Premise: IT managers who are deploying100Base-TX (Fast Ethernet) networkshave to rely on their cabling system todeliver reliable, error-free transmissionof data traffic. Furthermore, as these networks integrate Gigabit Ethernet connections, this same error-free perfor-mance is required. Unshielded TwistedPair (UTP) Category 6 copper cablingand connectivity components must beable to work together to provide system-wide performance that meets or exceedsthe Bit Error Rate limits as defined in the802.3ab specifications for runningGigabit Ethernet over copper wiring.

The NetClearGT2 cabling system is analliance between Berk-Tek, an

Alcatel company, and Ortronics Inc., aprovider of copper and fiber cabling con-nectivity products, in an effort to providecabling solutions that guarantee success-ful transport of Fast Ethernet and GigabitEthernet traffic. Berk-Tek commissionedThe Tolly Group to evaluate theNetClearGT2 Cabling System, which con-sists of Berk-Tek’s LANmark-1000Category 6 UTP cable and OrtronicsGigaMo+ jacks, patch panels and wiringblocks. Tests included static test perfor-mance measurements and active testingthat consisted of channel tests of theNetClearGT2 solution transmitting FastEthernet and Gigabit Ethernet traffic. Thetest configurations consisted of worst-case 100 meter, four-connector channels.

In active tests, engineers used live net-work traffic. In passive tests, engineersverified the electrical performance of the cabling.

The Tolly Group devised tests to measurethe bit error rates (BERs) encounteredwhen running Fast Ethernet or GigabitEthernet traffic across the cabling plantunder test. In the absence of a specificBER requirement for 100Base-TX fromthe IEEE, Berk-Tek commissioned TheTolly Group to test Fast Ethernet to a

BER of 10-11. Engineers compared theGigabit Ethernet test results to the allow-able BER levels as defined in the IEEE802.3ab Gigabit Ethernet (over copper)standard, which requires a maximumBER of 1*10-10. Engineers measuredCRC errors, as well as fragmented andlost packets.

100Base-TX (100 Mbit/s)

Berk-Tek LANmark-1000 UTP

Ortronics, Inc. GigaMo+ patch panel, jack, 110 block, and patch

cords

All Samples

PASS

1000Base-T (1 Gbit/s)

Berk-Tek LANmark-1000 UTP

Ortronics, Inc. GigaMo+ patch panel, jack, 110 block, and patch

cords

All Samples

PASS

NetClearGT2

UTP Channel

Test Summary

Berk-Tek/Ortronics AllianceNetClearGT2 Category 6 Cabling SystemActive and Passive Structured Cabling System Evaluation

© 2000 The Tolly Group Page 1

No. 200211 June 2000

! Exceeds all IEEE 802.3ab requirements for running GigabitEthernet over copper cabling

! Delivers a bit error rate of less than 10-11 for 100Base-TX and 10-10 for 1000Base-T with NetClearGT2 cabling system consisting of Berk-Tek LANmark-1000 Category 6 cable andOrtronics GigaMo+ connectivity products

! Exceeds static performance requirements specified byTIA/EIA proposed Category 6 standard (Draft 5)

Test Highlights

Source: The Tolly Group, June 2000 Figure 1

Bit Error Rate (BER) Test Results for NetClearGT2

Channel Compliance for Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet

TOLLYG R O U P

T H E

Test results show that NetClearGT2

channels met or exceeded the BERspecified by Berk-Tek to test FastEthernet and met or exceeded 802.3abGigabit Ethernet requirements.

Results

NetClearGT2 Channeltests For FastEthernet

The Tolly Group engineers firsttested the NetClearGT2 Category 6structured cabling system consistingof Berk-Tek’s LANmark-1000 UTPcable and Ortronics GigaMo+ con-nectivity products, including its 110Wiring Block, GigaMo+ jacks,GigaMo+ patch panels, and patchcords, in a channel configurationwith Fast Ethernet traffic of 64-byte packets.

Results demonstrated that theNetClearGT2 Category 6 solutionmaintained a BER of less than 10-11.See figures 1 and 2.

NetClearGT2 ChannelTests for GigabitEthernet

The Tolly Group engineers tested theNetClearGT2 Category 6 structuredcabling system consisting of Berk-Tek’s LANmark-1000 UTP cableand Ortronics GigaMo+ connectivityproducts, including its 110 WiringBlock, GigaMo+ jacks, GigaMo+patch panels, and patch cords, in achannel configuration with GigabitEthernet traffic of 64-byte packets.The solution successfully maintaineda BER of less than 10-10 as specifiedin the IEEE 802.3ab objectives for1000Base-T. See figures 1 and 2.

Analysis

IT managers have long relied ontheir Fast Ethernet over copper net-works to provide error-free perfor-mance. However, in the latter part of1999, Gigabit Ethernet over copperbecame a reality. Leading switch

vendors such as Hewlett-PackardCo., Foundry Networks, Inc. andIntel Corp. either shipped orannounced shipment dates forGigabit Ethernet copper switchports. The near-term availability ofthis product — and the significant“price per port” reductions associat-ed with copper-based switching —ignited interest in this area.

Due to this tenfold speed increaseassociated with a move from FastEthernet to Gigabit Ethernet, cablingplant requirements are significantlymore stringent. With both FastEthernet and Gigabit Ethernet over copper, each time a cable isconnected and there is a point of termination and reconnection, thereis a chance of disruption.

When transmitting Gigabit Ethernetover copper, at a billion bits per

second, even a small half-second disruption can lose up to 500,000bits. It is imperative that structuredcabling solutions perform within the parameters of the IEEE 802.3abfor Gigabit Ethernet 1000Base-T.

This series of tests illustrates thatthe NetClearGT2 solution from Berk-Tek and Ortronics delivers excellentFast Ethernet performance andGigabit Ethernet performance that exceeds the IEEE 802.3ab parameters.

These results show that customerswith Fast Ethernet networks, plan-ning to upgrade their cabling structure, can benefit from the additional frequency headroomoffered by a NetClearGT2 solution.Even those who are planning toupgrade to Gigabit Ethernet in thefuture need the reliability of a

© 2000 The Tolly Group Page 2

The Tolly Group Berk-Tek/Ortronics Alliance NetClearGT2

Total Transmitted Frames

Total Received Frames

Maximum Bit Error Rate

20,353,033,918 20,353,033,918 < 10-10

20,012,284,085 20,012,284,085 < 10-10

20,827,779,932 20,827,779,932 < 10-10

21,929,771,257 21,929,771,257 < 10-10

20,030,657,196 20,030,657,196 < 10-10

20,036,396,030 20,036,396,030 < 10-10

Total Transmitted Frames

Total Received Frames

Maximum Bit Error Rate

21,872,640,981 21,872,640,981 < 10-11

21,872,646,327 21,872,646,327 < 10-11

21,872,658,030 21,872,658,030 < 10-11

23,127,550,922 23,127,550,922 < 10-11

23,127,630,590 23,127,630,590 < 10-11

23,127,832,403 23,127,832,403 < 10-11

Cable Sample

1

2

3

4

5

6

6

2

3

4

5

Cable Sample

1

Bit Error Rate of NetClearGT2 Category 6 CablingSystem for Gigabit Ethernet, 100 meter,

Four-Connector Channel Tests

Source: The Tolly Group, June 2000 Figure 2

Bit Error Rate of NetClearGT2 Category 6 CablingSystem for Fast Ethernet, 100 meter,

Four-Connector Channel Tests

NetClearGT2 system while using Fast Ethernet.

The flexibility to use both FastEthernet and Gigabit Ethernet overthe same cable offers customers thechance to migrate to a larger band-width without having to upgradetheir entire network at one time. In fact, migration to a faster technol-ogy begins in the wiring closet andspreads to the desktop. Therefore,when a company upgrades itscabling structure, it can implementthe increased bandwidth to the servers and switches, and thenlater to the desktop. A NetClearGT2

solution gives the customer more options.

Test Configurationand Methodology

Prior to active testing, The TollyGroup engineers verified that allcapacity levels of the Category 6cables met the industry passive-teststandards of electrical performanceas specified by TIA/EIA proposedCategory 6 standard (Draft 5).Engineers verified that there were no anomalies within the channelwith a Vigilant Networks 24-portBig Tangerine LM196 NetworkChannel Tester, software versionREV 01 that connected to a VigilantNetworks 24-port Big TangerineLM196 Network Channel Tester,software version REV 02.

For Category 6 channel tests of 100meters, engineers tested theNetClearGT2 Category 6 cabling system that consisted of Berk-TekLANmark-1000 Category 6 cableand Ortronics GigaMo+ connectivityproducts. A 20-meter portion of theLANmark-1000 cable connected toan Ortronics GigaMo+ OR-63760001-22 Category 6 568B jackat one end and an Ortronics 110Wiring Block, model OR-30203506on the other end.

The Ortronics wiring block thenconnected to a six-port 568BGigaMo+ Patch Panel, model OR-

60960004, via a 70-meter portion ofthe LANmark-1000 Category 6cable, which also connected to anidentical GigaMo+ patch panel via a four-meter patch cord. The four-meter patch cord connected theGigaMo+ patch panel to theSmartBits 2000 SMB-2000 trafficgenerator via an Ortronics three-meter patch cord. See figure 3.

Netcom Systems, Inc. SmartBits2000 Advanced MultiportPerformance Tester/Analyzer/Simulator, model SMB-2000, trafficgenerator equipped with 100Base-TX and 1000Base-T interfaces,firmware version 6.61.12, connectedto a 200-MHz Compaq ComputerCorp. PC with 32 Mbytes of RAMand a PCI Bus card, runningMicrosoft Corp. Windows NTWorkstation version 4.0 SP5 andNetcom Systems SmartWindows6.53.8. The SmartBits chassis connected to the OrtronicsGigaMo+ jack via an Ortronicsthree-meter patch cord.

For these tests, engineers generateda sequence of 64-byte packets,including the 4-byte CyclicalRedundancy Checksum (CRC), ofbidirectional traffic at 100% of thetheoretical maximum bandwidthacross the cabling system. TheTolly Group compared the numberof frames transmitted with the num-ber of error-free frames received todetermine loss ratio. Engineers thencalculated the BER by presumingthat a frame that was lost, or con-tained an error, could have con-tained 100% bits that were in error.Based upon this presumption of aworst-case test result, The TollyGroup measured each system for itsloss ratio — and therefore worst-case BER — relative to a requiredmaximum.

© 2000 The Tolly Group Page 3

The Tolly Group Berk-Tek/Ortronics Alliance NetClearGT2

Berk-Tek, An Alcatel Co./Ortronics Inc. Alliance

NetClear GT2

Product Specifications*

NetClearGT2 System Specifications! Guaranteed channel capacity > 2.5 Gbit/s! Minimum usable bandwidth > 250 MHz

" 100m four-connector channel return lossmargin of 10.1 dB at 250 MHz - ElectricalTesting Laboratory (ETL) verified worst case

! Independent third-party (ETL) static performanceverification

! Guaranteed Gigabit Ethernet and Fast Ethernetsupport

! Guaranteed free from bit errors caused by thecabling system

! 25-year dynamic, static, and applicationswarranty

NetClearGT2 Component Specifications Berk-Tek LANmark-1000 cable! ETL verified Cat 6 cable performance! Tested to 500 MHz! Full LCL/LCTL [Longitudinal Conversion

Loss/Longitudinal Conversion Transfer Loss]characterization

Ortronics GigaMo+ jacks and panels! ETL verified Category 6 channel performance! 180° and 45° exit available! Tracjack or Series II jacks ! Easy and reliable 110 termination

Ortronics GigaMo+ modular cords! ETL verified Category 6 channel performance! Patent pending Paralign™ plug for repeatable,

maximum dynamic cord performance! Backward compatible

For more information contact:Berk-Tek, an Alcatel Co.132 White Oak Rd.New Holland, PA 17557Phone: (877) 96-CLEARFax: (717) 354-7944URL: http://www.berktek.com

*Vendor-supplied information not verified by The Tolly Group

Berk-Tek/OrtronicsAlliance

NetClearGT2

FunctionalityandPerformance

© 2000 The Tolly Group Page 4

The Tolly Group Berk-Tek/Ortronics Alliance NetClearGT2

Test Bed

Source: The Tolly Group, June 2000 Figure 3

The Tolly Group gratefully acknowledges the providers of test equipment used in this project.

Vendor Product Web address Netcom Systems, Inc. SmartBits 2000 http://www.netcomsystems.comVigilant Networks Big Tangerine http://www.vigilantnetworks.com

Since its inception, The TollyGroup has produced high-quality tests that meet three overarching criteria: All testsare objective, fully documentedand repeatable.

We endeavor to provide com-plete disclosure of informationconcerning individual producttests, and multiparty competi-tive product evaluations.

As an independent organization, The Tolly Group does notaccept retainer contracts from vendors, nor does it endorseproducts or suppliers. This open and honest environmentassures vendors they are treated fairly, and with the necessary care to guarantee all parties that the results ofthese tests are accurate and valid. The Tolly Group hascodified this into the Fair Testing Charter, which may beviewed at http://www.tolly.com.

Project Profile Sponsor: Berk-Tek, an Alcatel company Document number: 200211Product Class: Structured cabling systemsProducts under test:

" Berk-Tek LANmark-1000 Category 6 cable" Ortronics Inc. GigaMo+ Patch Panel" Ortronics Inc. GigaMo+ Jack" Ortronics Inc. 110 Wiring Block

Testing window: December 1999 through January 2000

For more information on this document, or otherservices offered by The Tolly Group, visit our WorldWide Web site at http://www.tolly.com, send E-mail to info@tolly.com, call (800) 933-1699 or(732) 528-3300.

Internetworking technology is an area of rapid growth and constant change. The Tolly Group conducts engineering-caliber testing inan effort to provide the internetworking industry with valuable information on current products and technology. While great care istaken to assure utmost accuracy, mistakes can occur. In no event shall The Tolly Group be liable for damages of any kind includingdirect, indirect, special, incidental, and consequential damages which may result from the use of information contained in this docu-ment. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The Tolly Group doc. 200211 rev. clk 05 Jun 00