1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet Over Category 5 Copper Cabling

1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet over Category 5 copper cabling is an attractive option for network managers for several reasons. It addresses the exploding bandwidth requirements on current networks that are the result of implementation of new applications and the increasing deployment of switching at the edges of the network. Gigabit Ethernet leverages the organization’s existing investment in Ethernet and Fast Ethernet infrastructures, and it provides a simple, cost-effective performance boost while continuing to use the dominant horizontal/floor-cabling medium.

1000BASE-T Key Specifications

1000BASE-T is specified to run over four pairs of Category 5 balanced cabling. The 1000BASE-T standard leverages the existing cable infrastructure as it is specified to operate up to 100 meters on Category 5 cabling. The other key specifications of 1000BASE-T make it a cost-effective, non-disruptive, and high-performing technology. First, it supports the Ethernet MAC, and is thus backward compatible with a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet. Second, many 1000BASE-T products will support 100/1000 auto-negotiation, and therefore 1000BASE-T can be incrementally deployed in a Fast Ethernet network. Third, 1000BASE-T is a high-performing technology with less than one erroneous bit in 10 billion transmitted bits. This bit error rate of less than 10 – 10 is the same error rate as that of 100BASE-T.

Why 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet Over Category 5 Copper Cabling?

• Exploding bandwidth requirements

New bandwidth-intensive applications are being deployed over Ethernet and Fast Ethernet networks. These applications include the following:
Internet and intranet applications that create any-to-any traffic patterns with servers distributed across the enterprise, and users accessing web sites inside and outside the corporate network; these applications tend to make traffic patterns and bandwidth requirements increasingly unpredictable. Data warehousing and backup applications that handle gigabytes or terabytes of data distributed among hundreds of servers and storage systems. Bandwidth-intensive, latency-sensitive groupware applications, such as desktop video conferencing or interactive whiteboarding.

• Significant investment in Ethernet/Fast Ethernet infrastructure

Ethernet is the dominant, ubiquitous LAN technology. According to industry analyst International Data Corporation (IDC) in Framingham, MA, more than 85 percent of all installed network connections were Ethernet at the end of 1997, representing more than 118 million interconnected PCs, workstations, and servers. The deployment of Ethernet/Fast Ethernet networks involves investment in network interface cards (NICs), hubs, and switches, as well as in-network management capabilities, staff training and skills, and cabling infrastructure.

• A simple, cost-effective performance boost on existing Category 5 cabling

1000BASE-T offers a simple, cost-effective migration of Ethernet/Fast Ethernet networks toward high-speed networking and also has the following benefits:
1000BASE-T scales Ethernet 10/100 Mbps performance to 1000 Mbps. 1000BASE-T is the most cost-effective, high-speed networking technology available now. 1000BASE-T leverages existing, proven Fast Ethernet and V.90/56K modem technologies and will experience the same cost curve as the Ethernet/Fast Ethernet technologies. 1000BASE-T is significantly more cost-efficient than 1000BASE-SX (Fiber Gigabit) among all LAN technologies. 1000BASE-T preserves Ethernet equipment and infrastructure investments, including the investment in the installed Category 5 cabling infrastructure. There is no need to undergo the timeconsuming and high-cost task of replacing cabling located in walls, ceilings, or raised floors.

Fiberstore 1000BASE-T Copper SFP Transceiver

Fiberstore’s 1000BASE-T copper small form pluggable (SFP) transceivers are based on the SFP Multi Source Agreement (MSA). They are compatible with the Gigabit Ethernet and 1000BASE-T standards as specified in IEEE Std 802.3. For instance, HP J8177C X121 compatible 1000BASE-T SFP copper RJ45 transceiver for 100m reach over Cat 5 UTP cable uses the SFP’s RX_LOS pin for link indication and supports 1000BASE-T operation on the host system. Another example is Brocade XBR-000190 compatible 1000BASE-TX SFP copper RJ45 transceiver which offers the same function with Brocade E1MG-TX/XBR-000190 and fully compatible with Brocade devices.

1000BASE-T vs 1000BASE-TX

The development of Gigabit Ethernet standards resulted in specifications for UTP copper, single-mode fiber, and multimode fiber. Since Gigabit Ethernet allows transmission speeds of up to 1000Mbps over twisted pair, IEEE 802.3ab defines the 1000BASE-T interface type which uses 4D-PAM5 line encoding to obtain 1 Gbps data throughput. 1000BASE refers to a Gigabit Ethernet connection that uses the unfiltered cable for transmission. “T” means twisted-pair cable (e.g. the common Cat5 in use today).

1000BASE-T

1000Base-T is a type of gigabit Ethernet networking technology that uses copper cables as a medium. 1000Base-T uses four pairs of Category 5 unshielded twisted pair cables to achieve gigabit data rates. The standard is designated as IEEE 802.3ab and allows 1 Gbps data transfers for distances of up to 330 feet.

1000Base-T came into wide use in 1999, gradually replacing fast Ethernet for wired local networks simply because it was 10 times as fast. Equipment and cables are very similar to previous Ethernet standards and by 2011 were very common and economical. These were the biggest factors that ensured this standard's wide acceptance. 1000Base-T can be used in data centers for fast server switching or in desktop PCs for broadband applications. The biggest advantage of 1000Base-T is that it can use existing copper cabling, negating the need to rewire the system with newer optical fiber cables.

1000BASE-TX

This is a variation of the 1000BASE-T standard. Unlike 1000BASE-T, 1000BASE-TX uses just two of the four pairs in a Cat6 or Cast7 UTP cable. 1000BASE-TX supports full-duplex transmission with a range of up to 100 meters. Because only two of the four pairs are used, Cat6 and Cat7 UTP can support two 1000BASE TX links on the same cable. 1000BASE-TX networks connected with Cat6 UTP cabling are used in Gigabit Ethernet applications that require larger bandwidth than 1000Mbps, such as multimedia content development and streaming, videoconferencing, highly available data centers, and distribution layer cabling. The 1000BASE-TX standard provides a total bandwidth of 2000Mbps using two 1000BASE TX links on the same Cat6 or Cat7 UTP cable.

1000BASE-T vs 1000BASE-TX

The main advantage of 1000BASE-T over 1000BASE-TX is obviously the increased bandwidth. Note that although Cat5 UTP supports 1000BASE-T, Cat5e is recommended because the enhanced Cat5e UTP adds specifications for far-end crosstalk.

At present, 1000BASE-T is more commonly used with the lower cost of Cat 5 cabling. However, the design of 1000Base-TX does not require hybrids, nor does it necessitate echo cancellation. Consequently, the design of 1000Base-TX allows for its electronics to be much less expensive than comparable 1000Base-T electronics. So, which is better? It must depend on the plan, budget and application of your project.

Fiber Large 1000BASE-T and 1000BASE-TX Solution

As the main fiber optics manufacturer in China, Fiberstore supplies a wide range of 1000BASE-T and 1000BASE-TX optical transceiver modules, including HP J8177C compatible 1000BASE-T SFP transceiver, Juniper EX-SFP-1GE-T compatible 1000BASE-T, Brocade XBR-000190 compatible 1000BASE-TX SFP transceiver, etc. They offer customers high-performance and cost-effective optical fiber products to fulfill their requirements, contributing this way to the customer's success and satisfaction.