Summary

You can use several different types of Ethernet in an internetwork, and it's very important that you remember the distance each type of Ethernet media can run. For instance, the distance that 10BaseT can run is 100 meters, or 330 feet. The 100 meters includes five meters from the switch to the patch panel, 90 meters from the patch panel to the office punch-down block, and five meters from the punch-down block to the desktop connection.

For FastEthernet, there are various specifications for each type. For 100BaseTX, category 5 UTP wiring, categories 5e, 6, and 7 are now available. Category 5e is sometimes referred to as cat 5 plus. 100BaseTX requires two-pair wiring and a distance of 100 meters. 100BaseT4 requires four-pair wiring, using UTP category 3, 4, or 5. The distance for 100BaseT4 is 100 meters. 100BaseFX requires Multi-Mode Fiber with 62.5-micron fiber-optic core and a 125-micron outer cladding (62.5/125). The distance for the 100BaseFX is 400 meters.

For Gigabit Ethernet, the specifications for each type also vary. For instance, the 1000BaseCX requires a copper-shielded twisted-pair and a distance of 25 meters. The 1000BaseT requires copper category 5, four-pair wiring, UTP, and 100 meters distance. The 1000BaseSX requires MMF using 62.5 and 50-micron core, uses a 780-nanometer laser, and requires a distance of up to 260 meters. 1000BaseLX uses single-mode fiber with a 9-micron core and uses a 1300-nanometer laser. The distance for a 1000BaseLX is anywhere from 3 kilometers to 10 kilometers. Finally, the 1000BaseZX uses single-mode fiber with a 9-micron core or disposition-shifted fiber. The distance for a1000BaseZX is up to 100 kilometers.

You need to understand how to connect to and how to configure both a set-based switch and an IOS-based switch. It is not enough to just be able to copy down these commands and move on to the next section. The defaults, which are set on all Cisco switches, are there for the benefit of the plug-and-play kiddies-as a CCNP, you are expected to go far beyond that! You need to understand why these configurations are needed, so that you can make knowledge-based judgments on when to use the command options to move away from the default.

You can set hostnames and descriptions to identify your switch and the interfaces, enabling you to administer the network more efficiently. And you can control access to the switch in several ways, using console, telnet, and enable passwords to protect against unauthorized users. You should also be able to configure an IP address and default gateway on each switch so that you can make remote connections, which allows you to manage your switch without having to stand next to it. Finally, you should be able to verify the configuration by performing connectivity tests around the network using the standard IP tools of ping, trace, and telnet.