


              NOVELL TECHNICAL INFORMATION DOCUMENT

TITLE:              Cabling Specifications
DOCUMENT ID:        TID014402
DOCUMENT REVISION:  A
DATE:               04DEC92
ALERT STATUS:       Yellow
INFORMATION TYPE:   Issue
README FOR:         NA

NOVELL PRODUCT and VERSION:
NetWare Lite 1.0
NetWare Lite 1.1 for DOS & Windows
PERSONAL NetWare 1.0

ABSTRACT:

This document covers the cable installation and configuration
rules for each network type including Ethernet, ARCnet, and
Token-Ring.   This document does not cover every possible cabling
specification.  You should refer to the documentation supplied
with your network interface card (NIC) or contact the
manufacturer of your NIC for specific details.

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THE ORIGIN OF THIS INFORMATION MAY BE INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL TO
NOVELL.  NOVELL MAKES EVERY EFFORT WITHIN ITS MEANS TO VERIFY
THIS INFORMATION.  HOWEVER, THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS
DOCUMENT IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY.  NOVELL MAKES NO EXPLICIT
OR IMPLIED CLAIMS TO THE VALIDITY OF THIS INFORMATION.
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ISSUE

     Cabling Specifications and Limitations

     This document covers the cable installation and
     configuration rules for each network type including
     Ethernet, ARCnet, and Token-Ring.   This document does not
     cover every possible cabling specification.  You should
     refer to the documentation supplied with your network
     interface card (NIC) or contact the manufacturer of your NIC
     for specific details.

     Ethernet Network

     Ethernet is a high-speed linear bus network.  It permits a
     minimum data rate of 10 Mbps.  It can use coaxial,
     twisted-pair, or fiber optic cables.  Cabling specifications
     for Ethernet include thick Ethernet (10Base5), thin Ethernet
     (10Base2), twisted-pair Ethernet (10BaseT), StarLAN
     (1Base5), and CATV-type Ethernet (10Broad36).  Other
     specifications are also being defined.  The standards
     described here include thick Ethernet, thin Ethernet, and
     twisted-pair Ethernet.

     Thick Ethernet Cabling

     Thick Ethernet cabling, also known as 10Base5, uses 0.4-inch

     diameter 50-ohm coaxial cable in a bus configuration that is
     a single length of cable (trunk segment) with a terminating
     resistor on each end.  Each node (PC) attaches to the cable
     through a transceiver cable and transceiver.

     Use the following rules for thick Ethernet cabling:

          The network board must be set to use the DIX connector.

          Thick Ethernet cable is 0.4-inch diameter, 50-ohm 
          coaxial cable; no other type of cable should be used. 
          The cable should be prepared by the factory or a
          trained professional because homemade cables can create
          problems on the network.  It is available in various
          precut lengths with a standard 0.4-inch diameter
          N-series connector plug attached to each end.

          Both ends of the trunk segment must be terminated with
          an N-series terminating resistor matching the rating of
          the cable (50 ohm).  The terminators are connected to
          the N-Series connector plugs at each end of the
          segment.  One end of the cable is grounded through a
          grounding terminator that must be connected to a true
          ground.  Only ground one of the two resistors.

          The network board is connected to the trunk segment
          through a DIX connector to a transceiver cable and
          transceiver.

          A trunk segment cannot exceed 500 meters (1,640 feet).

          Up to 100 nodes (machines) can be connected to one
          trunk segment.

          Up to five trunk segments can be connected through four
          repeaters.  A repeater counts as a node on the network.

          The entire network trunk cannot exceed 2,500 meters
          (8,200 feet).

          The minimum cable distance between transceivers must be
          2.5 meters (8 feet).

          Avoid placing the cable on or near any electrical
          devices that could cause interference on the line (such
          as florescent lights, electric motors, or
          uninterruptable power supplies).

          NetWare Lite only supports a total of 25 nodes
          connected to the logical network at any one time. 
          PERSONAL NetWare only supports a total of 50 nodes
          connected to a logical workgroup at any one time.

     Thin Ethernet Cabling

     Thin Ethernet cabling, also known as "Thinnet", "Cheapernet"
     and 10Base2, uses RG-58/U, 50-ohm coaxial cable in a bus
     configuration that is a single length of cable (trunk
     segment) with a terminating resistor on each end.  Each node
     (PC) attaches to the cable through a T-Connector that
     attaches to the BNC connector on the network board.

     Use the following rules for thin Ethernet cabling:

          The network board must be set to use the BNC connector.

          Thin Ethernet cable is 0.2-inch RG-58/U (or RG-58A/U),
          50-ohm coaxial cable; no other type of cable should be
          used.  The cable should be prepared by the factory or a
          trained professional because homemade cables can create
          problems on the network.

          Both ends of the trunk segment must be terminated with
          a terminating resistor matching the rating of the cable
          (50 ohm).  The terminator is connected to the
          T-Connector at the end of the segment.  One end of the
          cable must also be grounded through a grounding
          terminator that must be connected to a true ground. 
          Only ground one of the two resistors.

          The network board is connected to the trunk segment
          through a T-Connector.  The cable can never be plugged
          directly into the network board.

          A trunk segment cannot exceed 185 meters (607 feet).

          Up to 30 nodes (machines) can be connected to one trunk
          segment.

          Up to five trunk segments can be connected through four
          repeaters.  A repeater counts as a node on the network.

          The entire network trunk cannot exceed 925 meters
          (3,035 feet).

          The minimum cable distance between stations must be 0.5
          meters (1.5 feet).

          Avoid placing the cable on or near any electrical
          devices that could cause interference on the line (such
          as  florescent lights, electric motors, or
          uninterruptable power supplies).

          NetWare Lite only supports a total of 25 nodes
          connected to the logical network at any one time. 
          PERSONAL NetWare only supports a total of 50 nodes
          connected to a logical workgroup at any one time.

     Twisted-Pair Ethernet Cabling

     Twisted-Pair Ethernet cabling, also known as 10BaseT, uses
     22, 24, or 26 gauge unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cables
     (similar to telephone wire) in a star-shaped configuration. 
     The most common cable is 24 AWG.  Each node (PC) attaches to
     a concentrator through a twisted-pair cable using RJ-45
     (8-wire, 4-pair) connectors (similar to a telephone jack). 
     Some  network boards, specifically designed for twisted-pair
     use, include an  RJ-45 jack instead of a BNC connector. 
     However, standard Ethernet boards require an external device
     attached to the DIX connector to use this type of cabling.


     Use the following rules for twisted-pair Ethernet cabling:

          The network board must be set to use the twisted-pair
          connector.

          Maximum segment length (UTP, station to concentrator):
          100 meters (328 feet)

          Maximum number of segments: 1,024

          Maximum number of daisy-chained concentrators: 4

          Avoid placing the cable on or near any electrical
          devices that could cause interference on the line (such
          as florescent lights, electric motors, or
          uninterruptable power supplies).

          NetWare Lite only supports a total of 25 nodes
          connected to the logical network at any one time. 
          PERSONAL NetWare only supports a total of 50 nodes
          connected to a logical workgroup at any one time.

     ARCnet Network

     ACRnet is a token-passing star bus network that connects
     each node to an active or passive hub through coaxial cable.
     The cable can also connect one active hub to another hub. 
     These hubs act as signal splitters.  Active hubs also act as
     signal amplifiers.

     Other specifications for ARCnet have been defined, including
     a bus topology and twisted-pair ARCnet.  Only the
     token-passing star bus network topology is described here.

     ARCnet Cabling (Coax)

     ARCnet cabling uses RG-62/U, 93-ohm coaxial cable in a star
     configuration.  Each node (PC) is connected to an active or
     passive hub with one end of the cable plugged directly into
     the BNC connector on the network board and the other end
     plugged into the BNC connector on the hub.  If only two
     nodes are on the network, the cable can directly connect the
     two machines.  If more than two nodes are on the network, an
     active or passive hub must be used.

     Use the following rules for ACRnet cabling:

          ARCnet cable is RG-62/U, 93-ohm coaxial cable; no other
          type of cable should be used.  The cable should be
          prepared by the factory or a trained professional
          because homemade cables can create problems on the
          network.

          Unused nodes of a passive hub must be terminated using
          a 93-ohm terminator.  Unused active hub nodes need not
          be terminated.

          A passive hub cannot be connected to another passive
          hub.


          Passive hubs can only connect a node and an active hub,
          never two active hubs.

          Make sure that the node address of the network board in
          each PC is unique.  This only applies if the node
          address is configurable.

          Maximum cable distances depend on what you are
          connecting, as shown in the following chart:

               ----------------------------------------------
                    FROM          TO        MAXIMUM DISTANCE 
               ----------------------------------------------
                Network Node  Network Node     2,000 feet    
                Network Node  Active Hub       2,000 feet    
                Network Node  Passive Hub        100 feet    
                Active Hub    Active Hub       2,000 feet    
                Active Hub    Passive Hub        100 feet    
               ----------------------------------------------

          The cable length distance between the farthest two
          nodes in the network cannot exceed 20,000 feet.  This
          is the maximum distance a signal can travel on the
          cable in the allotted time of 31 microseconds.

          Avoid placing the cable on or near any electrical
          devices that could cause interference on the line (such
          as florescent lights, electric motors, or
          uninterruptable power supplies).

          NetWare Lite only supports a total of 25 nodes
          connected to the logical network at any one time. 
          PERSONAL NetWare only supports a total of 50 nodes
          connected to a logical workgroup at any one time.

          Note:  Some ARCnet boards can be connected using a bus
          configuration similar to thin Ethernet.  For this type
          of board, contact your dealer for information regarding
          the configuration rules and specifications.

     Token-Ring Network

     Token-Ring is a token-passing network.  Each node (PC)
     attaches to a device called a multistation access unit (MAU
     or MSAU) that sends the token from one node to the next node
     in line.  A token-ring network can use either a small
     movable cabling system or a large nonmovable cabling system.
     This document will discuss the small movable cabling system.

     Token-Ring Cabling

     Token-Ring cabling uses IBM type 6 cable in a ring
     configuration.  Each node must attach directly to a MAU. 
     Each MAU can connect to another MAU through a patch cable to
     form a ring.  If the total number of nodes on the network is
     less than or equal to eight (the number of connections on
     the MAU), only one MAU is needed.

     Adapter cables and patch cables are the two types of cables
     used in a Token-Ring network.  Adapter cables are 8-foot IBM
     type 6 cables.  Use an adapter cable to connect nodes

     directly to a MAU or to a patch cable that is connected to a
     MAU.  Patch cables are also IBM type 6 cables and come in
     four lengths: 8, 30, 75, and 150 feet.  A patch cable can
     extend the cable's distance past the 8-foot adapter cable
     distance to connect MAUs.

     Use the following rules for Token-Ring cabling:

          Maximum number of nodes: 96

          Maximum number of MAUs: 12

          Maximum patch cable distance between a MAU and a node
          (not including 8-foot adapter cable): 150 feet

          Maximum patch cable distance between two MAUs: 150 feet

          Maximum patch cable distance connecting all MAUs: 400
          feet

          Connect nodes to the ports on the MAU labeled 1 to 8.

          Connect all MAUs with patch cables using the ports
          labeled RI (Ring In) and RO (Ring Out).  The RO port of
          the last MAU connects to the RI port of the first MAU,
          creating a ring.

          Before connecting cables, initialize each port you will
          use by plugging in the Setup Aid and waiting for the
          click.  Then remove the Setup Aid.

          Avoid placing the cable on or near any electrical
          devices that could cause interference on the line (such
          as florescent lights, electric motors, or
          uninterruptable power supplies).

          NetWare Lite only supports a total of 25 nodes
          connected to the logical network at any one time. 
          PERSONAL NetWare only supports a total of 50 nodes
          connected to a logical workgroup at any one time.
