Ethernet Standards

Single-mode and Multi-mode fiber optics

Multimode fiber has a relatively large light carrying core, usually 62.5 microns or larger in diameter. It is usually used for short distance transmissions with LED based fiber optic equipment. Single-mode fiber has a small light carrying core of 8 to 10 microns in diameter. It is normally used for long distance transmissions with laser diode based fiber optic transmission equipment.

 

 

Base-X and Base-R standards run over fiber optics

Base-W standards run over fiber optic cables and are referred to as Wide Area Network Physical Layer (WAN PHY). Uses same type of fiber and supports same distance as 10GBase-R fiber optics however the Ethernet frames are encapsulated in SONET frames.

Base-T standards are run over twisted pair cable both shielded and unshielded.

Base-CX standards are run over shielded copper twisted pair cable.

 

10 Gigabit Ethernet Standards

10GBase-T is copper twisted pair with distances up to 100m with cat 6a or 55 meters with cat 6.

 

10GBase-SR and 10GBase-SW are multi-mode fiber with either a distance length of 26m or 82m depending on cable type, usually the preferred choice for optical cabling within buildings.

 

10GBase-LR and 10GBase-LW are single-mode fiber medium with a 10 KM maximum distance length usually used for transceivers.

10GBase-ER and 10GBase-EW are also single-mode fiber used for transceivers however the maximum distance is 40 KM.

 

Gigabit Ethernet Standards

 

1000BASE-T can be a maximum length of 100m per segment and must use Category 5 cable or better.

1000Base-CX balanced copper shielded twisted pair with maximum distances of 25m this being an initial standard for gigabit Ethernet connections.

 

1000base-ZX is single-mode optic fiber with a distance of 70 KM

1000base-SX is Multi-mode optic fiber with a 500m distance.

 

Fast Ethernet Standards

 

100Base-TX twisted-pair copper – CAT5 or above with lengths of 100m per segment. Run over two pairs, one pair of twisted wires in each direction. The most common for fast Ethernet

 

100Base-SX is multi-mode fiber for 300m distance, it uses two strands of MMF one for receiving and one for transmitting.

100Base-BX is single-mode fiber that has a maximum distance of 20 KM and uses single strand SMF.