Intel 100BASE-TX manual Network Topology Extensions

A P P E N D I X B 100BASE-T Topology Rules and Guidelines

This table lists the maximum diameter of Class I repeater collision domains when copper, fiber, and mixed copper and fiber media types are used:

Repeater	Copper	Fiber	Multiple	Multiple
Model	links	links	copper links	copper links
	only	only	(TX) & one	(T4) & one
			fiber link (FX)✝	fiber link (FX)
Class I repeater	200 m	272 m	260.8 meters	231 meters
between two			(100 m TX and	(100 m T4 and 131
devices			160.8 FX)	FX)

✝In a 100BASE-TX/FX environment: If you have multiple fiber links of equal lengths and multiple balanced 100 meter UTP links connected to the 100BASE-T Hub, the maximum distance of each balanced fiber link is 136 meters. The fiber lengths are limited to comply with worst case path requirements.

Make sure you calculate each path in your 100BASE-T network to ensure the path falls within round trip collision delay requirements.

Network Topology Extensions

You can extend the network topology by connecting repeaters to different internetworking devices using different media types.

In the next illustration, the network topology is extended to a maximum of 400 meters. In this network, a LattisSwitch switching hub interconnects two separate repeater stacks to form two separate collision domains. Since each Category 5 copper link, from workstation to repeater, and repeater to switch, does not exceed 100 meters, the collision domains do not exceed 200 meters. Integrating the switch into the network to form two collision domains of 200 meters extends the network topology to 400 meters.

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