About what Ethernet is, it became known in the seventies of the XX century. This type of LAN was invented by Robert Metcalfe, who was then working for Xerox Corporation. In the late 70s, Metcalf opened his own company 3com, where the development of new technology was completed. Over time, it replaced the existing types of local networks, and Metcalfa became a leader in this area.
The term “Ethernet” is composed of the words ether (ether) and net (network). Now we will tell in more detail what Ethernet is and what are the main features of this type of network. This type of network has a star-shaped or linear structure with a speed of 10-100 megabits / second. Ethernet was originally based on coaxial cable, but over time, technology has changed, and the network began to build on the basis of fiber optic cables or twisted pairs. Now there are about thirty types of Ethernet networks that differ in speed, topography, size and type of cable. Not all varieties have found commercial application. For those who want to know in detail what Ethernet is, we list the most popular technologies.
Xerox Ethernet is a coaxial cable technology with a maximum speed of 3 megabits per second. Modification of StarLan, in which twisted pair was first applied . The speed of such a connection is low - only 1 megabit per second.
In 10BASE5 technology, a coaxial cable transmits data at a speed of 10 megabits / second. Exactly the same speed and StarLan10, but the coaxial cable here has been replaced by twisted pair. Subsequently, this technology turned into a variation of 10BASE-T, where four twisted pairs were used.
In the 100BASE-T modification based on twisted pair, the speed increased to one hundred megabits / second. This type was further developed. 100BASE-FX transmits data via fiber optic cable over a distance of 10 kilometers at a speed of one hundred megabits / second. The 1000BASE-T uses four blown pairs, and the distance is one hundred meters. In the 1000BASE-LH modification, the distance increased to 100 kilometers. The last two types have the highest speed, it reaches 1000 megabits per second.
The Ethernet network, which includes all of the above modifications, is connected using a special controller integrated into the system board.
Now consider what benefits this type of network has. Its most important plus is accessibility. The computer is constantly connected to the network, and before accessing the Internet there is no need to dial up to the provider. In fact, Ethernet can be called a dedicated line in which the modem is simply not needed. Another advantage is the high speed that the Ethernet protocol provides. The speed is provided symmetrically, regardless of whether the file is downloaded or sent. In addition, a single Ethernet connection can become the basis of a corporate or local area network, in which all computers will have the same high speed connection.
Security in a modern Ethernet network is also well organized. As a rule, providers provide the user with real IP addresses that ensure the anonymity of the computer on the World Wide Web. Of course, not the last plus of such a network is the extreme ease of connection. To do this, you do not need a modem or some special software, just have a network card that is built into almost all motherboards. This simplicity and affordability also accounts for the low cost of the Ethernet connection. It costs much less than connecting to a global network via a telephone modem.
Over time, this type of network will become even more affordable. Already there are modifications that provide a speed of about 10 gigabits / second. By the middle of the current decade, technology is expected to yield a speed of 1 terabits / second. With such impressive prospects, everyone who understands what Ethernet is will definitely want to connect to this network.