1000base-t and 1000base-tx

[Hiroyuki_1]

Hello . I'm sorry to make elementaly question . To purchase gigabit HUBs , I'm reading technical documents but still can't identify the name of standard between T and TX . Is TX later standard or same as T ? And also I'm wondering the diference A8685A and A6825A NICs . Could anybody point useful link ?
Thank you .

[Mic V. · Accepted solution]

1000base-T is implemented over Cat 5e and 1000base-TX is implemented on Cat 6. Here's
a good article:

http://www.ncasia.com/ViewArt.cfm?Artid=18526&catid=5&subcat=42

You might try looking up the NICs on:

http://partsurfer.hp.com/

No problem on the question! That's what the forums are for. :)

Mic

[Hiroyuki_1]

Thank you Mic for your good advice .
With my poor English ability , it seems to be written in the link that 1000base-tx is quite new , higher performance and very expensive technology . The other hand on the Partsurfer site , A8685A 1000base-tx NIC uses same part as A6825A 1000base-t NIC . When I bought A8685A I was so glad to get valuable gear but OS recognized it as A6825A . Do you think in fact real 1000base-tx material doesn't come to market yet ? because I just feel the A8685A sounds cheap enough as lowend NIC . My network is working fine everyday and should I keep silent for further pursuit ?
Best .

[Gonzo Granello]

Let me make that explanation somewhat easier. 1000T and 1000TX is the same just the first version has no x... the speed and everything else are the same. You need CAT5 for either, CAT6 (CAT6 has a thighter twist and can take higher Frequency) is overkill but gives you some reserve if you want to go the maximum distance. 1000T, 1000TX or Gig Copper always runs full duplex, there is ho gig half duplex, so the only autonegotiation happens is for flow control. On a side note, 1000TX uses all 4 pairs in a CAT5 wire, it will not run on CAT3, 10/100 uses only 2 pairs. Also, per IEEE spec, Gig Copper does MDIX, means it will figure the cale out by itself, you can use either straight or cross cabeling.
Hope that clarifiys it.....

///A

[Hiroyuki_1]

Hello Andreas .
I was helped to understand so much , thank you . For trial I asked neighbor PC shop's guy the diference between "100-t" and "100-tx" and he said 100-t was designed for early implementation of new windows95 at that time and today all NIC changed to 100-tx but they are in compatible so it doesn't matter a lot . I think same thing is happening currently and guess 1000-tx will be designed with perfect electrical specification strictly . I'm going to keep learning about that . Anyway appreciate your comment .
Best .

[Gonzo Granello]

Hiroyuki,

same as for the Gig - t and tx is the same. It was used (incorrect) for half and full duplex as far as i remember. However there are some major differences between 10/100 and gigabit. 10/100 can be half and full duplex as well as flow control on / off. Means, if both ends are auto negotiating they will find the (lowes) common determinator. If one end is Auto and the other lets say 100 full duplex the the autonegation will fail and the side with that turned on reverts to 100 half duplex. In 10 and 100 - half is the lowest possible speed therfore that setting is choosen when autoneg fails. In my exaple above, now you have one end with 100 full duplex and the other side 100 half duplex. That is where dropped packets and FCS (frame check sequence) errors are coming from. Anyway, windows 3.1 -> xp has really nothing to do with the 100 t and tx ......

///A

[Hiroyuki_1]

Hello Andreas . I respect your great knowledge .
While I asked local HP about that , they say
1.They can now supply for me only 1000base-t NIC .
2.It's a matter of just naming issue currently .
3.In the future different 1000base-tx like product might come to market but they're not sure .
4.For future invest , I should try cheaper HUBs for consumer purpose .

Now I'm having similar choice of past VHS and Beta VCR war .
Best .

[Gonzo Granello]

O.K. now you mixing too many things....and i need to read your question i guess.

Anyway, per IEEE specification there is no such thing as a 1000t(tx) hub. Gigabit is / has to be always switched or routed. Means, a Hub is basiclly a Layer 1 device, just connecting the physical layer (also called shared medium), a Switch is a Layer 2 Device (looks at MAC or Hardware Address) and a Router is usually Layer 3 and up (looks at IP address). 10 and 100 Mbit can be used with a hub but ONLY in half duplex mode, 10/100/1000 running full duplex needs to be switched.

Again, sometimes the "t" is used to describe half duplex and the "tx" for full duplex which in regard to gigabit makes NO sense since that is always full duplex therfore need to be switched.

I hope that clears some confusion...

///A

PS: here is a link with some training materials: http://www.hp.com/rnd/training/course_directory.htm

[Hiroyuki_1]

Hello Andreas .

I understood what you wrote . Peer the link and it seems to be indexes of charged training courses . Already I bought 50 times cheaper gB HUB than Procurve series and working fine . Carefully watched Procurve's brochure and it's written as 1000-t .

Thanks a lot .

[Gonzo Granello]

Hiroyuki,

There is one course in there that can be downloaded for free - the networking primer course that gives an overview and teaches fundamentals.

http://www.hp.com/rnd/training/technical/primer.htm

The more advanced courses are indeed not free, but they are worth the money.... Just out of curiosity, who makes the Gigabit Hub you purchased? If it's really 50 times cheaper i would buy a couple myself for personal use.... Anyway, hope you are doing ok. with that and if you need some high performance switches for the lowest per port cost in the industry (+ free support, upgrades and Lifetime warranty) keep HP Procurve in mind! There is a reason why we are the #1 for price/performance and value. And the #2 just a little behind the big C.

///A

[Hiroyuki_1]

Hello Andreas .

Thank you for pointing useful link . CBT is quite funny and I enjoyed . We're just a SOHO user , everybody prefers funless gear and cascaded connections are allowed , but something matter could happen someday . Such switch costs less than USD 100 and selling at supermarket . Lower box in the picture is my trial choice .

For my hobby I'm enjoying to make small router using former cute workstaion and 10 base NICs . I'm so encouraged with your advices .

Best .