3Com 10/100BASE-T4 A

ACABLING

This appendix discusses the following topics:

■Adapter cabling requirements

■Twisted-pair cable and the EIA/TIA cable categories

■10BASE-T operation and speciﬁcations

■100BASE-T speciﬁcations, including 100BASE-TX,

100BASE-T4, and 100BASE-FX

■Pin assignments for the RJ-45 connector

Adapter Cabling Requirements

When properly connected to a 10BASE-T network, the

Fast EtherLink 10/100BASE-T4 PCI adapter operates in 10BASE-T

mode and requires standard 10BASE-T cable topologies and

types, including 2 pairs of Category 3, 4, or 5 UTP for 10 Mbps.

When properly connected to a 100BASE-T4 network, the

Fast EtherLink PCI adapter operates in 100BASE-T4 mode and

requires 4 pairs of Category 3, 4, or 5 UTP for 100 Mbps.

In either case, the cable, quality, distance, and connectors must

comply with the EIA/TIA 568 “Commercial Building Wiring

Standard” and the Technical Services Bulletin TSB38 standards.

The maximum UTP cable distance is 100 meters (330 feet) at

either speed.

Contents

Main 3Com Corporation 95052-8145 Santa Clara, California 5400 Bayfront Plaza L ARRANTY W Page C ONTENTS 4 A B C D F IGURES T ABLES A How to Use This Guide Introduction UIDE Conventions The following tables list text and icon conventions that are used throughout this guide: 1 Page Adapter Features PCI Technology 2 Inspecting the Adapter Installing the Boot PROM Installing the Adapter Connecting to the Network Page Page 3 D Summary of Driver Loading Procedures Using the EtherDisk Diskette Accessing DOS Using Windows 95 Page The next dialog box conrms that the adapter is working properly. Using NetWare ODI One Adapter in a Client Page Using NetWare ODI 3-7 Figure 3-1 AutoLink Information Screen Figure 3-2 Main Menu MAIN MENU Multiple Adapters in a Client Page Page One or More Adapters in a Server Loading NDIS Drivers Updating NDIS Drivers Auto Select Media Type Transcend PC Link SmartAgent Driver Agents Desktop Management Interface 4 TROUBLESHOOTING AND D IAGNOSTIC T Troubleshooting with the Diagnostic Tests Before Running the Tests Types of Tests Starting the Diagnostic Program Running the Group 1 Tests Running the Group 3 Test Page Page Getting Help If a Test Fails Page Changing the Test Setup Miscellaneous Checks LEDs A Adapter Cabling Requirements Twisted-Pair Cable 10BASE-T Operation 10BASE-T Specications 100BASE-T Standard 100BASE-TX Operation 100BASE-T4 Operation 100BASE-FX Operation A-6 APPENDIX A: CABLING RJ-45 Connector Pin Assignments Figure A-1 shows the RJ-45 connector pin assignments. Figure A-1 RJ-45 Connector Pin Assignments B S Changing Software Settings Page Page Page C Adapter Specications Power Requirements Network Interface Physical Dimensions Environmental Operating Range D On-line Technical Services 3Com Bulletin Board Service World Wide Web Site 3ComForum on CompuServe 3ComFacts Automated Fax Service Support from Your Network Supplier Returning Products for Repair G Page Page Page Page I Numerics A B C D E F G H O P Q R S W