100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet Standards
- Fast Ethernet standard uses same CSMA/CD protocol as 10BASE-T, but:
- with higher frequency signaling
- improved encoding
- 100BASE-TX refers to Fast Ethernet over Cat5 (or better) twisted pair copper cable
- maximum link 100 m (328 ft)
- supports hubs and switches
- each switch port is its own collision domain
- eliminates effect of contention
- allows for full-duplex
- each node can transmit and receive simultaneously
- each node can use the full 100 Mbps bandwidth of the cable link
- Compatible with hosts with 10 Mbps Ethernet interfaces
- Fast Ethernet uses an autonegotiation protocol
- allows a host to choose the highest supported connection
- 10 or 100 Mbps
- half or full duplex
- 10BASE-T requires a node transmit regular electrical pulses to confirm viability of a link
- Fast Ethernet codes a 16-bit data packet into this signal, advertising its capabilities
- node that does not support autonegotiation can be detected by one that does
- will be sent an ordinary link integrity test signal instead
- called Normal Link Pulses
- Fast Ethernet is not deployed on new networks, but may be maintained on legacy networks