Linksys EF4124 User Guide - Page 5

Chapter 2 Chapter 2: Installation Planning Your Network Building a Fast Ethernet network involves a few more topology rules in addition to 10BaseT network rules. These rules specify distance limitations and cabling specifications. Data loss, collisions, and other network problems causing down time are likely to result if the rules below are not followed. •• Use UTP Category 5 (EIA 568B, Cat 5) ethernet cabling with four twisted-pair wires and RJ-45 tips for all Fast Ethernet connections. •• Use the chart below to position any switches, hubs and workstations. From To Max. Distance Switch Switch or Hub* 100 meters Hub* Hub* 5 meters Switch or Hub Workstation 100 meters *Hub refers to any type of 100Mbps hub, including regular hubs and stackable hubs. A 10Mbps hub linked to another 10Mbps hub or a 10/100 hub can span up to 100 meters (328 feet). •• No more than two hubs should be uplinked in a row in a Fast Ethernet network. 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, an Ethernet Switch acts as a repeater, regenerating data signals before passing them on to the next device. Hubs cannot act as repeaters. Installation Configuration A shows one possible way to set up an Ethernet Switch in a Fast Ethernet environment. Note that an Ethernet Switch requires UTP Category 5 network cabling for all its 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, an Ethernet Switch optimizes data traffic by switching the data packets to their destination through the quickest route possible, which improves performance up to 80% even on the faster 100Mbps network segment. Configuration A EtherFast® 16-Port and 24-Port 10/100 Ethernet Switches 2