User’s Manual
17
Fast Ethernet
For networks that need higher transmission speeds, a
faster speed was developed and IEEE next established
IEEE 802.3u, raising the Ethernet speed from 10Mbps to
100Mbps. Thus, fast Ethernet arose and users quickly
began converting from 10Mbps to 100Mbps.
Gigabit Ethernet
The demand for even higher speed created the gigabit
Ethernet at 1000Mbps (or 1Gbps). The newer IEEE
standard for gigabit Ethernet is IEEE 802.3z. The only
cabling media approved is the fiber-optic pair. The IEEE
has already begun discussions to standardize 10Gbps
(“10Gig”) Ethernet.
Ethernet Products
Hub
One of the earlier connection solutions for Ethernet, a
hub (also called a repeater) operates by broadcasting data
to all ports simultaneously, and repeating the process
until the data is received by the intended node. The hub
works through a “shared network” with all of the nodes in
the network segment sharing the same collision domain.
Switches and bridges emerged because of a need to
separate collision domains that are too large, therefore
improving performance and network reliability.