EthernetStandards

Ethernet standards refer to a family of networking specifications that define how local area networks operate at the physical and data-link layers to carry Ethernet frames. They are overseen by the IEEE 802.3 working group, a subcommittee of the IEEE Standards Association, and are widely implemented in commercial and enterprise networks. The standards specify speed, signaling, media type, frame format, and access method, and are designed to be backward compatible where possible.

Ethernet operates over multiple physical media, most commonly copper twisted-pair cables using RJ-45 connectors and optical fiber using LC or other connectors. The media access method is controlled by the MAC layer, historically using CSMA/CD in half-duplex Ethernet, but modern Ethernet generally uses full-duplex operation with switches, eliminating collision domains. Standards also define power delivery in Ethernet networks through Power over Ethernet (PoE).

The major generational milestones include 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet, 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet, and 10GBASE-T. In data centers, higher-speed variants exist such as 40GBASE and 100GBASE, with parallel and multi-lane optics over fiber. More recent amendments add multi-gigabit speeds over copper, such as 2.5GBASE-T and 5GBASE-T, and very high-speed fiber variants up to 400GBASE, with multiple physical-layer implementations to suit different reach and connector types.

The standards are continuously updated with new amendments to address performance, energy efficiency, and new media. Devices that conform to IEEE 802.3 are designed to interoperate, subject to implementation-specific features such as PoE, link aggregation, and backplane compatibility. Ethernet remains a foundational technology for LANs, data centers, and campus networks.