3Com Switches/Hub manual Fast Ethernet

O F F I C E C O N N E C T ® SWITCHES AND HUBS

Fast Ethernet

Fast Ethernet is based on the Ethernet standard yet runs at 10 times the speed (100 Mbps). It is now one of the most popular high-speed technologies because of its cost effectiveness, stability, and compatibility with existing Ethernet LAN environments. Fast Ethernet switching allows dedicated performance between two devices.

The total length of cable (A+B+C below) between two workstations and a nonrepeater piece of equipment (such as a switch) must not exceed 205 m (672 ft). Each cable (A, B, or C) must not exceed 100 m (328 ft).

3Com recommends using Category 5 cables and that the cable (B) between the Fast Ethernet hub is not longer than 5 m (16.4 ft). This allows the maximum hub-to-workstation cable length (A or C) of 100 m (328 ft) to be used, as shown.

100 Mbps link

Switch

A

	Example:
			100 m
			(328 ft)
station		station
Work		Work
				5 m
	B			(16.4 ft)
ub		ual	Speed
H	C
		D	8
		ub
		H
	ub			Mbps
	H		100
			hub
		station
	Work

	These rules do not
	apply to Fast
	Ethernet switches.
	You can connect
	as many
	OfficeConnect
	switches together
100 m	as your business
(328 ft)	requires.

station Work

3