5.1 Cabling the LAN  
  5.1.3 Ethernet media and connector requirements  
Before selecting an Ethernet implementation, consider the media and connector requirements for each implementation. Also, consider the level of performance needed by the network.

The cables and connector specifications used to support Ethernet implementations are derived from the Electronic Industries Association and the Telecommunications Industry Association (EIA/TIA) standards body. The categories of cabling defined for Ethernet are derived from the EIA/TIA-568 (SP-2840) Commercial Building Telecommunications Wiring Standards. 

Figure compares the cable and connector specifications for the most popular Ethernet implementations. It is important to note the difference in the media used for 10-Mbps Ethernet versus 100-Mbps Ethernet. Networks with a combination of 10- and 100-Mbps traffic use UTP Category 5 to support Fast Ethernet.

 

Web Links

Ethernet Hardware

http://www.kan.org/networking/ nethardware.html