While the pace of change in network technology continues to increase, global deregulation of telecommunications has allowed more service providers to compete for data, voice, and video network services. Only companies who have designed their network infrastructures with these factors in mind will be able to benefit from the lower prices caused by increased competition and protect themselves from "technology lockout" in the future.The network processor two port Ethernet full-duplex is supported in the Cisco 4500 and Cisco 4700 series routers, beginning in Cisco IOS Releases. It improves the number of applications in which the routers can be used. The feature enables the following: auto-selecting between AUI and 10BaseT interfaces, ability to operate in half-duplex or full-duplex mode, support of Cisco IOS Release. The following are benefits of using the NP-2E-FDX: in full-duplex mode, throughput is doubled, which benefits customers with heavy traffic loads. The module can be used in all applications that use NP-2E. Enabling auto-selecting mode simplifies the installation and configuration of Ethernet networks.