Ethernet has been the flavor of choice for networking administrators since the early 1980s because of its ease of use and scalability. Written by one of the foremost experts on Ethernet standards and configuration, Charles E. Spurgeon, Ethernet: The Definitive Guide includes everything you need to know to set up and maintain an Ethernet network.

Ethernet: The Definitive Guide teaches you everything you need to know about the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard and its protocols. The book is logically separated into five parts:

• Introduction to Ethernet, provides a tour of basic Ethernet theory and operation, including a description of Ethernet frames, operation of the Media Access Control (MAC) protocol, full-duplex mode and auto-negotiation.
• Ethernet Media Systems, is the heart of the book. This section of Ethernet: The Definitive Guide shows you how to build media-specific Ethernet networks, from a basic 10BASE-T Ethernet offering 10 Mbps over twisted-pair cables, to an advanced 1000BASE-X Gigabit Ethernet, providing up to 1 Gbps of data transfer over fiber optic cables.
• Building Your Ethernet System, teaches you how to build twisted-pair and fiber optic media segments, as well as how to build your Ethernet using repeaters and hubs.
• Performance and Troubleshooting, is divided into two chapters. The first describes both the performance of a given Ethernet channel, as well as the performance of the entire network system. The second includes a tutorial on troubleshooting techniques and describes the kinds of problems network administrators are likely to encounter.

The last part of the book includes a complete glossary of terms used throughout the book, a resource list, descriptions of thick and thin coax-based Ethernet systems, a guide to AUI equipment installation and configuration, and a listing of troubleshooting numbers.

This book is the definitive guide for anyone wanting to build a scalable local area network (LAN) using Ethernet.

Table of contents

Preface

I. Introduction to Ethernet

1. The Evolution of Ethernet

History of Ethernet

The Latest Ethernet Standard

Organization of IEEE Standards

Levels of Compliance

IEEE Identifiers

Reinventing Ethernet

Multi-Gigabit Ethernet

2. The Ethernet System

Four Basic Elements of Ethernet

Ethernet Hardware

Network Protocols and Ethernet

3. The Media Access Control Protocol

The Ethernet Frame

Media Access Control Rules

Essential Media System Timing

Collision Detection and Backoff

Gigabit Ethernet Half-Duplex Operation

Collision Domain

Ethernet Channel Capture

High-level Protocols and the Ethernet Frame

4. Full-Duplex Ethernet

Operation of Full-Duplex

Ethernet Flow Control

5. Auto-Negotiation

Development of Auto-Negotiation

Basic Concepts of Auto-Negotiation

Auto-Negotiation Signaling

Auto-Negotiation Operation

Parallel Detection

Management Interface

1000BASE-X Auto-Negotiation

II. Ethernet Media Systems

6. Ethernet Media Fundamentals

Attachment Unit Interface

Medium-Independent Interface

Gigabit Medium-Independent Interface

Ethernet Signal Encoding

Ethernet Network Interface Card

7. Twisted-Pair Media System (10BASE-T)

10BASE-T Signaling Components

10BASE-T Media Components

10BASE-T Configuration Guidelines

8. Fiber Optic Media System (10BASE-F)

Old and New Fiber Link Segments

10BASE-FL Signaling Components

10BASE-FL Media Components

Connecting a Station to 10BASE-FL Ethernet

10BASE-FL Configuration Guidelines

9. Fast Ethernet Twisted-Pair Media System (100BASE-TX)

100BASE-TX Signaling Components

100BASE-TX Media Components

Connecting a Station to 100BASE-TX Ethernet

100BASE-TX Configuration Guidelines

10. Fast Ethernet Fiber Optic Media System (100BASE-FX)

100BASE-FX Signaling Components

100BASE-FX Media Components

Connecting a Station to 100BASE-FX Ethernet

100BASE-FX Configuration Guidelines

11. Gigabit Ethernet Twisted-PairMedia System (1000BASE-T)

1000BASE-T Signaling Components

1000BASE-T Signal Encoding

1000BASE-T Media Components

Connecting a Station to 1000BASE-T Ethernet

1000BASE-T Configuration Guidelines

12. Gigabit Ethernet Fiber Optic Media System (1000BASE-X)

1000BASE-X Signaling Components

1000BASE-X Signal Encoding

1000BASE-X Media Components

1000BASE-SX and 1000BASE-LX Media Components

1000BASE-CX Media Components

1000BASE-SX and 1000BASE-LX Configuration Guidelines

13. Multi-Segment Configuration Guidelines

Scope of the Configuration Guidelines

Network Documentation

Collision Domain

Model 1 Configuration Guidelines for 10 Mbps

Model 2 Configuration Guidelines for 10 Mbps

Model 1 Configuration Guidelines for Fast Ethernet

Model 2 Configuration Guidelines for Fast Ethernet

Model 1 Configuration Guidelines for Gigabit Ethernet

Model 2 Configuration Guidelines for Gigabit Ethernet

Sample Network Configurations

III. Building Your Ethernet System

14. Structured Cabling

Structured Cabling Systems

TIA/EIA Cabling Standards

Twisted-Pair Categories

Ethernet and the Category System

Horizontal Cabling

New Twisted-Pair Standards

Identifying the Cables

Documenting the Cable System

Building the Cabling System

15. Twisted-Pair Cables and Connectors

Category 5 Horizontal Cable Segment

Eight-Position (RJ-45-Style) Jack

Four-Pair Wiring Schemes

Modular Patch Panel

Work Area Outlet

Twisted-Pair Patch Cables

Building a Twisted-Pair Patch Cable

Ethernet Signal Crossover

Twisted-Pair Ethernet and Telephone Signals

16. Fiber Optic Cables and Connectors

Fiber Optic Cable

10BASE-FL Fiber Optic Characteristics

100BASE-FX Fiber Optic Characteristics

1000BASE-X Fiber Optic Characteristics

17. Ethernet Repeater Hubs

Collision Domain

Basic Repeater Operation

Repeater Buying Guide

10 Mbps Repeaters

100 Mbps Repeaters

1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet Repeater

Repeater Management

Repeater Port Statistics

18. Ethernet Switching Hubs

Brief Tutorial on Ethernet Bridging

Advantages of Switching Hubs

Switching Hub Performance Issues

Advanced Features of Switching Hubs

Network Design Issues with Switches

IV. Performance and Troubleshooting

19. Ethernet Performance

Performance of an Ethernet Channel

Measuring Ethernet Performance

Network Performance and the User

Network Design for Best Performance

20. Troubleshooting

Reliable Network Design

Network Documentation

The Troubleshooting Model

Fault Detection

Fault Isolation

Troubleshooting Twisted-Pair Systems

Troubleshooting Fiber Optic Systems

Data Link Troubleshooting

Network Layer Troubleshooting

V. Appendixes

A. Resources

B. Thick and Thin Coaxial Media Systems

C. AUI Equipment: Installation and Configuration

Glossary

Index