Fast Ethernet Workgroup Design 7-7
Fast Ethernet
Abstracting the Design Process
As the Fast Ethernet switch selection field, shown in Table 7-2, contains only one
device, the amount of decision-making remaining in the design process after the
decision to use the Fast Ethernet technology is minimal. Due to the fact that the
FN100-TX series is available with either eight or 16 switch interfaces and front
panel ports that use either UTP or multimode fiber optic media, there are a few
design issues left where decisions have to be made.
Media
To date, there are two media options available for Fast Ethernet networks: UTP
and multimode fiber optics. The selection of a particular media for a Fast Ethernet
network implementation must be accomplished before any hardware selection
has been done. This is so the network radius and segment length calculations may
be made and checked against the allowable maximums of the Fast Ethernet
technology.
Port Count
As Fast Ethernet switches are not as easily expanded to accommodate new
connections as stackable hubs are, it may be wise when designing a Fast Ethernet
workgroup to provide extra connections. This kind of forethought can save the
cost of purchasing another standalone device to provide network access to just
one more station in the future.
Design Example
As an example of a high-end department implementing a Fast Ethernet network
solution, let us examine a university mathematics lab consisting of 14
high-performance workstations which handle complex calculations and perform
a variety of networked applications, including imaging, estimation, and series
sorting. All of these stations are to be configured to connect to the Fast Ethernet
network using Category 5 UTP cabling.
All of the stations in the laboratory have been determined to lie well within the
maximum network radius of a Fast Ethernet network. The Network Designer
plans to use switched Fast Ethernet as a networking technology, and intends to
connect this workgroup to the campus network through a fiber optic Fast
Ethernet connection to the facility hub, which handles all connections to the
campus backbone network.