Chapter 51. Upgrading Older Ethernet Networks

SOME OF THE MAIN TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER ARE

Upgrading from 10BASE-2 or 10BASE-T 964

Hardware and Software Factors to Consider for 10BASE-2, 10BASE-T, and 100BASE-T 965

Connecting Networks That Use Different Cables or Topologies 970

Other Possibilities 970

Upgrading the Network Backbone to Gigabit Ethernet 971

Using Gigabit Ethernet for High-End Servers 971

Gigabit Ethernet Can Cover the Distance 972

10 Gigabit Ethernet Is Becoming Economically Feasible 972

At the end of the day, what makes the task of installing a network a timely and costly one is really just pulling network cables. You not only have to make sure that you meet local building codes, but you also must spend many hours (and labor is expensive) in dropping cables so that you can install a faceplate at the user's cubicle or office. Cables also need to be laid out without interference from other energy sources and adhere to the recommended distance limitations depending on the type of cable.

The original Ethernet specifications used coaxial cabling instead of twisted-pair wiring or fiber-optic cables. If you're still using older network technologies, it might be time to upgrade. Don't get me wrong: If you have a specialized environment, such as automation control on a factory floor, you might not need to upgrade this type of network because data transfers will be miniscule when compared to an office network. However, this chapter assumes that you have an office network, which can eat up network bandwidth at tremendous rates. Not only do you have to provide file servers for such mundane tasks as word processing and other data files, but newer applications such as live video streaming can send 10BASE-2 and 100BASE-T networks to the history pile.

Older 10BASE-5 networks used a coaxial cable (referred to by those in the field as thicknet) as a backbone, and tapped into this cable (using what is popularly called a vampire tap) to drop a smaller coaxial cable such as 10BASE-2 (again with a nickname, thinnet) to each user's workstation. In an office environment, this type of network is untenable today. Worker productivity is measured in hourly costs. Even a few minutes downloading a document from a file server or creating a report based on data on a remote server costs you money. For an office network, it's time to upgrade.

Note

Of all the types of installed networks today, factory automation probably is the least you need to worry about when it comes to upgrading to the latest whiz-bang technology. These systems tend to be stable and usually use shielded cabling due to the nature of the factory floor, which can contain hundreds of machine tools that can interfere with simple twisted-pair cables. Upgrades to software for management consoles tend to be few and far between. If it works, why change it?

For example, one of the oldest networking technologies, ARCnet, is still providing network services to something you will find in everyday life: point-of-sale terminals. In your local hamburger joint (I mean in your local fast food restaurant), do you need to upgrade to the newest version of Ethernet every few years? It doesn't take a lot of bandwidth to take orders, display them on screens for the hired help, and keep track of transactions performed at the cash register.

The topic of this chapter is the office LAN and network enterprise network. Newer applications, from video conferencing to employees who like to waste time browsing through the Internet, require much more bandwidth than older Ethernet technologies such as 10BASE-2 can provide.