gigabit ethernet over copper overview - lan

Published: 20-Jan-2001

Gigabit Ethernet

IEEE: 802.3

IEEE: 802.3ab

1000 baseT

Speed: 1 gigabit per second

Connector: RJ-45

Max distance: 100 Meters

Standards and Interop: http://www.gigabit-ethernet.org

Gigabit Ethernet is a networking technology ten times faster than current 100Mbps networks. Until recently, the high cost of gigabit Ethernet combined with multiple topology standards and the need for fibre optic cables has left gigibit speeds out of reach of home users. Things have changed.

IEEE 802.3ab Recent ‘gigabit over copper’ standards have been adopted that make gigabit Ethernet as easy to use as 100Mbps Ethernet. Gigabit ethernet can now utilize Cat5 or better twisted pair cabling and the same RJ-45 connectors that are used in 10/100Mbps networks. To achieve gigabit speeds, you must use ethernet cable with all 8 wires (four pairs) present. Many inexpensive cat5 Ethernet cables have only 4 wires and can not reach gigabit speeds.

Apple, as usual, is ahead of the rest of the market in bringing gigabit Ethernet to the home. They have put 10/100/1000 base-T network adapters in the PowerMac G4 series computers. Because of the high cost of gigabit Ethernet hubs and switches, Apple has ensured that connection two PowerMac G4’s is as simple as picking up a high quality Ethernet cable. Apples implementation of Gigabit Ethernet needs no crossover cable to connect two computers together. The adapter senses the other Mac and handles the crossover automatically.

I expect the price of gigabit Ethernet to fall dramatically in 2002. I think we will see the price of gigabit Ethernet switched fall to about $40 per port by the end of the year and the price of network cards to fall to around $35 per NIC. I think we will also see gigabit Ethernet incorporated into broadband routers by companies trying to stand out from their competition in this over-crowded router market.

Asante’ and Addtron appear to be the market leaders in bringing Gigabit Ethernet to the home market. They have both released PCI network adapters that can be purchased for less that $60. Unfortunately, no company has yet released a gigabit Ethernet hub or switch that is within reach of the home network users. Expect to see gigabit Ethernet products on the market soon!

 

gigabit ethernet over copper overview - lan