Fast ethernet: 100BaseTX and 100BaseT4 network interface adaptor architectures

摘要

Abstract: Fast Ethernet is an order of magnitude faster than regular ethernet, but the rampup, cost reduction and commercialization also appears to be happening ten times quicker. The PCI bus and its performance improvements has also made Fast Ethernet a much more viable solution. The first generation 10/100 Network Interface Cards (NIC), Switches and Repeaters arrived in 1994. Now there are several versions of each available. The PRO/100 series NIC (adapter) began volume shipments in October 1995. The IEEE Standard IEEE-802.3u/D5.3 was passed in record time for technologies of this magnitude. The standard includes 100BaseTX and 100BaseT4. The former requires two pair of Category 5 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) wiring and the latter four pair of Category 3 UTP. 100BaseTX is full duplex capable. 100BaseT4 operates over ordinary telephone wiring cables. The rapid integration into less silicon of all the 10/1000 blocks, and attendant cost reduction is causing even a more viable Fast Ethernet solution, since pricing is converging to that of regular ethernet NICs and Repeaters. !0