Linksys EF3508, EF3512 manual Appendix a Twisted-Pair Cabling, Tips on Switching Your Network

Instant EtherFast® Series

Tips on Switching Your Network

Tips on Switching Your Network

Here are some of the ways the new EtherFast® 8-Port or 12-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch can help you optimize your network speed.

• Speed up Nodes from Your 10BaseT Network

In a 10BaseT network, connect your hubs, file servers, and key users, such as network administrators, directly to your Switch to channel dedicated bandwidth in full-duplex mode (if operating in full-duplex) to each station. The Switch will have dedicated communication with all its connections simultaneously, whereas a hub will only communicate in half-duplex transfer mode and broad- casts information to all ports.

• Conserving Bandwidth with 10Mbps, 100Mbps and 1000Mbps Segments

10BaseT and 100BaseTX hardware are not readily compatible, but the Switch can designate network segments of different speeds. This allows you to run one 100Mbps segment to serve users without a need for considerable speed, and a faster 1000Mbps segment devoted to users who depend heavily on graphics, multimedia, database, or other speed-intensive applications. With switched segmentation, your 1000Mbps users will not be slowed down by the users on the 10/100Mbps segment.

• Run 10/100Mbps Peripherals in a 1000Mbps Network

Most of the network peripherals in place today run at 10/100Mbps, since 100BaseTX has been the standard network speed to date. These peripherals, designed to operate at 100Mbps, cannot readily communicate with 1000BaseTX equipment. A 10Mbps interface is also required for cable and DSL connections, which are quickly becoming very popular ways to access the Internet. The Switch provides your 10BaseT equipment and cable and DSL lines with a 10Mbps interface while still running your Fast Ethernet devices at 100Mbps or your Gigabit devices at 1000Mbps.

• Strengthen Data Transfers through Signal Regeneration

The Switch functions as a repeater, which regenerates data signals as they pass through it. This feature acts as a safeguard to deter data loss and ensure that transmissions arrive at their destination intact. Switches positioned between hubs can preserve your data’s integrity and eliminate your need to buy and use repeaters in your Fast Ethernet or Gigabit network.

EtherFast® 8-Port and 12-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switches

Appendix A: Twisted-Pair Cabling

There are different grades, or categories, of twisted-pair cabling. Category 5 is the most reliable and is highly recommended. Straight-through cables are used for connecting computers to a hub or switch. Crossover cables are used for con- necting a hub or switch to another hub or switch (there is an exception: some hubs and switches have a built-in uplink port that is crossed internally; this allows you to link or connect hubs or switches together with a straight-through cable instead).

You can buy pre-made Category 5 or 5e cabling, or cut and crimp your own. Category 5 or 5e cables can be pur- chased or crimped as either straight- through or crossover. Inside a Category 5 or 5e cable are eight thin, color-coded wires that run from one end of the cable to the other. All eight wires are used. In a straight-through cable, wires 1, 2, 3, and 6 at one end of the cable are also wires 1, 2, 3, and 6 at the other end. In a crossover cable, the order of the wires change from one end to the other: wire 1 becomes 3, and 2 becomes 6. See the diagrams on

the next page for more detailed information on straight-through and crossover cabling.

To determine which wire is wire number 1, hold the cable so that the end of the plastic RJ-45 connector (the part that goes into a wall jack first) is facing away from you. Face the clip down so that the copper side faces up (the springy clip will now be parallel to the floor).When looking down on the cop- per side, wire 1 will be on the far left.

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