Nortel 425-24T, Configuration Manual, Page: 75 / 488

Chapter 1 About Ethernet Switches 325 and 425 75
System Configuration Guide
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Gigabit Interface Converter
SFP GBICs (Small Form Factor Pluggable Gigabit Interface Converters) are
hot-swappable input/output enhancement components designed for use with
Nortel products to allow Gigabit Ethernet ports to link with fiber optic networks.
Port connectors
The Ethernet Switch 425 uses 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX RJ-45 (8-pin modular)
port connectors.
The 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX port connectors are configured as MDI-X
(media-dependent interface-crossover). These ports are connected using straight
cables to the NIC in a node or server, similar to a conventional Ethernet repeater
hub. If you are connecting to an Ethernet hub or an Ethernet switch, use a
crossover cable unless an MDI connection exists on the associated port of the
attached device (see “
Appendix B, “Connectors and pin assignments,” on page
425 ).
The Ethernet Switch 425 uses autosensing ports designed to operate at 10 Mb/s
(megabits per second) or at 100 Mb/s, depending on the connecting device. These
ports support the IEEE 802.3u autonegotiation standard, which means that when a
port is connected to another device which also supports the IEEE 802.3u standard,
the two devices negotiate at the best speed and duplex mode.
The 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX switch ports also support half- and full-duplex
mode operation.
The 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX RJ-45 ports can connect to 10 Mb/s or 100 Mb/s
Ethernet segments or nodes.
See Appendix B, “Connectors and pin assignments,” on page 425 for more
information about the RJ-45 port connectors.
Note: Use only Category 5 copper Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
cable connections when connecting 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX ports.