nonEthernet
NonEthernet refers to networking technologies and practices that do not rely on the Ethernet family of standards, notably the IEEE 802.3 specification. The term is used descriptively rather than as a formal standard, encompassing a range of historical and contemporary alternatives to Ethernet for local area networks, storage networks, and high-performance interconnects. It includes legacy LAN technologies such as Token Ring (IEEE 802.5), Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), and ARCNET, as well as non-Ethernet interconnects used in specialized environments.
Historically, nonEthernet solutions arose to address specific limitations of early Ethernet, such as deterministic access, higher
Key characteristics of nonEthernet networks include distinct framing, addressing, and access methods that differ from Ethernet.
In contemporary contexts, nonEthernet technologies are mainly found in storage networks, high-performance computing, and certain legacy