Autosensing was developed to make the migration from traditional Ethernet to Fast Ethernet products easier.
What Happens When They Connect?
When first connected, 10/100 devices automatically exchange information with each other to agree on a common speed setting. The devices run at 100 Mbps if the network supports it, otherwise, they drop down to 10 Mbps to ensure a “lowest common denominator” of performance.
Many hubs and switches are capable of autosensing on a port-by-port basis. In this case, some computers on the network may be communicating at 10 Mbps and others at 100 Mbps. 10/100 products often incorporate two LEDs of different colors to indicate the speed setting that is currently active.
