Introduction to Technology
Fast Ethernet Overview
Chapter 1
21
Fast Ethernet Overview
Ethernet, or 10Base-T, is a standard for physically connecting computers into a local
area network. It is a communications protocol that lets those computers share data. The
most commonly installed Ethernet systems are 100Base-T and provide transmission
speeds up to 100 Mbit/s.
Fast Ethernet is a local area network (LAN) transmission standard that provides a data
rate of 100 Mbit/s (referred to as “100Base-T”). Workstations with existing 10 Mbit/s
(10Base-T) Ethernet cards can be connected to a Fast Ethernet network. The 100 Mbit/s
is a shared data rate; input to each workstation is constrained by the 10 Mbit/s card.
To be a part of the LAN, every computer on the network needs a network interface card
(NIC), which provides the link between Ethernet and the computer. HP 100Base-T NICs
come with PCI-X bus interfaces and formerly with HSC, HP-PB, and EISA bus
interfaces. All NICs can talk to one another.
Features
• very common — a defacto industry standard
• less expensive than some other network technologies
• multiple sources (manufacturers)
• tried and true technology
• the best suited for business
• a system that works well with all modern operating systems
