Copyright © 2005 IEEE. All rights reserved.
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Information technology—
Telecommunications and information exchange between systems—
Local and metropolitan area networks—Specific requirements—
Part 3: Carrier Sense Multiple Access with
Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) access method
and physical layer specifications
SECTION TWO: This section includes Clause 21 through Clause 33 and Annex 22A through
Annex 32A.
21. Introduction to 100 Mb/s baseband networks, type 100BASE-T
21.1 Overview
100BASE-T couples the IEEE 802.3 CSMA/CD MAC with a family of 100 Mb/s Physical Layers. While
the MAC can be readily scaled to higher performance levels, new Physical Layer standards are required for
100 Mb/s operation.
The relationships between 100BASE-T, the existing IEEE 802.3 (CSMA/CD MAC), and the ISO/IEC Open
System Interconnection (OSI) reference model is shown in Figure 21–1
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100BASE-T uses the existing IEEE 802.3 MAC layer interface, connected through a Media-Independent
Interface layer to a Physical Layer entity (PHY) sublayer such as 100BASE-T4, 100BASE-TX, or
100BASE-FX.
100BASE-T extends the IEEE 802.3 MAC to 100 Mb/s. The bit rate is faster, bit times are shorter, packet
transmission times are reduced, and cable delay budgets are smaller—all in proportion to the change in
bandwidth. This means that the ratio of packet duration to network propagation delay for 100BASE-T is the
same as for 10BASE-T.
21.1.1 Reconciliation Sublayer (RS) and Media Independent Interface (MII)
The Media Independent Interface (Clause 22) provides an interconnection between the Media Access Con-
trol (MAC) sublayer and Physical Layer entities (PHY) and between PHY Layer and Station Management
(STA) entities. This MII is capable of supporting both 10 Mb/s and 100 Mb/s data rates through four bit
wide (nibble wide) transmit and receive paths. The Reconciliation sublayer provides a mapping between the
signals provided at the MII and the MAC/PLS service definition.