Chapter 2 Preparing For Installation; Limiting Connection Distances - Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Installation Manual

Limiting Connection Distances

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Preparing for Installation
This chapter describes how to prepare your site before you install modules in the
switches, and it contains these sections:
Determining Cable Distances, page 2-2
•
Port Densities, page 2-16
•
Gigabit Interface Converters, page 2-18
•
Software Requirements, page 2-26
•
This chapter does not contain instructions for installing the switch chassis. For
information on installing the switch chassis, refer to the Catalyst 6000 Series
Switch Installation Guide or the Catalyst 6500 Series Switch Installation Guide.
The length of your networks and the distances between connections depend on the
type of signal, the signal speed, and the transmission media (the type of cabling
used to transmit the signals). For example, fiber-optic cable has a greater channel
capacity than twisted-pair cabling. The distance and rate limits in this chapter are
the IEEE-recommended maximum speeds and distances for signaling. However,
if you understand the electrical problems that may arise and can compensate for
them, you should get good results with rates and distances greater than those
described here, although you do so at your own risk.
C H A P T E R
Catalyst 6500 Series Switch Module Installation Guide
2
2-1