All of us in one way or another have used Ethernet technology regardless of whether or not we know what Ethernet is. The NIC or network card of our computer works under the principles of Ethernet; we have a port or interface to which a cable with an RJ45 connector and some LEDs that indicates connectivity is connected. Presented already physically one of the best known variants and we can pass the definition and some history.
The Ethernet technology originates from an experimental network with the purpose of connecting multiple PCs at the speed of 3 Mbit/s. In general, Ethernet refers to a standard for 10 Mbit/s Ethernet networks. The Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), Intel, and Xerox (DIX) joined efforts to develop and then issued the standard in 1982. The IEEE 802.3 standard is developed on the basis of the Ethernet standard, and is compatible with it.
In TCP/IP, the encapsulation format of IP packets of the Ethernet is defined in RFC 894, and that of the IEEE 802.3 network is defined in RFC 1042. Currently, the most commonly-used encapsulation format is that defined in RFC 894, which is called Ethernet_II or Ethernet DIX.
To distinguish Ethernet frames of those two types, in this document, Ethernet frames defined in RFC 894 are called Ethernet_II frames; Ethernet frames defined in RFC 1042 are called IEEE 802.3 frames.
Ethernet is a universal communication protocol standard used for local area networks (LANs). This standard defines the cable type and signal processing method used for LANs.
Ethernet networks are broadcast networks established based on the Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) mechanism. Collisions restrict Ethernet performance. Early Ethernet devices such as hubs work at the physical layer, and cannot confine collisions to a particular scope. This restricts network performance improvement. Working at the data link layer, switches are able to confine collisions to a particular scope. Therefore, switches help improve Ethernet performance and gradually replace hubs to become mainstream Ethernet devices. Switches, however, do not restrict broadcast traffic on the Ethernet. This affects Ethernet performance. To resolve this problem, divide a LAN into virtual local area networks (VLANs) on switches or use Layer 3 switches.
As a simple, cheap, and easy-to-implement LAN technology, Ethernet has become the mainstream in the industry. The development of Fast Ethernet (FE) and Gigabit Ethernet (GE), which provide higher Ethernet performance, helps Ethernet become the most promising network technology.
What do you think of Ethernet, you can put examples of Ethernet interfaces and elements of the physical layer. A Hub in which layer would you place it. How would you reduce the collision domain. If you have answers to these questions, you already knew Ethernet or learned or remembered it here.
References
IEEE 802.3
IEEE 802.3 ae
RFC 894
RFC 1042
