DFE-660TX Fast Ethernet PC Card User's Guide
2
Introduction
its environment. (The autonegotiation function is effective only
when the DFE-660TX is connected to the network by a device
(switch or hub) which also has autonegotiation functionality.)
Inside its compact case, the D-Link DFE-660TX holds an Ethernet
controller, network processing interface, a 68-pin PC Card Standard
front-end plug which connects to the notebook PC, and a 15-pin
back-end receptacle for connecting the media coupler. The
DFE-660TX requires no pre-installation setup -- simply insert its
front end into the notebook PC's PC-Card slot.
The DFE-660TX is supplied with a media coupler which plugs into
the back end (15-pin receptacle) of the DFE-660TX. The other end
of the media coupler has an RJ-45 receptacle which receives the
network cable. The media coupler features LED indicators for
linkage and activity states, and for the speed and duplex settings.
About Fast Ethernet
Fast Ethernet is a network technology specified by IEEE Standard
802.3u. It extends the traditional 10Mbps (10 megabit/sec) Ethernet
technology to achieve 100Mbps (100 megabit/sec) transmission and
reception. Because Fast Ethernet retains the traditional Ethernet
CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense, Multiple Access, Collision Detect)
protocol, it remains wholly compatible with 10Mbps Ethernet while
providing a tenfold increase in network capacity.
The Fast Ethernet standard specifies three subtypes, corresponding
to three media types:
100Base-TX (using two twisted pairs in EIA 568 Category 5
UTP or STP cable)
100Base-T4 (using four twisted pairs in a Category 3,
Category 4, or Category 5 UTP cable)