3Com 100 TX User Manual

1 I NTRODUCTIONThe LinkBuilder® FMS™ 100-TX Hub is a member of the 3Com ® SuperStack™system of stackable network devices. The 100 designation refers to100BASE-T Fast Ethernet, which is an extension of the Ethernet IEEE 802.3specifications. The 100BASE-T specification supports the following 100 Mbpsmedia options:n 100BASE-TX (two-pair Category 5 UTP cabling)n 100BASE-T4 (four-pair Category 3, 4, or 5 UTP cabling)n 100BASE-FX (two-strand fiber cabling)The LinkBuilder FMS 100-TX Hub complies with the definition of aClass I repeater provided in the IEEE 802.3 standard. Refer to the section“Classification of Repeaters” in Chapter 3 for a description of the IEEE 802.3repeater classification.This guide discusses the LinkBuilder FMS 100-TX Hub and the 100BASE-TXand 100BASE-FX transceiver interface modules.GeneralDescriptionThe LinkBuilder FMS 100-TX Hub, which functions as a network repeater andsupports 100 Mbps connectivity, has 12 dedicated RJ-45 twisted-pair ports onits front panel, as shown in Figure 1-1. A media-flexible transceiver interfacemodule port on the hub’s rear panel is designated the thirteenth port.