Ethernet
History of Ethernet
· At the beginning of the 1970s, Ethernet was developed over several years from ALOHA net from the University of Hawaii. Then, a test was performed, which was peaked with a scientific paper in 1976, and published by Metcalfe together with David Boggs. Late in 1977, a patent on this technology was filed by Xerox Corporation.
· The Ethernet as a standard was established by companies Xerox, Intel, and Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC); first, these companies were combined to improve Ethernet in 1979, and then published the first standard in 1980. Other technologies, including CSMA/CD protocol, were also developed with the help of this process, which later became known as IEEE 802.3. This process also led to creating a token bus (802.4) and token ring (802.5).
· In 1983, the IEEE technology became standard, and before 802.11, 802.3 was born. Many modern PCs started to include Ethernet cards on the motherboard, as due to the invention of single-chip Ethernet controllers; the Ethernet card became very inexpensive. Consequently, the use of Ethernet networks in the workplace began by some small companies but still used with the help of telephone-based four-wire lines.
· Until the early 1990s, creating the Ethernet connection through twisted pair and fiber optic cables was not established. That led to the development of the 100 MB/s standard in 1995.
What is Ethernet?
Ethernet is a type of communication protocol that is created at Xerox PARC in 1973 by Robert Metcalfe and others,
Which connects computers on a network over a wired connection
It is a widely used LAN protocol, which is also known as Alto Aloha Network.
It connects computers within the local area network and wide area network.
Numerous devices like printers and laptops can be connected by LAN and WAN within buildings, homes, and even small neighborhoods.
Ethernet is classified into two categories
1. Classical Ethernet
2. Switched Ethernet
Classical Ethernet: Classic Ethernet is the original form of Ethernet that provides data rates between 3 to 10 Mbps. The Ethernet has data rate is 10Mbps called as DIX standard Ethernet. It comprises of an Ethernet medium composed of a long piece of coaxial cable. Stations can be connected to the coaxial cable using a card called the network interface (NI). The NIs are responsible for receiving and transmitting data through the network.
The classical Ethernet can be divided into four categories
1. 10 base – 5
2. 10 base – 2
3. 10 base – T
4. 10 base - F
1. Thick coax (10BASE-5): This was the original version that used a single coaxial cable into which a connection can be tapped by drilling into the cable to the core. The 5 refers to the maximum segment length of 500m.
2. Thin coax (10BASE-2): This is a thinner variety where segments of coaxial cables are connected by BNC connectors. The 2 refers to the maximum segment length of about 200m (185m to be precise).
3. Twisted pair (10BASE-T): This uses unshielded twisted pair copper wires as physical layer medium.
4. Ethernet over Fiber (10BASE-F): This uses fiber optic cables as medium of transmission.
2. Switched Ethernet
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- Switched Ethernet gives dedicated 10 Mbps bandwidth on each of its ports.
- On each of the ports, one can connect either a thick/thin segment or a computer.
- In Switched Ethernet, the collision domain is separated.
- The hub replaced by a switch, which functions as a fast bridge.
- It can recognize the destination address of the received frame and can forward the frame to the port to which the destination station is connected.
- The other ports not involved in the transmission process.
- The switch can receive another frame from another station at the same time and can route this frame to its own final destination.
- In this case, both the physical and logical topologies are the star.
- The throughput can further increased on switched Ethernet by using the full-duplex technique, which uses separate wire pairs for transmitting and receiving.
Advantages of Ethernet
- It is not much costly to form an Ethernet network. As compared to other systems of connecting computers, it is relatively inexpensive.
- Ethernet network provides high security for data as it uses firewalls in terms of data security.
- Also, the Gigabit network allows the users to transmit data at a speed of 1-100Gbps.
- In this network, the quality of the data transfer does maintain.
- In this network, administration and maintenance are easier.
- The latest version of gigabit ethernet and wireless ethernet have the potential to transmit data at the speed of 1-100Gbps.
Disadvantages of Ethernet
- The wired Ethernet network restricts you in terms of distances, and it is best for using in short distances.
- If you create a wired Ethernet network that needs cables, hubs, switches, routers, they increase the cost of installation.
- Data needs quick transfer in an interactive application, as well as data is very small.
- In Ethernet network, any acknowledge is not sent by receiver after accepting a packet.
- If you are planning to set up a wireless Ethernet network, it can be difficult if you have no experience in the network field.
- Comparing with the wired Ethernet network, wireless network is not more secure.
- The full-duplex data communication mode is not supported by the 100Base-T4 version.
- Additionally, finding a problem is very difficult in an Ethernet network (if has), as it is not easy to determine which node or cable is causing the problem.