3Com 7600 manual Fast Ethernet

11-2CHAPTER 11: ETHERNET LANS AND BRIDGES IN THE 7600 CARD

	Figure 11-1Ethernet LAN (Ethernet Segment)
Fast Ethernet	Fast Ethernet is a new LAN technology that uses the same CSMA/CD
	transmission method as the basic 10 Mbps Ethernet LAN described in the
	previous section but all timing parameters are increased by a factor of 10.
	In addition, it supports a full duplex mode as described below.
	Fast Ethernet uses the same types of hub-and-spoke topologies used by
	10BASE-T Ethernet, the dominant form of 10 Mpbs networking in use
	today. It uses the same types of wiring, the same software protocols and
	is supported by a large number of the same vendors. In short, 100BASE-T
	provides a non-disruptive, smooth evolution from current 10BASE-T
	Ethernet to high-speed 100 Mbps performance.
	The packet format, packet length, error control and management
	information in 100BASE-T are practically identical to those in Ethernet. To
	higher layers of software, 100BASE-T appears indistinguishable from
	regular Ethernet. All the popular protocols like TCP/IP, as well as
	applications, work on Fast Ethernet, only faster.
	Network managers benefit substantially from the unchanged protocols;
	they can understand and deploy Fast Ethernet with minimal additional
	training.

Capabilities The Fast Ethernet ports of the 7600 Card have the following capabilities:

QAuto-negotiation

QFull/half duplex transmission mode