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Fast
Ethernet
For Ethernet networks that need higher transmission speeds,
the Fast Ethernet standard (IEEE 802.3u) has been
established.
This standard raises the Ethernet speed limit from 10
Megabits per second (Mbps) to 100 Mbps with only minimal
changes to the existing cable structure. There are three
types of Fast Ethernet: 100BASE-TX for use with level 5 UTP
cable, 100BASE-FX for use with fiber-optic cable, and
100BASE-T4 which utilizes an extra two wires for use with
level 3 UTP cable.
The 100BASE-TX standard has become the most popular due to
its close compatibility with the 10BASE-T Ethernet standard.
For the network manager, the incorporation of Fast Ethernet
into an existing configuration presents a host of decisions.
Managers must determine the number of users in each site on
the network that need the higher throughput, decide which
segments of the backbone need to be reconfigured
specifically for 100BASE-T and then choose the necessary
hardware to connect the 100BASE-T segments with existing
10BASE-T segments. Gigabit Ethernet is a future technology
that promises a migration path beyond Fast Ethernet so the
next generation of networks will support even higher data
transfer speeds.
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