SUBJECT:

Thick Ethernet's limitation and cabling.

QUESTION:

What's the limitation and cabling system for Thick ethernet network ?

ANSWER:

Thick Ethernet network has the following characteristics and
limitations:

. Maximum cable segment length (between repeaters) is 500
meters.
. Total cable length (with repeaters) is 2500 meters.
. The maximum number of stations (nodes) supported is 1,024.
. The maximum number of stations (nodes) supported per segment
is 100.
. Cable used is heavily insulated (thick) coax.
. Connects to Thin Ethernet or UTP segments through a repeater
or bridge.

Thick Ethernet Cabling

* A Thick Ethernet network is composed of a main cable segment, or
"backbone", with additional segments, or "ribs" radiating from the
main cable segment or backbone. Workstations are generally
attached to the rib segments and repeaters and/or bridges are
generally attached to the backbone.

* Thick Ethernet network connections are made through commercially
available AUI drop cables which are connected to transceivers which
are tapped into the thick coax.

* The AUI drop cable can be up to 50 meters long. One end of the
drop cable is attached to the AUI connector on the Ethernet adapter
and the other end is attached to the Ethernet segment through a
medium attachment unit (MAU) transceiver/cable connector. MAU
connectors may be installed on the thick coax cable every 2.5
meters and the cable is marked at these intervals. A 50 Ohm cable
terminator must be installed at each end of every cable segment.

* Signal repeaters are used to connect 500-meter segments for larger
networks. Repeaters amplify and retime the network signals and are
available with single or multiple output connections. Repeater
links that use fiber optic cables can be used to extend the total
network length to 2500 meters.