Final answer:
The maximum cable length for UTP cabling from the NIC to a hub or switch is 100 meters. This standard ensures network performance and signal strength over UTP cabling.
Step-by-step explanation:
When using UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) cabling in networking, the maximum cable length that can be used from the Network Interface Card (NIC) to a hub or switch is 100 meters.
This distance is an industry-standard guideline provided by the Ethernet standards, which ensures proper network performance and signal strength over copper cabling. It is important to adhere to this maximum distance to prevent data loss and ensure network reliability. Beyond this length, signal quality can deteriorate, potentially causing network errors and degraded performance.