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From: haas%basset.utah.edu@cs.utah.edu (Walt Haas)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Re: 10BaseT wiring question #4936
Message-ID: <1991Apr24.083621.22731@hellgate.utah.edu>
Date: 24 Apr 91 14:36:21 GMT
References: <35817@sequoia.UUCP>
Organization: University of Utah CS Dept
Lines: 21

In article <35817@sequoia.UUCP> keith@sequoia.UUCP (Keith Pyle) writes:
>Is it possible (and/or practical) to have more than one device (workstation,
>PC, etc.) per port using 10BaseT?  We have a number of developers with two
>and sometimes three systems connected to the thinnet in their offices.  We
>are considering relocation and 10BaseT has some desirable qualities, plus
>lower cost than thinnet.  However, if we can't have multiple devices per
>10BaseT port, it won't likely be practical for us.  Providing multiple ports
>per office isn't likely to be accepted.

A strategy we recently used in one building was to install a number of RJ45s
in each office with wiring back to the closet where the hub is.  Since this
was done when the building was being constructed the economics were pretty
favorable.  We only plug the closet end of the wire into actual hub
electronics when somebody wants to use the corresponding RJ45 in the office.

Another approach would be to keep a selection of multiport UTP transceivers
handy.  TCL makes UTP transceivers that have 1, 2 or 4 AUI connectors to
supply that number of hosts.  I haven't actually tried this approach myself
but it sounds reasonable :-).

-- Walt