What is 10 100 1000base t in networking?

Answer 1

10baseT is the designation for ethernet LAN running on twisted pair cable at 10 megabits per second using cables and hardware compatible with 10baseT. 100baseT, also called Fast Ethernet, uses twisted pair cable where data transfer occurs at 100 megabits per second with cables and hardware compatible with 100baseT. 1000baseT (gigabit ethernet) runs at 1000 megabit per second or 1 gigabit with cables and hardware capable of maintaining that speed. The higher speed cables and hardware are supposed to be compatible with the earlier slower speed.

The T in 10..baseT indicates that it uses twisted pair cabling (called category 5, 5e, 6, 6a depending on the speed it can handle) with various rules about the cables regarding insulation, shielding, connection rules and a maximum cable distance of about 100 meters.

Earlier versions of ethernet used different cableing. 10base5 used a special thick coaxial cable, ran at 10 megabits per second with a maximum cable length of about 5 hundred meters. 10base2 used thinner cheaper coaxial cabling and connectors, also ran at 10 megabits per second but with a maximum cable length of about 200 meters. Both of these are considered obsolete having been replaced by the twisted pair cable.

Answer 2

The 100 means the speed that information can move along it, or 100 Mbps (Mega Bits Per Second).