InetDaemon.Com

Ethernet is the most ubiquitous local area networking protocol and utilizes copper ethernet cables (Cat3, Cat5, Cat5e and Cat6), fiber optics, or wireless (WiFi) connections to an ethernet switch or wifi router. Ethernet is even being extended to cover entire metropolitain areas with wireless access (WiMAX) and it has been used in storage area networks supporting the iSCSI storage communications protocol for years.

Ethernet is a broadcast protocol, which means that every computer connected to an ethernet network can 'hear' all the traffic on that physical network segement. When two devices transmit at the same time, their communications 'collide' on the shared network segment, blocking communications. Ethernet uses one of two methods to reduce collisions on the network.

1. The Origin of Ethernet
2. Ethernet and the OSI model
3. Types of Ethernet
   1. Ethernet
   2. IEEE 802.3
      1. 802.3 - 10 Mbps Ethernet
      2. 802.3u - 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet
      3. 802.3ab - Gigabit Ethernet over UTP
      4. 802.11 - Wireless Ethernet
         1. 802.11a
         2. 802.11b
         3. 802.11g
   3. 802.2 SNAP
4. Ethernet Operation
   1. Physical Media (Cabling and ranges)
      1. Coaxial Cabling
         1. Thinnet
         2. Thicknet
         3. Shielded
      2. Twisted Pair
         1. Shielded Twisted Pair
         2. Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
            1. Category 3
            2. Category 5
            3. Category 5e/6
            4. Category 7
      3. Multi-Mode Fiber (SX)
      4. Single Mode Fiber (LX)
   2. PHY to MAC interface
      1. 802.3 Attachment Unit Interface
         1. 2.5 Mhz
         2. 1 bit per clock cycle
      2. 802.3u Media Independant Interface
         1. 25Mhz
         2. 4 bits per clock cycle
      3. IEEE 802.3z Gigabit Ethernet Media Independant Interface - Approved June 25, 1998
         1. NN Mhz
         2. 8 bits per clock cycle
   3. Media Access Control (MAC)
   4. Logical Link Control (LLC)
   5. IEEE 802.2 - CSMA/CD
5. Service Access Points
6. Ethernet Frame Format