Netgear SW510 Installation Guide - Page 37

Appendix C Ethernet and Cabling Guidelines This appendix provides information about Ethernet technology and specifications for cables used with the Model SW510 and Model SW518 Ethernet switches. Ethernet Technology When 10BASE-T technology was originally introduced, multiple repeaters were frequently used to build large networks. To increase the number of connections, repeaters were connected together because individual repeater port densities were often limited to 8 to 24 ports. As structured wiring systems were implemented, horizontal wiring from the wiring closet to the desktop was designed for a maximum distance of 100 meters. Stackable repeaters eliminated the need for collision domains to extend over multiple repeater hubs. The 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet technology maintains the same concepts as the 10BASE-T technology. Both use the same Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) and Media Access Control (MAC) protocols. Both 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Ethernet use the same type of Ethernet frame and error detection mechanisms. They also support the same star topology using traditional media types and are manageable by the same network management protocols. The most fundamental difference between the two technologies is that 100BASE-TX operates 10 times faster than traditional 10BASE-T. The 100BASE-TX technology was developed to support the new paradigm and, by using switching technology, can provide for the following four distinct levels of service: • 10BASE-T dedicated bandwidth of 10 Mbps • 100BASE-TX dedicated bandwidth that equals 100 Mbps • 100BASE-TX shared bandwidth that equals 100 Mbps • 10BASE-T shared bandwidth of 10 Mbps Ethernet and Cabling Guidelines C-1