D-Link DFE-904 User manual

DFE-904
Ethernet/Fast Ethernet
Dual-Speed Hub
User’s Guide
Rev. 01 (November 1997)
6DFE904...01
Printed In Taiwan
RECYCLABLE

Trademarks
Copyright 1997 by D-Link Corporation.
Contents subject to change without prior notice.
D-Link is a registered trademark of D-Link Corporation and D-Link
Systems, Inc.
All other trademarks belong to their respective owners.
Copyright Statement
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any
means or used to make any derivative such as translation,
transformation, or adaptation without permission from D-Link
Corporation or D-Link Systems Inc., as stipulated by the United States
Copyright Act of 1976.
FCC Warning
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for
a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These
limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial
environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with this
guide, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause
harmful interference, in which case the user will be required to correct
the interference at his or her own expense.
CE Mark Warning
This is a Class A product. In a domestic environment, this product may
cause radio interference, in which case the user may be required to take
adequate measures.

Limited Warranty
Hardware:
D-Link warrants its hardware products to be free from defects in workmanship and materials, under
normal use and service, for the following lengths of time from the date of purchase from D-Link or its
Authorized Reseller:
Product Type Period
Network adapters Lifetime
Unmanaged and managed hubs (10 Mbps) Lifetime *
Unmanaged hubs (100 Mbps) Lifetime *
Managed hubs (100 Mbps) One year
Unmanaged and managed dual-speed hubs (10/100 Mbps) One year
* Power supply and fans in these devices One year
Other hardware products One year
Spare parts and spare kits 90 days
If a product does not operate as warranted during the applicable warranty period, D-Link shall, at its
option and expense, (1) repair the defective product or part, (2) deliver to Customer an equivalent
product or part to replace the defective item. All products that are replaced will become the property of
D-Link. Replacement products may be new or reconditioned. Any replaced or repaired product or part
has a ninety (90) day warranty or the remainder of the initial warranty period, whichever is longer.
D-Link shall not be responsible for any software, firmware, information, or memory data of Customer
contained in, stored on, or integrated with any products returned to D-Link pursuant to any warranty.
All products with lifetime warranty have a standard five-year warranty. To qualify for lifetime warranty,
the enclosed Product Registration Card must be completed and returned to D-Link within ninety (90)
days of purchase.
Warranty service may be obtained by contacting a D-Link office within the applicable warranty period
for a Return Material Authorization (RMA) number. If a Registration Card has not been previously sent,
proof of purchase, such as a copy of the dated purchase invoice, must be provided. Once an RMA
number is issued, the defective product must be shipped back to D-Link prepaid, insured and wrapped in
the original or similar shipping package to ensure that it will not be damaged during shipment. When
returning the defective product to D-Link for service, the RMA number must be marked on the outside
of the shipping package. Any product returned without an RMA number shall be rejected and sent back
to the Customer, and D-Link reserves the right to have Customer bear the cost of sending back such
products. A service charge may or may not be levied to Customer by D-Link. To find out if a service
charge is levied or not, and the charged amount, read the RMA that is returned to Customer, or ask the D-
Link office when an RMA is requested.
EXCLUSIVE REMEDY
IF THE D-LINK PRODUCT DOES NOT OPERATE AS WARRANTED ABOVE, THE CUSTOMER'S
SOLE REMEDY SHALL BE, AT D-LINK'S OPTION, REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. THE
FOREGOING WARRANTIES AND REMEDIES ARE EXCLUSIVE AND ARE IN LIEU OF ALL
OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, EITHER IN FACT OR BY OPERATION OF
LAW, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. D-LINK NEITHER ASSUMES NOR
AUTHORIZES ANY OTHER PERSON TO ASSUME FOR IT ANY OTHER LIABILITY IN

CONNECTION WITH THE SALE, INSTALLATION MAINTENANCE OR USE OF D-LINK'S
PRODUCTS
D-LINK SHALL NOT BE LIABLE UNDER THIS WARRANTY IF ITS TESTING AND
EXAMINATION DISCLOSE THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE PRODUCT DOES NOT
EXIST OR WAS CAUSED BY THE CUSTOMER'S OR ANY THIRD PERSON'S MISUSE,
NEGLECT, IMPROPER INSTALLATION OR TESTING, UNAUTHORIZED ATTEMPTS TO
REPAIR, OR ANY OTHER CAUSE BEYOND THE RANGE OF THE INTENDED USE, OR BY
ACCIDENT, FIRE, LIGHTNING OR OTHER HAZARD.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
IN NO EVENT WILL D-LINK BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF DATA,
LOSS OF PROFITS, COST OF COVER OR OTHER INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR
INDIRECT DAMAGES ARISING OUT THE INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, USE,
PERFORMANCE, FAILURE OR INTERRUPTION OF A D- LINK PRODUCT, HOWEVER CAUSED
AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY. THIS LIMITATION WILL APPLY EVEN IF D-LINK HAS
BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
IF YOU PURCHASED A D-LINK PRODUCT IN THE UNITED STATES, SOME STATES DO NOT
ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

CONTENTS
Introduction.....................................................................................1
Product Description.........................................................................1
Unpacking and Setup......................................................................3
Identifying External Components....................................................4
Front Panel.............................................................................................. 4
Side Panels.............................................................................................. 6
Back Panel............................................................................................... 7
Installing the Hub...........................................................................9
Single-hub Network................................................................................. 9
Multi-hub Ethernet Network...................................................................11
Two-hub Fast Ethernet Network..............................................................13
Mounting.......................................................................................14
Horizontal Mounting...............................................................................15
Vertical Mounting...................................................................................15
Powering Up..................................................................................17
Specifications................................................................................18

1
Introduction
This guide explains how to set up and use the D-Link DFE-904 Ethernet/Fast
Ethernet mini-hub.
The DFE-904 is a sophisticated device that must be installed and operated as
described in this guide to work correctly. Follow the instructions in this guide
carefully to ensure that your DFE-904 will provide many years of trouble-free
operation.
The D-Link DFE-904 dual-speed Ethernet/Fast Ethernet hub is designed to allow
easy migration and integration between 10-Mbps Ethernet and 100-Mbps Fast
Ethernet.
The DFE-904 hub can operate with either IEEE 802.3 10BASE-T connections
(twisted-pair Ethernet operating at 10 megabits per second), or IEEE 802.3u
100BASE-TX connections (twisted-pair Fast Ethernet operating at 100 megabits
per second).
Product Description
The DFE-904 is two hubs in one: an Ethernet hub that works at 10 megabits per
second (Mbps), and a Fast Ethernet hub that works at 100 Mbps.
Important: The DFE-904 can work at 10 or 100 Mbps, but not at both speeds
at the same time. The devices that you connect to the DFE-904
must all access the network at the same speed.

2
Standards for 10-Mbps Ethernet and 100-Mbps Fast Ethernet are administered
by the International Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The
DFE-904 conforms fully to IEEE standards for hubs of its type.
As a 10-Mbps Ethernet hub, the DFE-904 conforms to the IEEE's 10BASE-T
standard. 10BASE-T stands for 10-Mbps "baseband" (that is, one-bit-at-a-time)
signaling on twisted-pair cables.
Technical note: Twisted-pair cables contain wires wound together in pairs to
reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI). Some also have
foil shielding to further reduce EMI.
As a 100-Mbps Fast Ethernet hub, the DFE-904 conforms to the 100BASE-TX
Class II standard.
Terminology tip: The Xin 100BASE-TX means that signals cross from the
sender's transmit lines to the receiver's receive lines (this
crossover occurs within the hub). 10BASE-T has crossover
also, but no X; the Xwas added to distinguish 100BASE-TX
from 100BASE-T4, a Fast Ethernet standard with no
crossover.
100BASE-TX Class II hubs can be connected to each other using twisted-pair
cabling; Class I hubs cannot. A twisted-pair connection between hubs is called
an uplink.
Terminology Tip: In an uplink connection, neither side is really "higher" than
the other; uplinking simply lets each side pass to the other
all valid signals that it receives from networked devices.
Uplinking is sometimes referred to as cascading or daisy-
chaining.
Both 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX allow uplinking, but the two standards have
very different rules for uplink connections. Follow the connection instructions in
this guide very carefully.

3
When used as a 10BASE-T Ethernet hub, the DFE-904 can interconnect end
nodes and other 10BASE-T hubs in many different combinations, as long as the
connection rules given in this guide are followed. Most often, the hub is used
either (a) to interconnect four end nodes, or (b) to interconnect three end nodes
and another hub. This guide covers both these and other ways to use the hub on a
10BASE-T network.
Terminology tip: An end node is a device that can originate signals and be
addressed by other devices on a network. Servers, single-
user computers, bridges, routers, and switching hubs are end
nodes; hubs such as the DFE-904 are not.
The DFE-904 is the type of hub technically known as a
multi-port repeater or repeating hub. Unless preceded by the
word switching, the word hub in this guide always refers to a
repeating hub.
When used as a 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet hub, the DFE-904 can interconnect
either (a) four end nodes, or (b) three end nodes and another hub. These are the
only connection methods allowed by the 100BASE-TX standard for hubs such as
the DFE-904. This guide covers both methods in detail.
It is assumed in this guide that you will first use the DFE-904 as a 10BASE-T
Ethernet hub and later convert your network to 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet. The
requirements for each type of network are explained in detail in the relevant
sections of this guide.
Unpacking and Setup
This chapter provides information on the unpacking and initial installation of
your hub.

4
Open the shipping carton of your hub and carefully unpack the contents. The
carton should contain the following items:
♦One dual-speed hub
♦One AC power adapter, suitable for your area electrical power
connections
♦Mounting accessories (rubber feet, screws, and wall anchors)
♦This User’s Guide
Inspect the hub and all accompanying items. If any item is damaged or missing,
report the problem immediately to your computer equipment dealer.
Identifying External Components
This section identifies all the major external components of the hub. Both the
front and rear panels are shown, followed by a description of each panel feature.
The indicator panel is described in detail in the next chapter.
Front Panel
On the DFE-904's front panel are the hub's Speed, Link/Rx, and Collision
indicators. The Speed and Link/Rx indicators are all green light-emitting diodes
(LEDs); the Collision indicator is a yellow LED.