Ethernetstandarden

Ethernetstandarden, often simply referred to as Ethernet, is a family of wired computer networking technologies used in local area networks (LANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), and wide area networks (WANs). It is the most widely deployed networking technology for wired connections. The original Ethernet standard was developed in the 1970s by Robert Metcalfe and David Boggs at Xerox PARC.

The IEEE 802.3 working group defines the Ethernet standards. These standards specify various aspects of network operation, including the physical layer (how signals are transmitted over cables) and the data link layer (how data is formatted and addressed). Key characteristics of Ethernet include its use of carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) for shared media, though modern switched Ethernet largely eliminates collisions.

Ethernet supports a wide range of data rates, from the original 10 megabits per second (Mbps) to 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) and even higher speeds like 100 Gbps and 400 Gbps. The physical medium can vary, including unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cables, shielded twisted pair (STP) cables, and fiber optic cables. Ethernet frames are the basic unit of data transmission, containing source and destination MAC addresses, control information, and the actual data payload. Its robustness, cost-effectiveness, and scalability have made it the dominant networking technology for connecting computers and devices.