(EZXS16W shown)