Re: Ethernet via existing phone wiring?

Petri Krohn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> "Peter Robinson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
> > Near each computer there is a double phone socket, with the
> > first port wired to a standard BT phone line.  The second phone ports
> > are all wired up ready for a second line, but have never actually been
> > used.
> >
> > Can I use the redundant phone wiring for ethernet?
> 
> The critical thing is the number of pairs. 10Base-T and 100Base-TX Ethernet
> use two pairs. Telephone wires often have only 2 pairs. (This will vary from
> contry to country and with age of the building. You will need a 3 pair wire
> or you need to give up telephone service.

There is no telephone service on that line, so that is not a problem.

What about the topology issue?  The phone points are all (I assume)
daisy-chained together, so there's no central point for a hub/switch.
Is that a problem?  I can't work out how it will be 'crossed-over'
correctly for more than two computers.

Peter