The term Ethernet refers to the family of local-area network (LAN) products covered by the IEEE 802.3 standard that defines what is commonly known as the CSMA/CD protocol. Four data rates are currently defined for operation over optical fiber and twisted-pair cables:
- 10 Mbps—10Base-T Ethernet
- 100 Mbps—Fast Ethernet
- 1,000 Mbps—Gigabit Ethernet
- 10,000 Mbps—10 Gigabit Ethernet
Ethernet is currently used for approximately 85 percent of the world's LAN-connected PCs and workstations. Ethernet is the major LAN technology because of the following characteristics:
- Is easy to understand, implement, manage, and maintain
- Allows low-cost network implementations
- Provides extensive topological flexibility for network installation
- Guarantees successful interconnection and operation of standards-compliant products, regardless of manufacturer
Gigabit Ethernet (802.3z)
10 Gigabit Ethernet
10 Gigabit Ethernet is basically a faster version of Ethernet. It uses the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet media access control (MAC) protocol, the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet frame format, and the IEEE 802.3 frame size. 10 Gigabit Ethernet is full duplex, just like full-duplex Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet; therefore, it has no inherent distance limitations. Because 10 Gigabit Ethernet is still Ethernet, it supports all intelligent Ethernet-based network services such as multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), Layer 3 switching, quality of service (QoS), caching, server load balancing, security, and policy-based networking. And it minimizes the user's learning curve by supporting familiar management tools and architectures.With a data rate of 10 Gb/s 10-Gigabit Ethernet offers a low-cost solution to the demand for higher bandwidth in the LAN, MAN, and WAN. The potential applications and markets for 10-Gigabit Ethernet are enormous, including enterprises, universities, telecommunication carriers, and Internet service providers.
10 Gigabit Ethernet
10 Gigabit Ethernet is basically a faster version of Ethernet. It uses the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet media access control (MAC) protocol, the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet frame format, and the IEEE 802.3 frame size. 10 Gigabit Ethernet is full duplex, just like full-duplex Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet; therefore, it has no inherent distance limitations. Because 10 Gigabit Ethernet is still Ethernet, it supports all intelligent Ethernet-based network services such as multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), Layer 3 switching, quality of service (QoS), caching, server load balancing, security, and policy-based networking. And it minimizes the user's learning curve by supporting familiar management tools and architectures.With a data rate of 10 Gb/s 10-Gigabit Ethernet offers a low-cost solution to the demand for higher bandwidth in the LAN, MAN, and WAN. The potential applications and markets for 10-Gigabit Ethernet are enormous, including enterprises, universities, telecommunication carriers, and Internet service providers.
