21 Categorize LAN technology types
802.3 define the media access method that is used in an Ethernet network. It is a popular network standard that is used in networking environments. Along with understanding the various technology types, it is important to understand the standards mentioned in this particular standard for a Network Administrator.
Ethernets
- 10Base2: 10Base2 is defined as part of the IEEE 802.3a standard. The specifications of 10Base2 are:
|
Characteristic |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Speed: |
10Mbps |
|
Total Segment Length |
185 meters |
|
Cable Type |
RG-58 Coaxial Cable ' |
|
Connector |
Bayonet Neill Concelman (BNC) |
|
Transmission Method |
Baseband |
It is prescribed that of each segment one of the physical end is grounded. The network permits a maximum of five segments out of which only three are allowed to be populated with an upper limit of 30 nodes. It is also required that a distance .5 meters be observed between two nodes
- 10BaseT: This standard specifies an Ethernet network using an unshielded twistedpair cable. Shielded twisted pair is recommended in cases where interference and attenuation have to be dealt with more proactively. The specifications are:
|
Characteristic |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Speed: |
10Mbps |
|
Total Segment Length |
100 meters |
|
Cable Type |
Category 3,4 or 5 UTP or STP |
|
Connector |
RJ-45 |
|
Transmission Method |
Baseband |
For extending the length of the segment, repeaters can be used. Using multiple wires that are inside a twisted pair cable, independent transmissions are created for transmitting and receiving data. This allows a full duplex mode to be optionally supported. It can support a large number of computers on its network. The number that can be supported is 1,024. Point-to-Point network design is used. It forms a star topology as one end of the connection is plugged into the card and the other to a hub or a switch.
Fast Ethernet
Gone are the days when even a speed of 10 Mbps was considered fast enough. Businesses demand for more throughput than made available by the above discussed. To meet the needs of speed Fast Ethernet is being preferred as a network design over others. The standards pertaining to Fast Ethernet are specified in the IEEE 802.3u. Discussing these standards in detail:
- 100BaseTX: It is one of the three mentioned under 802.3u standards. The characteristics of this standard are:
|
Characteristic |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Speed: |
100Mbps |
|
Total Segment Length |
100 meters |
|
Cable Type |
UTP or STP |
|
Connector |
RJ-45 |
|
Transmission Method |
Baseband |
It maintains separate paths for transmitting and receiving data and hence supports full duplex operation.
- 100BaseT4: It is the second standard prescribed under this specific category. Its characteristics are:
|
Characteristic |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Speed: |
100Mbps |
|
Total Segment Length |
100 meters |
|
Cable Type |
Category 3,4 or 5 |
|
Connector |
RJ-45 |
|
Transmission Method |
Baseband |
It uses all the four pairs of wires that are available in the cable. For this reason its transfer is limited to full duplex. The usage of this is not very common.
- 100BaseFX: It is the third of the standards in this category. It is the standard prescribed for running Fast Ethernet over fiber-optic cable. Its characteristics are:
|
Characteristic |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Speed: |
100Mbps |
|
Total Segment Length |
412 meters (multimode, half duplex), 2 kilometers (multimode, full duplex), 10,000 meters (single mode, full duplex) |
|
Cable Type |
Fiber Optic 5 or higher |
|
Connector |
SC, ST |
|
Transmission Method |
Baseband |
Gigabit Ethernet:
The changing needs of businesses and communication are asking for even faster networks. This has led to a boost to the development of Gigabit Ethernet. It has the potential of 1000Mbps bandwidth and can be used over both fiber as well as copper-based media. The standards include:
- 1000BaseX: It is a collection of the following three standards-
- 1000BaseLX: It is a laser standard used over fiber. The LX in the name refers to long wavelength laser. It can be set up over 62.5 micron as well as 50 micron fiber optic cables. It supports the use of single mode fiber. It can achieve greater distances. Its characteristics are:
|
Characteristic |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Transfer Rate |
1000 Mbps |
|
Distance |
Half Duplex 275 meters, Half Duplex 316 meters, Full Duplex 275 meters, Full Duplex 550 meters |
|
Cable Type |
UTP or STP |
|
Connector Type |
Fiber Connectors |
|
Transmission Method |
Baseband |
- 1000BaseSX: It is also a laser standard used over fiber. The SX in the name refers to the short wavelength laser. This can also be set up over 62.5 micron as well as 50 micron fiber optic cables like LX. It is less expensive than LX and its characteristics are:
|
Characteristic |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Transfer Rate |
1000 Mbps |
|
Distance |
Half Duplex 316 meters, Full Duplex 550 meters, Full Duplex 5000 meters |
|
Cable Type |
62.5/125, 50/125 multimode fiber, Two single mode optical fibers. ' |
|
Connector Type |
Fiber Connectors |
|
Transmission Method |
Baseband |
- 1000BaseCX: This standard uses shielded copper wire. The segment lengths are highly restricted and the maximum cable length than can be supported is 25 meters. Its characteristics are:
|
Characteristic |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Transfer Rate |
1000 Mbps |
|
Distance |
25 meters for both full duplex and half duplex |
|
Cable Type |
Shielded copper cable |
|
Connector Type |
9 pin shielded connector |
|
Transmission Method |
Baseband |
- 1000BaseT: This is also referred to as 1000BaseTX standard. It is given the
designation of IEEE 802.3ab. It permits full duplex transmission that uses the four pairs of the twisted cable. Its characteristics are:
|
Characteristic |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Transfer Rate |
1000 Mbps |
|
Distance |
100 meters |
|
Cable Type |
Category 5 or better |
|
Connector Type |
RJ-45 |
|
Transmission Method |
Baseband |
10 Gigabit Ethernet
The hunger for faster data transmission pushes to technology to the next level after every few years. The level of 10 Gigabit Ethernet also known as the 10GbE is the latest in this league and included in the IEEE 802.3ae standard. Data is transmitted at a speed of 10 gigabits per second in these standards. 10 Gigabits=10,000Mbps, which means these standards are 100 times faster. There are numerous versions like 10GBaseSR/SW, 10GBaseLR/LW, and 10GBaseER/EW available in this particular standard.
- 10GBaseSR/SW: 10BaseS is a part the IEEE 802.3ae 10 Gigabit Ethernet specifications. It is used for transmission on multimode fiber. There are two Ethernet standards that fall under the S category. These are 10GBaseSR and 10GBaseSW. Both the standards are for short wavelength multimode fiber. The distance for both the categories is between 2 meters to 300 meters. The SR version is used over dark fiber (unlit fiber) whereas the SW version uses SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) equipment. The SW version is used for longer distance communications.
- 10GBaseLR/LW: These standards cover a greater distance with single mode fiber rather than multi mode fiber. Both the versions are designed for long-wavelength single-mode fiber. As a result, the distance over which it allows transmission varies from 2 meters to 10 kilometers. This range makes the standard suitable for LAN, WAN and MAN setups. The LR standard uses the dark fiber whereas the LW standard connects using SONET equipment.
- 10GBaseER/EW: This standard is used for wide area networks requiring transmissions to be done over greater distances. Both versions are brought into work with extra long wavelength single mode fiber. The distance that this standard allows to be traversed is between 2 meters to 40 kilometers. The ER version is set up with dark fiber and EW with SONET equipment.
The characteristics of the entire group are summarized as:
|
Fiber |
62.5 micron MMF |
50 micron MMF |
SMF |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SR/SW |
Up to 33 meters |
300 meters |
Not used |
|
LR/LW |
Not used |
Not used |
10 kilometers |
|
ER/EW |
Not used |
Not used |
40 kilometers |
10GBaseT:
This standard is specified in 802.3an Ethernet standard. It provides 10 Gigabit speed on regular copper cable. It permits a network to upgrade from 1000 gigabit to 10 gigabit network, with the current wiring infrastructure. The characteristics of this particular standard are:
|
Characteristic |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Transfer Rate |
10 Gigabit |
|
Total Distance/Segment |
100 meters Category 6a cable, 55 meters Category 6 cable |
|
Cable Type |
Category 6, 6a UTP or STP |
|
Connector Type |
RJ-45 |
|
Transmission Method |
Baseband |