User manual

M-FE116NA-1 QCARD
LAN workstations. If your network is migrating from 10 to 100 Mbps, you can
switch and route data from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps without protocol translation
and its associated delays. Fast Ethernet is based on the proven CSMA/CD
Media Access Control (MAC) Protocol.
The most popular cabling scheme in an Ethernet network today is star-wired
topology, where the hub is in a central wiring closet and individual cables run
out to each tabletop device. This topology is the same topology used by Fast
Ethernet, although the maximum allowable network diameter is smaller because
of the increase in packet speed.
Cable Guidelines for Fast Ethernet
Fast Ethernet uses UTP cable, as specified in the IEEE 802.3u standard for
100BASE-T. The specification recommends Category 5 UTP cable consisting of
either 2-pair or 4-pair twisted insulated copper conductors bound in a single
plastic sheath. Category 5 cable is certified up to 100 MHz bandwidth.
100BASE-TX operation uses one pair of wires for transmission and the other
pair for receiving.
When installing Category 5 UTP cabling, use the following guidelines to ensure
that your cables perform to the following specifications:
• Certification
Make sure that your Category 5 UTP cable has completed the Underwriters
Laboratories (UL) or Electronic Testing Laboratories (ETL) certification
process.
• Termination method
To minimize crosstalk noise, maintain the twist ratio of the cable up to the
point of termination; untwist at any RJ-45 connector or patch panel should
not exceed 0.5 inch (1.5 cm).
Cable Lengths for Fast Ethernet
Category 5 distributed cable that meets ANSI/EIA/TIA-568-A building wiring
standards can be a maximum of 328 feet (100 m) in length, divided as follows:
• 20 feet (6 m) between the hub and the patch panel (if used)
• 295 feet (90 m) from the wiring closet to the wall outlet
• 10 feet (3 m) from the wall outlet to the desktop device
The patch panel and other connecting hardware must meet the requirements for
100 Mbps operation (Category 5). Workmanship quality is a must. Only 0.5 inch
(1.5 cm) of untwist in the wire pair is allowed at any termination point.