What is Fast Ethernet Interface, Gigabit Ethernet Interface, and Serial Interface in Cisco Router
Types of Interface in Cisco Router: What is Fast Ethernet Interface, Gigabit Ethernet Interface, and Serial Interface in Cisco Router
The interface is the point of contact between two routers or router and a switch etc. Cisco routers have various kinds of interfaces mounted on them. Some of the important physical interfaces that can be seen on the router are as follows
a. Ethernet interface
b. Fast Ethernet interface
c. Serial interface
d. FDDI interface
e. Token Ring interface
f. Gigabit Ethernet interface
Each interface has its own specifications. Let us discuss each of them in detail
Ethernet interface:
Ethernet is most commonly seen in Local Area Networks and Metropolitan Area Networks. Ethernet operates at a speed of 10 Mbps (Mega bits per second) and uses a media standard 10 Base T. Ethernet was standardized in 1983 as IEEE 802.3. Ethernet divides the stream of data into frames having source and destination addresses along with error checking capabilities.
Fast Ethernet interface:
Fast Ethernet, is based on Ethernet and operates at speeds as high as 100 Mbps with the media standard 100Base T. Fast Ethernet was standardized in the year 1995 as IEEE802.3u.
Gigabit Ethernet interface:
Gigabit Ethernet describes various technologies that help to transmit data at a speed of 1000 Mbps. Gigabit Ethernet came into existence in 1999 with the standards IEEE 802.3 -2008. The Gigabit Ethernet uses the media standard 1000Base T.
Serial interface:
The serial interface is used in long distance communication such as Wide Area Networks. Serial interfaces can be either configured as Data Communication End or Data Terminal End. If two serial ports have to communicate with each other, they must be synchronized with the appropriate clock frequency and allocate proper bandwidth.
FDDI Interface:
FDDI stands for Fibre Distributed Data Interface. FDDI is a standard data transmission technique in Local Area Networks. FDDI standard uses optical fibre as a medium for data transmission. Later the standard was even developed to transmit data through copper cables. FDDI can transfer data at a speed of 100 Mbps. The cable allows the data transmission up to the distance of 200kms. FDDI passes tokens to the systems connected to the network to avoid data collision.
Token Ring Interface:
Token ring was first developed by IBM in 1984 and later standardized as IEEE 802.5. The interface generates 3-byte frame called token. The token travels along the network in a logical ring format. The client uses the token to transmit the data by holding the token with it and releases the token once the transmission is done. This method reduces data collision
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