APPENDIX B FastHub Ports and Cabling Information This appendix contains useful information about using the FastHub in Ethernet networks and contains the following sections: FastHub Port Specifications Ethernet Cable Schematics Ethernet Cabling Guidelines FastHub Port Specifications There are two types of ports on the FastHub: network ports and an uplink port. These ports have different pinouts and should be cabled accordingly. Table B-1 is a summary of the ports on the FastHub 112T and FastHub 124T. Table B-1 FastHub Network Ports Model Network Ports Uplink Port FastHub 112T 1x through 12x 12 FastHub 124T 1x through 24x 24 FastHub Ports and Cabling Information B-1
FastHub Port Specifications Network Port Description Network ports are internally crossed. Use an Ethernet crossover cable of the following type to connect any of these ports to another network device, such as a workstation, server, hub, switch, or router: 10-Mbps network devices Category 3, 4, or 5 UTP cable 100-Mbps network devices Category 5 UTP cable Note When cabling an Ethernet network that contains autosensing 10/100 repeaters like the FastHub, use caution when using Category 3 and Category 4 cable. These cable types do not support 100BaseTX networks. Table B-2 lists the pinouts for FastHub network ports. Table B-2 Network Port Connector Pinouts Pin Signal 1 RD+ 2 RD- 3 TD+ 4 NC 5 NC 6 TD- 7 NC 8 NC B-2 FastHub 112T and FastHub 124T Hardware Installation Guide
Ethernet Cable Schematics Uplink Port Description The uplink port is not internally crossed. Use an Ethernet straight-through cable of the following type to connect one of these ports to another FastHub network port or to a network port on another hub, switch, or router: 10-Mbps network devices Category 3, 4, or 5 UTP cable 100-Mbps network devices Category 5 UTP cable Note Remember that you must connect the FastHub uplink port to an X port on a switch, router, or other hub. Ethernet Cable Schematics Figure B-1 is a schematic of the two types of cable (crossover and straight-through) used to connect the hub to network devices. Figure B-1 Ethernet Cable Schematics Hub Adapter Hub Hub 3 TD+ 3 RD+ 6 TD- 6 RD- 3 TD+ 3 TD+ 6 TD- 6 TD- 1 RD+ 1 TD+ 2 RD- 2 TD- 1 RD+ 1 RD+ 2 RD- 2 RD- H5462 Straight-Through Crossover FastHub Ports and Cabling Information B-3
Ethernet Cabling Guidelines Ethernet Cabling Guidelines This section provides cabling guidelines for determining how to build networks using FastHubs and other repeaters. Repeater Types The IEEE 802.3u standard defines two different classes of Ethernet repeaters, Class I and Class II. The FastHub 112T and FastHub 124T are Class II repeaters. Following are the advantages of Class II repeaters: Class II repeaters support multiple repeaters for building a single network. (Class I repeaters limit a network to one repeater.) Class II repeaters support longer cable segments in single repeater configurations than Class I repeaters. Switches with Internal Repeaters Many switches have internal repeaters or plug-in repeater modules. In this type of device, the switch is actually attached to a port on the internal repeater. When connecting the FastHub to a switch, you should find out whether the port you are connecting to is a repeater port and then take one of the following steps: If it is not a repeater port, the switch acts as an ordinary end-station, and you do not have to take any special steps. If the port is a Class I repeater port, do not connect the FastHub or any other repeater to the port. B-4 FastHub 112T and FastHub 124T Hardware Installation Guide
Ethernet Cabling Guidelines General Guidelines for Ethernet Networks Table B-3 describes some guidelines when creating Ethernet networks with multiple repeaters. Exact figures could vary, depending on the manufacturer of the network equipment. Table B-3 Ethernet Guidelines Specification 10BaseT 100BaseTX Maximum segment length 100 100 Maximum number of segments per network 5 Class II 2 Class I 1 Maximum number of hops 1 4 Class II 1 Class I none Maximum number of stations per segment 1024 1024 Cable type supported 1. Hops = Other repeaters. UTP Category 3, 4, or 5 UTP Category 5 FastHub Ports and Cabling Information B-5
Ethernet Cabling Guidelines B-6 FastHub 112T and FastHub 124T Hardware Installation Guide