Click pictures for larger view.
| 10BaseT | IEEE 802.3 network standard. Specifies using 10Mbps twisted-pair (Cat3, Cat4, or Cat5) cabling with RJ-45 connectors. The minimum segment length is 100 meters. A network based on this standard uses a star-topology with point-to-point connections between computers and switches. | |
| 100BaseTX | IEEE 802.3u network standard for Fast Ethernet. Specifies using 10Mbps twisted-pair (Cat5 UTP or STP) cabling with RJ-45 connectors. The minimum segment length is 100 meters. A network based on this standard uses a star-topology with point-to-point connections between computers and switches. | |
| 10/100BaseT/TX | Compatible with both 10BaseT and 100BaseTX | |
| 100BaseFX | IEEE 802.3u standard for 100Mbps over fiber optic cable. Compatible with both Multimode (MM) and Singlemode (SM) signals. The minimum segment length is 412 meters in MM and 10,000 meters in SM. Uses SC, ST, and MIC connectors with a star-topology. | |
| 1000BaseCX | IEEE 802.3z standard for Gigabit Ethernet over STP cable. Uses a 9-pin shielded connector or an 8-pin fiber channel type 2 connector. Minimum segment length is 25 meters. | |
| 1000BaseLX | IEEE 802.3z standard for Gigabit Ethernet over fiber optic cable. Uses a long wavelength laser in both MM and SM. Segment lengths are 530 meters for MM and 5000 meters for SM. | |
| 1000BaseSX | IEEE 802.3z standard for Gigabit Ethernet over fiber optic cable. Uses a short wavelength laser in only MM. Segment length is 550 meters. | |
| 1000BaseT | IEEE 802.3ab standard for Gigabit Ethernet over Cat5 UTP cable. Uses a RJ-45 connector. Minimum segment length is 100 meters. | |
| ATM Converters | Asynchronous Transfer Mode converters convert single mode fiber signals to multimode fiber signals | |
| AUI Connector | Attachment Unit Interface - uses a 15 pin D-Shell connector |
|
| BNC Connectors | Coaxial media connector |
|
| RJ-45 Connectors | Used with twisted pair cabling. Like a telephone line connector but has 8 pins instead of 4 . |
|
| FC Fiber Connector | Uses a threaded connection. SMA is similar. | |
| LC Fiber Connector | Similar to SC but also snaps into place |
|
| MT-RJ Fiber Connector | Snaps into place like an RJ-45. VF-45 is similar. |
|
| ST Fiber Connector | Uses half-twist type locking |
|
| SC Fiber Connector | Uses a push-pull connection point |
|
| Mulitmode (MM) | Sending many signals through a fiber optic cable at the same time. It causes the signal to be weaker and slower, however. The cable is usually orange. | |
| Singlemode (SM) | Sending only one signal through the fiber optic cable at a time. The cable is usually yellow. | |
| Simplex | Dialog mode where only one-way transmission of data is sent through the cable in the network | |
| Half-Duplex | Dialog mode where data can be both transmitted and received through the cable but not at the same time | |
| Full-Duplex | Dialog mode where data can be transmitted and received simultaneously through the cable | |
| Hardened Converter | Label used for converters that are more rugged than normal. Used in industrial environments such as a manufacturing plant | |
| Link Fault Signaling (LFS) | Implemented in a converter so that it can recognize a failure, allowing the switch to route the data to a back-up path if it is equipped with the Spanning Tree Algorithm | |
| Managed Media Converters | Allows troubleshooting and configuring remotely along with other advances in the media converter's design | |
| PCI Based Media Converters | A converter that is placed in a desktop computer's PCI slot. The copper connector connects to a media converter on the motherboard or to another PCI card while the fiber connector connects to the actual network. | |
| Power Device (PD) Power over Equipment (PoE) Converter | If this converter is connected to a PSE PoE device then it will receive its power for that device instead having a separate power source. | |
| Power Source Equipment (PSE) Power over Equipment (PoE) Converter | The converter provides power to compliant PDs (Power Devices) using a twisted-pair connection. The PD does not need a separate power connection to work. | |
| WDM | Wavelength division multiplexor - can be used to combine several signals into one line or to take muliple signals from one line and split them apart |