CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide - FTP Server

38 Chapter 1 � Internetworking
media methods today, you can create a cost-effective network that works
great.
The following bullet points provide a general understanding of where you
can use the different Ethernet media in your hierarchical network:
� Use 10Mbps switches at the access layer to provide good performance
at a low price. 100Mbps links can be used for high-bandwidth–
consuming clients or servers. No servers should be at 10Mbps if
possible.
� Use FastEthernet between access layer and distribution layer switches.
10Mbps links would create a bottleneck.
� Use FastEthernet (or Gigabit if applicable) between distribution layer
switches and the core. Also, you should be implementing the fastest
media you can afford between the core switches. Dual links between
distribution and core switches are recommended for redundancy and
load balancing.
Ethernet Media and Connector Requirements
It’s important to understand the difference between the media access speeds
Ethernet provides. However, it’s also important to understand the connector
requirements for each implementation before making any decision.
The EIA/TIA (Electronic Industries Association and the newer Telecommunications
Industry Association) is the standards body that creates the
Physical layer specifications for Ethernet. The EIA/TIA specifies that Ethernet
use a registered jack (RJ) connector with a 4 5 wiring sequence on
unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling (RJ-45). The following bullet points
outline the different Ethernet media requirements:
10Base2 50-ohm coax, called thinnet. Up to 185 meters and 30 hosts
per segment. Uses a physical and logical bus with AUI connectors.
10Base5 50-ohm coax called thicknet. Up to 500 meters and 208 users
per segment. Uses a physical and logical bus with AUI connectors. Up to
2500 meters with repeaters and 1024 users for all segments.
10BaseT EIA/TIA category 3, 4, or 5, using two-pair unshielded
twisted-pair (UTP) wiring. One user per segment; up to 100 meters long.
Uses an RJ-45 connector with a physical star topology and a logical bus.