Microsoft KB Archive/89708

= Local Area Network Architecture Cable Specifications =

Article ID: 89708

Article Last Modified on 1/18/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 95
 * Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11
 * Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition

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This article was previously published under Q89708





SUMMARY
This article contains information on the basic cable types, lengths, and other limitations of various network configurations.



MORE INFORMATION
The following charts outline the minimum standards required to conform to the IEEE specifications for network architecture.

ETHERNET (IEEE 802.3)
                       Thinnet         Thicknet        Twisted-Pair (10Base2)      (10Base5)       (10BaseT)

Topology               Local Bus       Bus             Star

Cable Type             RG-58           Thicknet        Unshielded 3/8&quot; Shielded  Twisted-Pair    Twisted-Pair

Impedance              50 Ohm          50 Ohm          -

Terminator             50 Ohm          50 Ohm          85-115 Ohm UTP Resistance             +- 2 Ohm        +- 2 Ohm        135-165 Ohm TP

Maximum Cable          185 Meters      500 Meters      100 Meters Segment Length         (c. 606 ft)     (c. 1640 ft)    (c. 328 ft)

Minimum Distance       0.5 Meters      2.5 Meters      2.5 Meters Between Nodes          (c. 23 inches)  (c. 8 ft)       (c. 8 ft)

Maximum No. Connected  5               5               Not supported Segments                                               in star configuration Maximum No. Connected Computers/Segment      30              100             N/A

TOKEN RING (IEEE 802.5)
Topology                       Star

Cable Type                     Shielded or Unshielded Twisted Pair

Terminator                     100-120 Ohm UTP Resistance                     150 Ohm TP

Maximum Cable                  45-200 Meters Segment Length                 (c. 148-656 ft) Depending on Cable type

Minimum Distance               2.5 Meters Between Nodes                  (c. 8 ft)

Maximum No. Connected          33 Multistation Segments                       Access Units (MAU's)

Maximum No. Connected          UTP 72 per concentrator Computers/Segment              TP 260 per concentrator

ARCNET
Topology                       Series of Stars

Cable Type                     RG-62 or RG-59

Terminator                     RG-59: 75 Ohm Resistance                     RG-62: 93 Ohm

Maximum Cable  (on average)    W-W: 120 M (393 ft) Segment Length                 A-A: 606 M (1988 ft) Max A-A: 0.3 M (1 ft) Min P-W: 30 M (98 ft) P-A: 30 M (98 ft) NOTATION: W=Workstation A=Active Hub P=Passive Hub

Note: Unused passive hub ports must be                               terminated.

Minimum Distance               Varies with Cable Between Nodes

Maximum No. Connected          Not supported Segments

Maximum No. Connected          Varies with Cable Computers/Segment

Additional query words: hwieee

Keywords: kbinfo KB89708

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