Ethernet Standards Quick Reference

Ethernet Standards Quick Reference
10BaseT	10MBps data rate, star wired bus topology, baseband signalling on unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable. 10baseT cables can be up to 100 metres (328 feet) long, with a minimum cable run between nodes of 2.5 metres (about 8 feet). Maximum of 1,024 nodes per network.
100BaseT	100BaseT, also known as "fast Ethernet", is essentially like 10BaseT, but run at 100MBps instead of 10MBps. It requires category 5 UTP cable. 100Mbps Ethernet specifications 100baseT4 4-pair Category 3, 4 or 5 UTP or STP 100baseTX 2-pair Category 5 UTP or STP 100baseFX 2-strand fibre-optic cable
10Base2	Thin Ethernet, or "Thinnet". 10Mbps data rate, bus topology, baseband signalling. The maximum segment length is 185 metres (607 feet). 10Base2 uses RG-58 coaxial cable, and allows 30 nodes per segment, and 90 nodes per network. The total length of the network must be less than 925 metres (3033 feet).
10Base5	Thick Ethernet, or "Thicknet". The original "standard Ethernet", now supplanted in popularity by 10Base2. Typically 10Mbps data rate, baseband signalling, with a maximum segment length of 500 metres (1650 feet). Uses thick coaxial cable, RG-8 and RG-11. 100 nodes per segment are permitted, and 300 nodes per network. A maximum of four repeaters and 100 taps are permitted.
10BaseFL	Fibre Link Ethernet. 2GBps maximum data transfer, although normally restricted by hardware capabilities to 100MBps. Uses baseband signalling over fibre optic cable. Maximum segment length is 2000 metres (6557 feet).