Instant EtherFast®II Series
EtherFast II
10/100 Hubs
Use this guide to install these
Linksys Products:
EtherFast II 10/100
16-Port Rack-
Mountable Hub
(EF2H16)
EtherFast II 10/100
24-Port Rack-
Mountable Hub
(EF2H24)
User Guide
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Instant EtherFast II Series
10/100 Hubs
Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
Instant EtherFast II 10/100 Hub
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EASY TO SET UP--EASY TO MAINTAIN
Planning Your Network
About Fast Ethernet
The EtherFast II 10/100 Hubs from Linksys are the second generation in the
Instant EtherFast Series that quickly set the standard for economical network
expansion. Since they are ready to run right out of the box and feature easy
rack-mount installation, your network will be up and running in no time.
Extensive use of advanced VLSI technology ensures that each EtherFast II
10/100 Hub will function with unsurpassed reliability, allowing your business
to operate with a minimum of down-time.
Getting to Know the EtherFast II 10/100 Hub
LED Indicators
5
5
Optional Fiber Expansion Module
Mounting the Hub
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6
MEETING THE NEEDS OF EXPANDING NETWORKS
In today’s fast-paced business world, growth can easily out-pace resources--
that’s why the EtherFast II Series is such a great solution. The built-in uplink
port and fiber optic expansion slot mean that your network is ready to expand
along with your business needs, and with up to 24 auto-sensing ports, you have
the freedom to combine low-cost 10Mbps computers with high-speed 100Mbps
workstations, saving you thousands of dollars. It’s this combination of flexibil-
ity, reliability, and performance that make the EtherFast II Series “The
Affordable High-Performance Network Solution.”
Connecting Nodes to the Hub
Uplinking the Hub
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7
Powering On the Hub
7
Resetting the Hub
7
Appendix
8
8
Twisted-Pair Cabling
Crimping Your Own Cables
How to Install an Add-On Module
Fiber Optic Modules
9
10
11
14
15
Specifications
Customer Support
1
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Instant EtherFast II Series
10/100 Hubs
Planning Your Network
Overview
The rules that govern how nodes and hubs are distributed across a network
are important to ensure the integrity of your data. Cabling specifications, dis-
tance limits, and other topology rules must be followed in order to avoid col-
lisions, data loss, and downed network connections.
The 10/100 Hub is equipped with RJ-45 ports that can automatically adjust to
either 10Mbps or 100Mbps speeds. Each port can operate at either speed,
completely independent of the other ports’ speeds, and can be connected to a
workstation, file server, print server, hub, or another node with twisted-pair
cabling.
Package Contents for the EtherFast II
10/100 Hub (16 and 24-Port Model)
• EtherFast II 10/100 Hub
• Rack Mounting Hardware
• AC Power Cord
Although there are different grades of cabling, you must use EIA 568
Category 5 unshielded twisted-pair (UTP), or better, for each connection you
make, and each cable should not exceed 100 meters, (328 feet), in length.
Category 5 cabling can be obtained at most computer stores, or you can
crimp your own. See page 8 for cabling specifications. Here are some impor-
tant cabling rules to follow:
• User Guide
· Computers should never be connected directly together on a network.
They should always be connected to a hub.
· Only two 100Mbps Fast Ethernet hubs can be cascaded, (or uplinked),
together. To cascade more than 2 100Mbps hubs, a switch or a repeater
must be used.
· The maximum length for a Category 5 cable between a 100BaseTX or
10BaseT workstation and a hub is 100 meters (328 feet).
· The maximum distance between 2 100BaseTX hubs without a switch is
5 meters (16.4 feet).
· The maximum distance between 2 10BaseT hubs, (or a 10BaseT hub and an
Auto-Sensing hub), is 100 meters (328 feet).
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3
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Instant EtherFast II Series
10/100 Hubs
About Fast Ethernet
Getting to Know the 10/100 Hub
As the demand for desktop video, multimedia development, imaging, and
other speed-intensive applications continues to rise, the need for high per-
formance, fault tolerant LAN technology will become more critical.
Standard Ethernet, which has been the most popular networking technology
to date with a maximum data throughput of 10Mbps (Megabits per second),
is becoming insufficient to handle the latest video, multimedia, and other
speed-intensive client/server LAN applications.
LEDs
Among the solutions to the problem of network speed, Fast Ethernet has
emerged as the most viable and economical. Capable of sending and receiv-
ing data at 100Mbps, it is more than fast enough to handle even the most
demanding video and other real-time applications.
Power
10 Col
LED will be lit whenever the hub is receiving power.
When lit, this LED indicates that collisions are being
encountered at 10Mbps.
Although there are a number of different competing Fast Ethernet implemen-
tations, 100BaseTX is by far the most popular. Operating on two pairs of
Category 5 unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling, 100BaseTX supports high
speed signaling and is relatively inexpensive. Because it uses four wires for
data transmission and the same packet format, packet length, error control,
and management information as 10BaseT, 100BaseTX can be made to com-
municate with slower 10BaseT equipment when routed through a switch.
100 Col
When lit, this LED indicates that collisions are being
encountered at 100Mbps. Some collisions are normal. If
your network experiences an excessively high collision
level, verify that your cabling is good, and that there are no
cabling coils, cross-overs, or breaks
100
LED will be lit if a given port is operating at 100Mbps.
This backwards compatibility is one of 100BaseTX's major advantages over
other forms of Fast Ethernet; it allows critical, speed-dependent network seg-
ments to be upgraded to 100BaseTX speeds as needed without re-wiring,
refitting, and retraining an entire site. Networks can now mix both slow and
fast network segments for different users or departments. Publishing, R&D,
video, multimedia, or accounting departments can enjoy a 100Mbps pace,
while other corporate segments can operate at slower and more affordable
10Mbps speeds.
Link/Act
LED will be lit or flickering if a given port is sending or
receiving data; will not be lit if the port is not connected to
a node.
Module Link/Act LED will be lit if the optional expansion module is
installed; flickering when receiving or transmitting data.
Every port on your 10/100 Hub is capable of running at either 10Mbps or
100Mbps, allowing you to mix and match economical 10BaseT hardware
with high performance 100Mbps network cards, hubs, switches, and other
equipment.
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Instant EtherFast II Series
10/100 Hubs
Optional Fiber Expansion Module
Uplinking the Hub
Each 10/100 16 and 24-Port rack mountable hub comes with a fiber optic
expansion slot which accepts an optional 100BaseFX fiber optic module for
connecting to high-speed fiber cabling. If you purchased an optional fiber
optic expansion module, set it up by following the setup instructions included
in the Appendix of this guide, (page 11).
Each EtherFast II 10/100 Hub has a crossover button (labeled MDI/MDIX)
on the front of the hub that allows you to connect with other hubs, switches,
or routers. To activate the uplinking capability, make sure that the
MDI/MDIX button is not depressed. Insert one end of a straight-through RJ-
45 cable into port #1 and the other end into the desired device. The 10/100
Hub will automatically determine the optimum speed of the device being
attached to it.
Note: When the MDI/MDIX button is
depressed, the port will function normally.
Mounting the Hub
Each hub is equipped with mounting hardware that can be used to secure it in
a stationary or movable 19” rack. To mount the brackets to the hub, line up
the holes on the bracket with the holes on the side of the hub (make sure that
the flange on the bracket is to the rear), then fasten the bracket to the hub
Powering on the Hub
using the screws provided.
To power on the hub, plug the supplied AC electrical power cord into the
back of the hub. The hub will put itself through a series of diagnostic tests --
which shouldn’t take more than just a few seconds -- then begin scanning the
ports for live nodes. The installation is complete.
Note: Screws required for installing the hub in your
rack are not included with the mounting hardware.
Connecting Nodes to the 10/100 Hub
Resetting the Hub
The 10/100 Hub can be connected to either 10Mbps or 100Mbps PCs, work-
stations, file servers, print servers, or other hardware. When powered up,
each of the hub’s 10/100 ports will automatically adjust to the proper speed,
as determined by the speed of the hardware or node connected to the port.
To reset the hub, unplug the unit for at least three seconds then plug it back
in. The hub is reset.
Connect each of your PCs, workstations, file servers, print servers, or other
network nodes to the 10/100 Hub one by one. Each node should be
connected to the hub with a straight-through, Category 5 cable with RJ-45
connectors. Each cable should be less than 100 meters (328 feet), in length.
Ready-to-use network cables of various lengths can be purchased at most
computer stores. If you wish to crimp your own cabling for custom sites or
lengths, see page 9 for cabling specifications.
When connecting a PC to a hub, either the computer or the hub must be pow-
ered OFF. If both the computer and the hub are turned on while the connec-
tion is completed, the network will act erratically and you must reset the hub
(see page 7).
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Instant EtherFast II Series
10/100 Hubs
Crimping Your Own Network Cables
Appendix
Twisted-Pair Cabling
• Straight-Through Cabling
There are different grades, or categories, of twisted-pair cabling. Category 5
is the most reliable and is highly recommended. Category 3 is a good second
choice. Straight-through cables are used for connecting computers to a hub.
Crossover cables are used for connecting a hub to another hub (there is an
exception: some hubs have a built-in uplink port that is crossed internally,
which allows you to link or connect hubs together with a straight-through
cable instead).
You can buy pre-made Category 5
cabling, or cut and crimp your own.
Category 5 cables can be purchased
or crimped as either straight-through
or crossover cables. A Category 5
cable has 8 thin, color-coded wires
inside that run from one end of the
cable to the other. All 8 wires are
used. In a straight-through cable,
wires 1, 2, 3, and 6 at one end of the
cable are also wires 1, 2, 3, and 6 at
the other end. In a crossover cable,
the order of the wires change from
one end to the other: wire 1 becomes
3, and 2 becomes 6. See the diagrams
on the next page for
•Cross-Over Cabling
more detailed informa-
tion on straight-through
and crossover cabling.
To determine which wire is wire number 1, hold the
cable so that the end of the plastic RJ-45 tip (the part
that goes into a wall jack first) is facing away from you.
Face the clip down so that the copper side faces up (the
springy clip will now be parallel to the floor).When look-
ing down on the copper side, wire 1 will be on the far
left.
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9
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Instant EtherFast II Series
10/100 Hubs
How to Install An Add-On Module
Fiber Optic Modules
Follow these steps to install the add-on modules in the EtherFast II 10/100
Hub (EF2H16 or EF2H24).
Two different Fiber Optic modules are available for the rack-mountable
10/100 Hub (EF2H16 and EF2H24):
1. Power off the hub and remove the AC power cord from the hub.
EF2HSC:
EF2HST:
100BaseFX 1-Port Transceiver Module (SC)
100BaseFX 1-Port Transceiver Module (ST)
2. Remove all RJ-45 cables from the all the ports in the hub and if the hub is
on a rack remove the hub from the rack
Each Fiber port has two connectors, a transmit (TX) and a receive (RX). To
connect two modules together, you must run a Multi-mode fiber cable from
the transmit connector on one module to the receive connector on the other. If
you are looking at the back of the hub, the connector on the right is the
receiver and the connector on the left is the transmitter. The connectors are
also labeled on the top of the fiber port. These labels can not be seen after the
module is installed, so make sure that you look before you slide it in.
3. Using a Phillips screw driver, remove the screws holding the small cover
panel on the back of the hub. The size of the panel is about 8.1cm by 3.5cm
(3.1" x 1.4"). You will need the screws to secure the add-on module later.
4. Ground yourself properly and remove the add-on module from its package.
5. Hold the module so the chips and the components on the add-on module
are facing up. If the module has a daughter board (a bigger board mounted on
the main board of the add-on module), the bottom of the daughter board
should be facing up. Insert the module into the back of the hub.
Each Distance Extender Modules has a switch on the back for Full Duplex or
Half Duplex. The switch must be set to Half Duplex at all times, when con-
necting to another Distance Extender or a Transceiver module. The Link LED
will light up when there is a connection made, and the Activity (ACT) LED
will flicker while data is being transmitted or received.
6. The add-on module will slide in until it comes to a stop. Push the module
to make sure it makes a proper connection. Note: Do not use too much force,
you can bend the metal panel on the add-on module.
Note: The duplexing switch (located on the back of
the hub) should be set in Half Duplex mode. The
10/100 Hubs do not function in full duplex mode.
7. Secure the module in place with the two screws.
A maximum of 2 Transceivers can be connected together in one segment.
When two hubs are connected via Transceivers together, the same rule of cas-
cading two 100Mb hubs applies to them. To cascade another hub to these two
hubs (using RJ-45), a switch or repeater must be used.
8. If used on a rack, mount the hub back on the rack. Reconnect the RJ-45
cables and the AC Power cord. Note: do not connect any cables to the port(s)
that will be used by the add-on Module (see page 11 to find which ports can't
be used when using an add-on module).
The Distance Extender is a switched port. This means another 100Mb hub
can be cascaded (with RJ-45) to the hub that has a Distance Extender Module
installed. Two Distance Extender modules can be connected together only at
Half Duplex. Do NOT set either or both of the Distance Extender modules to
Full Duplex. The 10/100 Hubs will not communicate at Full Duplex.
9. Connect your Fiber cable or RJ-45 cable to the add-on Module. Turn on
the hub.
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Instant EtherFast II Series
10/100 Hubs
When using fiber, the noise loss has to be calculated. Also, always use the
same type of fiber connector (SC or ST) for your fiber cables. If you are
using ST-type connectors and you introduce an SC-type connector module, an
SC to ST converter has to be obtained, or the ST connector may be replaced
by an SC Connector
The following illustration is an example of how to connect two rack-mount-
able EtherFast II 10/100 Hubs together using fiber optic cabling. Notice that
both hubs are equipped with 100BaseFX 1-Port Distance Extender modules.
The distance extender modules allow data to be sent up to 208 meters (672
feet).
Note: Changing connectors should be done professionally,
using the proper tools. If you have never worked with fiber
cabling, seek the help of an experienced professional.
For a full explanation of fiber optic cabling distance rules, see the chart on
page 12.
The following table shows the distance limitation when connecting the
Linksys Fiber modules:
Distance (meters/ft) Cable type
Module in Hub A
Module in hub B
208/672
Multi-Mode
EF2HSC or EF2HST,
EF2HSC, EF2HST
62.5/125uM
SC or ST Type 100BaseFX SC or ST Type
Fiber Optic Cable
Fiber Distance Extender
Fiber Transceiver Module
412/1330
(Half Duplex)
Multi-Mode
62.5/125uM
EF2HSC or EF2HST
SC or ST Type
EF2HSC, EF2HST
SC or ST Type
Maximum distance
0f 208 meters
Fiber Optic Cable
Fiber Distance Extender
Fiber Distance Extender
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Instant EtherFast II Series
10/100 Hubs
Specifications
Customer Support
Model Number:
EF2H16
EF2H24
For help with the installation or operation of your EtherFast 10/100 Hub, con-
tact Linksys Customer Support at one of the phone numbers or Internet
addresses below.
Standards:
Protocol:
Ports:
IEEE 802.3 and IEEE 802.3u
CSMA/CD
16 or 24 RJ-45, depending on model;
One 100BaseFX fiber optic expansion slot
10Mbps or 100Mbps
Customer Support
800-326-7114
949-261-1288
Speed:
LEDs:
Fax
949-261-8868
Power, 10Col, 100Col, 100Mbps, Link/Activity,
Module Link/Activity
E-mail
Web
FTP Site
ftp.linksys.com
Cabling:
Category 5 UTP (or better)
Note: You must have your
proof of purchase and a bar-
code from the product’s
packaging on hand when
calling. Return requests can
not be processed without
proof of purchase.
Linksys Warranty Information
Linksys guarantees that every 10/100 Hub is free
from physical defects in material and workman-
ship under normal use for five (5) year from the
date of purchase. If the product proves defective
Environmental
Dimensions:
Unit Weight:
Certifications:
17.25” x 7” x 1.75”
6.6 lbs.
FCC Class A, CE Mark, Commercial
UL and CSA listed
90-250VAC, 50-60Hz
30 Watts
during this warranty period, contact Linksys Customer Support to obtain a
Return Authorization number. When returning a product, mark the Return
Authorization number clearly on the outside of the package and include your
original proof of purchase.
Power:
Power Consumption:
Operating Temperature: 32°F to 131°F (0°C to 55°C)
Storage Temperature:
Operating Humidity:
Storage Humidity:
IN NO EVENT SHALL LINKSYS’ LIABILITY EXCEED THE PRICE
PAID FOR THE PRODUCT FROM DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCI-
DENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE
USE OF THE PRODUCT, ITS ACCOMPANYING SOFTWARE, OR ITS
DOCUMENTATION. LINKSYS OFFERS NO REFUNDS FOR ITS PROD-
UCTS.
-40°F to 158°F (-40°C to 70°C)
10% to 85% Non-Condensing
5% to 90% Non-Condensing
Tampering with or disassembling this product voids its warranty.
Linksys makes no warranty or representation, expressed, implied, or statutory,
with respect to its products or the contents or use of this documentation and
all accompanying software, and specifically disclaims its quality, perform-
ance, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. Linksys reserves
the right to revise or update its products, software, or documentation without
obligation to notify any individual or entity.
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