Specifications
Ethernet 10BASE-T and Fast Ethernet 100BASE-TX Overview
PA-12E/2FE Ethernet Switch 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Port Adapter Installation and Configuration
1-6
Ethernet 10BASE-T and Fast Ethernet 100BASE-TX Overview
The term Ethernet is commonly used for all carrier sense multiple access/collision detection
(CSMA/CD) local-area networks (LANs) that generally conform to Ethernet specifications,
including IEEE 802.3 and Fast Ethernet under IEEE 802.3u.
Ethernet, IEEE 802.3, and IEEE 802.3u are broadcast networks, which means that all stations see all
transmissions. Each station must examine received frames to determine whether it is the intended
destination and, if it is, pass the frame to a higher protocol layer for processing.
Stations on a CSMA/CD LAN can access the network at any time. Before sending data, the station
listens to the network to see if it is already in use. If it is, the station waits until the network is not in
use, then transmits. A collision occurs when two stations listen for network traffic, hear none, and
transmit simultaneously. When this happens, both transmissions are damaged, and the stations must
retransmit. The stations detect the collision and use backoff algorithms to determine when to
retransmit.
The 12E/2FE port adapter supports the Ethernet, IEEE 802.3, and IEEE 802.3u specifications for
10-Mbps and 100-Mbps transmission over UTP cables.
IEEE 802.3 10BASE-T and IEEE 802.3u 100BASE-TX Specifications
Table 1-3 lists the cabling specifications for 10-Mbps transmission over UTP cables.
Table 1-3 Cable Specifications for 10-Mbps 10BASE-T
Table 1-4 lists the cabling specifications for 100-Mbps Fast Ethernet transmission over UTP cables.
Table 1-4 Cable Specifications for 100-Mbps 100BASE-TX
Parameter RJ-45 Connector
Cable specification Category 5 UTP
1
, 22 to 24 AWG
2
1 Cisco Systems does not supply Category 5 UTP cables; these cables are
available commercially.
2 AWG = American Wire Gauge. This gauge is specified by the
EIA/TIA-568 standard.
Maximum segment length 328 ft (100 m) for 10BASE-T
Maximum network length 656 ft
3
(200 m) (with 1 repeater)
3 This length is specifically between any two stations on a repeated segment.
Parameter RJ-45 Connector
Cable specification Category 5
1
UTP
2
,22to24AWG
3
1 EIA/TIA-568 or EIA-TIA-568 TSB-36 compliant.
2 Cisco Systems does not supply Category 5 UTP; these cables are
available commercially.
3 AWG = American Wire Gauge. This gauge is specified by the
EIA/TIA-568 standard.
Maximum cable length –
Maximum segment length 100 m (328 ft) for 100BASE-TX
Maximum network length 200 m (656 ft)
4
(with 1 repeater)
4 This length is specifically between any two stations on a repeated
segment.