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11

EtherFast

®

16-Port and 24-Port 10/100 Ethernet Switches

Appendix B: About Fast Ethernet

Standard 

Ethernet

has been the most popular networking technology during

this past decade, with a maximum data throughput of 

10Mbps

.  But this

Ethernet speed standard has fallen out of favor as today’s massive graphics,
multimedia, and other data-intensive applications have magnified the problem
of lagging network speed. 

Fast Ethernet

now dominates as the most viable and economical solution to

resolve the problem of network speed over all other market alternatives.
Capable of sending and receiving data at 

100 Mbps

, its bandwidth more than

accommodates even the most intensive real-time applications.

Also known as 

100BaseTX

, Fast Ethernet supports high speed signaling and

gives users an efficient and affordable solution for upgrading their present net-
work to the upcoming standard speed of 100Mbps.  100BaseTX data packet
lengths and formats are transmitted over two pairs of UTP Category 5 cabling,
just like the 10BaseT system.  It also uses identical data error control and man-
agement information as 10BaseT transmission.  

Because Fast Ethernet is based on similar technology as standard Ethernet, the
issue of migrating from 10Mbps to the higher Fast Ethernet speed of 100Mbps
requires virtually no effort with the right piece of equipment.  All it takes is an
Ethernet Switch to coordinate your network hardware, and you’re ready to run
a top-notch system.   

An Ethernet Switch boosts your network performance several times over, con-
serving your time, money and resources.  The scalability of an Ethernet Switch,
its full duplex data transfer and dedicated bandwidth, all contribute to maxi-
mizing efficiency in your Fast Ethernet network. 

History of Fast Ethernet

Switches versus Hubs

A Fiber Module’s LED Display has two LEDs: the Link/Activity (

Link/Act

)

LED and the Full Duplex/Half Duplex (

FDX

) LED.  See the chart below to

find out what the status of each LED denotes. 

Instant EtherFast

®

Series

10

Changing connectors must be done professionally with the proper tools.  If
this is your first time working with fiber, consult a networking professional
who is familiar with fiber.

Reading a Fiber Module’s LED Display

Front Panel LED Displays

LEDs

Status

Network Status

Link/Act

Solid light

Connection Established

Transmitting/Receiving

Color

Green

LEDs

Blinking light

FDX

Solid light 

Yellow

Full duplex transfer mode

The fiber module does not autosense, so you must set it to run at either
full or half duplex.  Prior to installing the fiber module into the expansion
port, use the jumpers on the card as shown in Figure A-1.  

Figure 2-2

No light

Half duplex transfer mode

Summary of Contents for EtherFast EF3116

Page 1: ...Instant EtherFast Series Use this guide to install EF3116 EF3124 EF4116 and EF4124 User Guide EtherFast 16 port and 24 port 10 100 Ethernet Switches ...

Page 2: ...UMENTATION Linksys makes no warranty or representation expressed implied or statutory with respect to its products or the contents or use of this documentation and all accompanying software and specifically disclaims its quality performance merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose Linksys reserves the right to revise or update its products software or documentation without obligation ...

Page 3: ...anced switching technology the EtherFast 10 100 Ethernet Switches will boost your network performance with much more than just full duplex data transfer and dedicated bandwidth They feature non blocking wire speed switching that forwards packets as fast as your network can deliver them Also included are Address Learning and Aging to prevent data transfer errors and Data Flow Control to help preven...

Page 4: ...ps hub or a 10 100 hub can span up to 100 meters 328 feet No more than two hubs should be uplinked in a row in a Fast Ethernet net work A set of stacked hubs which must be stacked with a stacking cable counts as one hub or node on the network In Fast Ethernet an Ethernet Switch acts as a repeater regenerating data sig nals before passing them on to the next device Hubs cannot act as repeaters From...

Page 5: ...s are available at most computer retail stores Connecting PCs Connect your PCs to an Ethernet Switch s ports with straight through UTP Category 5 cabling Plug the other end of the Cat 5 cable into your PC s net work adapter Connecting to Other Switches Hubs Bridges and Repeaters Each port on an Ethernet Switch can also be used to uplink to another switch hub bridge or repeater serving as an uplink...

Page 6: ... equipment and cable and DSL lines a 10Mbps interface while still running your Fast Ethernet equipment at 100Mbps Strengthen Data Transfers Through Signal Regeneration An Etherfast 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 positio...

Page 7: ...ews for securing the fiber module to the Switch in step 4 3 Slide your fiber expansion module into the Switch The module should fit snugly into the Switch s expansion port 4 Secure the fiber module with the screws from the faceplate You may now remount the Switch into its rack if needed then reconnect the AC power cable to power on the Switch and resume normal operation 5 Install your multimode fi...

Page 8: ...s to the higher Fast Ethernet speed of 100Mbps requires virtually no effort with the right piece of equipment All it takes is an Ethernet Switch to coordinate your network hardware and you re ready to run a top notch system An Ethernet Switch boosts your network performance several times over con serving your time money and resources The scalability of an Ethernet Switch its full duplex data trans...

Page 9: ...h other in an Ethernet Switch eliminates the need to purchase new hardware rewire and reconfigure an entire site all at once This scalability factor ensures that Fast Ethernet will not fall obsolete to upgrades in speed standards and maintains use of all your old equipment until you decide to buy speedier replacements Otherwise throwing away all your older slower equipment in an old fashioned fork...

Page 10: ...er Line A technology that dramatically increases the digital capacity of ordinary telephone lines into the home or office and by employing unused bandwidth still allows for normal phone usage DSL pro vides always on operation eliminating the need to dial in to the service Ethernet IEEE standard network protocol that specifies how data is placed on and retrieved from a common transmission medium Ha...

Page 11: ...uch as the operating system and database management sys tem DBMS Application software is any program that processes data for the user A common misconception is that software is data It is not Software tells the hardware how to process the data STP Shielded Twisted Pair Telephone wire that is wrapped in a metal sheath to eliminate external interference Switch 1 A data switch connects computing devi...

Page 12: ...ºC 32ºF to 122ºF Storage Temperature 40ºC to 70ºC 40ºF to 158ºF Operating Humidity 20 to 95 Non Condensing Storage Humidity 20 to 95 Non Condensing EF3116 EF3124 EF4116 EF4124 Instant EtherFast Series Appendix D Specifications Standards IEEE 802 3 IEEE 802 3u IEEE 802 1p IEEE 802 3x Ports 16 or 24 10 100 Auto Negotiation RJ 45 Ports One Fiber Module Expansion Port Speed Per Port 10Mbps or 100Mbps ...

Page 13: ...PURCHASE AND A BARCODE FROM THE PRODUCT S PACKAGING ON HAND WHEN CALLING RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT PROOF OF PURCHASE IN NO EVENT SHALL LINKSYS LIABILITY EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE PRODUCT FROM DIRECT INDIRECT SPECIAL INCIDEN TAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE PRODUCT ITS ACCOMPANYING SOFTWARE OR ITS DOCU MENTATION LINKSYS DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS FOR ANY ...

Page 14: ... Copyright 2003 Linksys All Rights Reserved http www linksys com ...

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