D-Link DFE-690TXD Product Manual - Page 5

Section 1 - Product Overview About Fast Ethernet Fast Ethernet is a network technology specified by IEEE Standard 802.3u. It extends the traditional 10Mbps (10 megabit/ sec) Ethernet technology to achieve 100Mbps (100 megabit/sec) transmission and reception. Because Fast Ethernet retains the traditional Ethernet CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense, Multiple Access, and Collision Detect) protocol, it remains wholly compatible with 10Mbps Ethernet while providing a tenfold increase in network capacity. The Fast Ethernet standard specifies three subtypes, corresponding to three media types: • 100Base-TX (using two twisted pairs in EIA 568 Category 5 UTP or STP cable) • 100Base-T4 (using four twisted pairs in a Category 3, Category 4, or Category 5 UTP cable) • 100Base-FX (using two fiber-optic strands) The DFE-690TXD provides full-duplex and half-duplex 100Base-TX operation (in Category 5 twisted-pair cable environments). It does not provide 100Base-T4 or 100Base-FX operation. To provide for traditional 10Mbps Ethernet operation in twisted-pair cable environments, the DFE-690TXD also offers 10Mbps Ethernet operation, in full-duplex and half-duplex modes. The DFE-690TXD's auto-negotiation capability provides for automatic selection of the best operation mode. D-Link DFE-690TXD User Manual