DFE-530TX Ethernet/Fast Ethernet Adapter for PCI Bus
Installation
2
Category 4 UTP network cabling, but does not provide for full
duplex operation. 100Base-TX requires Category 5 cabling, but
does provide full duplex operation. Full duplex 100Base-TX
operation allows simultaneous transmission and reception, both at
100Mbps, thus providing service potentially equal to 200Mbps half-
duplex service.
The DFE-530TX Adapter does not support the 100Base-T4 subtype.
To provide compatibility in traditional 10Mbps Ethernet
environments (where, for example, DFE-530TX adapters are
installed anticipating upgrade of supporting hub equipment to Fast
Ethernet), the DFE-530TX also supports traditional 10Mbps
Ethernet operation, in full-duplex as well as half-duplex modes.
Selection of the best operation mode in any given installation is
automatically governed by auto-negotiation.
About Auto-negotiation
You have probably had the experience of making a dialup
connection through a modem, and have heard the
gravelly
−
sounding exchanges between your modem and the modem
at the other end of the telephone line (these exchanges are ordinarily
played out through a speaker in your local modem). As irritating as
those few seconds of noise may be, they do let you know that your
modem and the remote modem are on the job, preparing for your
intended communication with the remote computer.
The preparatory work of the two modems during those few seconds
before you see the
•
onnect” message is to negotiate the best data
communication scheme which is supported by both modems, and
which is suitable for the quality of the telephone line linkage
between them. The parameters to be settled between the two
modems include best baud rate, compression method, and error
correction method. When the two modems have tested the phone-
