Installing and Configuring 10/100Base-TX/9000
Compatibility and Installation Requirements
Autonegotiation and AutosensingAutonegotiation is a mechanism defined in the IEEE 802.3u specification whereby devices sharing a link segment can exchange information and automatically configure themselves to operate at the highest capability mode shared between them.
Autonegotiation is like a rotary switch that automatically switches to the correct technology such as 10Base-T or 100Base-TX or between half- and full-duplex modes. Once the highest performance common mode is determined, auto-negotiation passes control of the link to the appropriate technology, sets the appropriate duplex mode, and then becomes transparent until the link is broken.
Following is the IEEE 802.3u-defined hierarchy for resolving multiple common abilities for a 10/100Base-TX card. The HP-PB 10/100Base-TX/9000 product provides the means for interfacing various types of HP 9000 workstations to either a 10Base-T or 100Base-TX network. 100Base-TX is a subset of 100Base-T networking defined by the IEEE 802.3u-1995 standard. 100Base-TX provides 100 Mbit/s data transmission over category 5 unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cable. Two pairs of wires in the cable are used—one wire pair is for receiving data, and one wire pair is for transmitting data. The same card port that supports 100Base-TX operation can also support 10Base-T operation.
•100Base-TX half duplex
•10Base-T full duplex
•10Base-T half duplex
•100Base-TX full duplex
For example, if both devices on the link support 10Base-T (half duplex) and 100Base-TX (half duplex), autonegotiation at both ends will connect the 100Base-TX (half duplex) instead of the 10Base-T (half duplex).
Most Fast Ethernet devices on the market today such as hubs and switches do not support autonegotiation. Either the speed and duplex mode of the device are fixed (as is usually the case with hubs), or they are often manually configured at the desired speed and duplex (as is often the case for switches). However, switches that support autonegotiation are starting to be offered.
If the HP-PB 10/100Base-TX/9000 card is connected to a device, such as