Ethernet & Other Hardware Devices

What Is Ethernet?

Ethernet is a networking technology that includes the protocol, port, cable, and computer chip
needed to plug a desktop or laptop into a local area network (LAN) for speedy data transmission
via coaxial or fiber optic cables.

Ethernet is a communication technology developed in the 1970s by Xerox that links computers
in a network via a wired connection. It connects local area network (LAN) and wide area
network (WAN) systems (WAN). With LAN and WAN, several devices, such as printers and
laptops, may be connected across buildings, residences, and even small communities.

How does Ethernet work?

The Ethernet protocol employs a star topology or linear bus, which is the basis for the IEEE
802.3 standard. In the OSI network structure, this protocol works bot.h the physical layer and
data link layer, the first two levels. Ethernet divides the data connection layer into two distinct
layers: the logical link control tier and also the medium access control (MAC) tier.
The data connection layer in a network system is primarily concerned with transmitting data
packets from one node to the other. Ethernet employs an access mechanism known as
CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection) to enable each computer to
listen to the connection before delivering data across the network.
Ethernet also transmits data using two components: packets and frames. The frame contains the
sent data payload as well as the following:
 Both the MAC and physical addresses of the sender and recipient
 Error correction data for identifying transmission faults
 Information on Virtual LAN (VLAN) tagging, as well as the quality of service
(QoS)
Each frame is encapsulated in packets that comprise many bytes of data to set up the connection
and identify the frame’s commencement point.

Chiradeep BasuMallick Chiradeep BasuMallick Technical Writer

January 12, 2023

Ethernet is defined as a networking technology that includes the protocol, port, cable, and
computer chip needed to plug a desktop or laptop into a local area network (LAN) for speedy
data transmission via coaxial or fiber optic cables. This article explains the meaning of Ethernet
and how it works, along with its key uses.
Table of Contents

What Is Ethernet?

10 Types of Ethernet

Key Uses of Ethernet

What Is Ethernet?

Ethernet is a networking technology that includes the protocol, port, cable, and computer chip
needed to plug a desktop or laptop into a local area network (LAN) for speedy data transmission
via coaxial or fiber optic cables.

Ethernet is a communication technology developed in the 1970s by Xerox that links computers
in a network via a wired connection. It connects local area network (LAN) and wide area
network (WAN) systems (WAN). With LAN and WAN, several devices, such as printers and
laptops, may be connected across buildings, residences, and even small communities.

It provides a straightforward user interface that facilitates the connection of several devices,
including switches, routers, and PCs. With a router and just a few Ethernet connections, it is
possible to construct a local area network (LAN) that enables users to communicate between all
connected devices. This is because laptops have Ethernet connectors, into which cables are
inserted, and the other end is linked to routers.

Most Ethernet devices are compatible with Ethernet connections and devices that run at slower
speeds. However, the connection speed will be determined by the weakest components.

Wireless networks have superseded Ethernet in many locations, yet the latter continues to be
more prevalent for wired networking. Wired networks are more reliable and less susceptible to
interference than wireless networks. This is the primary reason why so many businesses and
organizations continue to adopt Ethernet.

Ethernet celebrated 25 years of existence in 1998; by that time, it had undergone several
revisions as technology advanced. Ethernet is continually redesigned as its capabilities expand
and evolve. Today, it is among the most widely used network technologies worldwide.
How did Ethernet evolve?

Ethernet was created in the early 1970s at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) by a
group that included David Boggs and Robert Metcalfe. In 1983, the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) ratified it as a standard.

Metcalfe developed the idea of Ethernet in a document he wrote for Xerox PARC in 1973,
marking the beginning of Ethernet’s development. Metcalfe built Ethernet based on the Aloha
system, an earlier networking initiative that started in 1968 at the University of Hawaii. Metcalfe
determined in 1973 that the technology had surpassed its initial appellation, Alto Aloha Network,
and rebranded it as Ethernet.

Metcalfe and Boggs, together with their colleagues at Xerox, Charles Thacker, and Butler
Lampson, would successfully trademark Ethernet technology four years later.

In 1980, Xerox collaborated with Digital Equipment Corporation and Intel to create the first 10
Mbps Ethernet standard. And in the meantime, the IEEE Local and Metropolitan Area Networks
(LAN/MAN) Standards Committee set out to produce an equivalent open standard. The
LAN/MAN committee established an Ethernet subcommittee with the designation 802.3. The
IEEE adopted the first 802.3 standards for thick Ethernet in 1983 and was published formally in
1985.

See More: What Is Software-Defined Networking (SDN)? Definition, Architecture, and

Applications

How does Ethernet work?

The Ethernet protocol employs a star topology or linear bus, which is the basis for the IEEE
802.3 standard. In the OSI network structure, this protocol works bot.h the physical layer and
data link layer, the first two levels. Ethernet divides the data connection layer into two distinct
layers: the logical link control tier and also the medium access control (MAC) tier.
The data connection layer in a network system is primarily concerned with transmitting data
packets from one node to the other. Ethernet employs an access mechanism known as
CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection) to enable each computer to
listen to the connection before delivering data across the network.

Ethernet also transmits data using two components: packets and frames. The frame contains the
sent data payload as well as the following:

Both the MAC and physical addresses of the sender and recipient

Error correction data for identifying transmission faults

Information on Virtual LAN (VLAN) tagging, as well as the quality of service (QoS)

Each frame is encapsulated in packets that comprise many bytes of data to set up the connection
and identify the frame’s commencement point.

See More: What Is IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6)? Definition, Features, and Uses

Key components of an Ethernet connection

An Ethernet connection encompasses the following:

The Ethernet protocol: This protocol was developed in the 1970s by Xerox. It is a series of
standards that governs how data is sent between Ethernet components as explained before.

The Ethernet port: Ethernet ports (commonly known as jacks or sockets) are openings on
computer network infrastructure into which one may plug in Ethernet cables. It supports cables
with RJ-45 connectors. The Ethernet connector on the majority of computers serves to connect
the equipment to a wired connection. The Ethernet port of a computer is linked to an Ethernet
network adapter, also known as an Ethernet card, mounted on the motherboard. A router may
contain numerous Ethernet ports to support various wired network devices.

Ethernet network adapter: An Ethernet adapter is a chip or card that fits into a slot on the
motherboard and allows a computer to connect to a local area network (LAN). In the past, these
were always used with desktop computers. Ethernet is now integrated into the chipsets of laptop
and desktop motherboards.

An Ethernet cable: Ethernet cable, often known as a network cable, links your computer to a
modem, router, or network switch. The Ethernet cable consists of the RJ45 connection, the
internal cabling, and a plastic jacket.

Network devices are physical devices that allow hardware on a computer network to
communicate and interact with each other. Network devices like hubs, repeaters, bridges,
switches, routers, gateways, and brouters help manage and direct data flow in a network.
Functions of Network Devices
Network devices help to send and receive data between different devices.
Network devices allow devices to connect to the network efficiently and securely.
Network devices Improve network speed and manage data flow better.
It protect the network by controlling access and preventing threats.
Expand the network range and solve signal problems.
Common Types of Networking Devices and Their Uses
Network devices work as a mediator between two devices for transmission of data, and thus play
a very important role in the functioning of a computer network. Below are some common
network devices used in modern networks