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Power Computing provided the information in this article and it was deemed accurate as of 14 November 1997. Apple Computer, Inc. is not responsible for its content. This article is being provided as is and will not be updated in the future.
DISCUSSION The following is a FAQ prepared by Asante technical support. How do I migrate to 100 Mbps with the AsantFAST 10/100 adapter? ---------------------------------------------------------------- You can use the AsantFAST 10/100 adapter torun at 10BASE-T speed. Later, when you are ready to upgrade to 100 Mbps (100BASE-T), you will not need to change your network adapter or any driver or software configuration. The driver will run at 10 or 100 Mbps. You will only need to swap out the 10BASE-T hub to a 100BASE-TX hub (such as the AsantFAST 100 hub). What type of wiring plant must I have when connecting my AsantFAST10/100 adapter? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For 100BASE-TX operation you must have Category 5 UTP which is a two pair "unshielded twisted pair" cable for data grade (EIA 568 Category 5) transmissions. For 10BASE-T operation, two pair Category 3 UTP is suitable. Can I use Category 5 STP (shielded twisted pair) for my 100 Mbps transmissions? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes, this type of cable is acceptable. What will happen if I plug a 100BASE-T4 cable into my AsantFAST 10/100 adapter? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The adapter will not get link integrity and will not connect to the hub because the AsanteFAST 10/100 adapter uses 100BASE-TX technology. The adapter will detect a technology mis-match using NWay auto-negotiation and cease communication until it is connected to a 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX hub. What is the major difference between 10BASE-T and 100BASE-T technology? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Mainly speed. 100BASE-T is running 10 times faster than 10BASE-T. Otherwise, 100BASE-T uses the exact same Ethernet MAC (Media Access Control) mechanism, packet format, packet length, error control, and management information as 10BASE-T. Why should I buy a 100BASE-T hub or adapter when ATM technology is available now? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The standards for ATM technology to the desktop still have not solidified, plus the price per port is substantially higher than Asant Fast Ethernet products. What is 100BASE-T4? ------------------- It is an IEEE 802.3u physical layer specification for 100 Mbps Ethernet over four pairs of Category 3, 4, and 5 UTP wire. Does 100BASE-T follow the same CSMA/CD protocol as standard Ethernet? --------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes, 100BASE-T networks follow the same CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection) protocol as that of standard Ethernet. This means a network that contains both 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX nodes can transfer data between them without any protocol translation. What types of connectors are used with the AsantFAST 10/100 adapter? --------------------------------------------------------------------- The only type of connector used to connect to a Fast Ethernet hub is a RJ45 jack which supports the 100BASE-TX connection. What is Auto-negotiation? ------------------------- *To allow the two ends of a network connection to signal their capabilities and agree on a method of communication. Using this technique, a 10/100 card can decide what kind of hub it is attached to. *To help a network card identify a connection it does not recognize. The network card will then avoid crashing the service using the connection. When will the IEEE 802.3u standard be completed? ------------------------------------------------ The draft standard has received approval by the IEEE Committee and is now an official standard. Can I use coax cable with 100BASE-T? ------------------------------------ No, 100BASE-T has three physical layers, none of which support coaxial media. Why is full duplex Ethernet important? -------------------------------------- Full duplex will allow 100BASE-T to be built in larger topologies avoiding the need for mixed technology such as ATM or FDDI. Is 100VG-AnyLAN a standard Fast Ethernet technology? --------------------------------------------------- In the past, 100VG-AnyLAN was advertised as Fast Ethernet but it does not implement true Ethernet CSMA/CD but another type of MAC (media access control) method called Demand Priority Access Method (DPAM). The 100VG-AnyLAN technology is similar to Token Ring or FDDI than Ethernet. How many different types of Physical connections are supported by the IEEE 802.3u specifications? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are three: *100BASE-TX for a two pair system that requires data grade (EIA 568 Category 5) UTP or STP cabling *100BASE-T4 for a four pair system that can use both voice and data grade UTP cabling (Category 3, 4 or 5) *100BASE-FX for a two strand fiber system What are the different ways to connect Fast Ethernet to Ethernet? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fast Ethernet can be connected to Ethernet through the use of a bridge, router or switch. Most major switch and router vendors will offer support for Fast Ethernet in the very near future. Another quick-and-dirty way to connect Fast Ethernet is to use the router software included with most network file servers, such as Novell NetWare and SUN Sparc stations. Just install a Fast Ethernet card in the server and configure the router software. Machines Affected: All |
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