plugs) connectors and has a cable length span of up to 100 meters. It has two
versions, STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) which is more expensive and UTP
(Unshielded Twisted Pair), the most popular cable. Both these cables come in 5
different categories. However, only 3 are normally used in LANs, Category 3, 4
and
5. CAT 3 TP (Twisted Pair) cable has a network data transfer rate of up to 10Mbps.
CAT 4 TP cable has a network data transfer rate of up to 16Mbps. CAT 5 TP cable
has a network data transfer rate of up to 100Mbps.
100BASE-TX: IEEE 802.3u
The specification for Fast Ethernet using two pairs of Category 5 UTP or Type 1
STP cable.
100BASE-FX: IEEE 802.3u
Physical Layer Specification for Fast Ethernet using two strands of 50/125 or 62.5/
125 micron core fiber. These types of cables typically have ST and SC connectors
and can span up to 2Km in length at full duplex or 412m at half duplex.
1000BASE-SX: IEEE 802.3z
Physical Layer Specification for Gigabit Ethernet using two strands of 50/125 or
62.5/125 micron core fiber. These types of cables typically have SC connectors and
can span up to 5Km in length.
ADAPTER
A computer device used to connect end-user nodes to the network; each contains
an interface to a specific type of computer or system bus, e.g. EISA, ISA, PCI,
