Ethernet is the most popular physical network architecture in use today. First conceived in the 1960s at the University of Hawaii as the ALOHA network. In 1972 Robert Metcalfe and David Boffs at Xerox PARC implemented the network architecture and signaling scheme and in 1975 they introduced the first Ethernet product. Ethernet is a bus or star bus based technology that uses baseband signaling and CSMA/CD to arbitrate network access.
- Ethernet arbitrates access to the network with the CSMA/CD media access method.
- Only one workstation can use the network at a time.
- Workstations send signals (packets) across the network.
- When a collision takes place, the stations transmitting the packets stop transmitting and wait a random period of time before retransmitting.
10Mbps Ethernet:
Four commonly used 10Mbps Ethernet cabling systems are:
- 10Base5 or thicknet, which uses thick coaxial cable.
- 10Base2 or thinnet, which uses thin coaxial cable.
- 10BaseT, which uses UTP cable.
- 10BaseFL, which uses optical fiber.
Specifications:
- Maximum segment length 500 m
- Maximum taps 100
- Maximum segments 5
- Maximum segments with node 3
- Maximum distance between taps 2.5 m
- Maximum repeaters 4
- Maximum overall length with repeater 2.5 kms
- Maximum AUI drop cable length 50m
- Large size
- High cost
- Connection method
- Very few advantages comparing today’s network but it is still reliable.
10Base2 (Thinnet) Ethernet:
Specifications:
- Maximum segment length 185 m
- Maximum segments 5
- Maximum segments with node 3
- Maximum repeaters 4
- Maximum overall length with repeater 925 m
- Maximum devices per segment 30
Disadvantages of Thinnet:
- High cost compared to UTP cable.
- Bus configuration makes the network unreliable.
- It was economical solution since longtime, so it is used in many existing installation
- Maximum segment length 100 m
- Maximum segments 1024
- Maximum segments with node 1024
- Maximum nodes per segment 2
- Maximum hubs in a chain 4
- Maximum nodes per network 1024
Advantages:
- UTP costs less and is more flexible than 10Base5 or 10Base2 cabling.
- 10BaseT is easy to troubleshoot.
- It is possible to isolate a device that is causing problems.
10BaseFL Ethernet:
Specifications:
- Maximum segment length 2000 m
- Maximum segments 1024
- Maximum segments with node 1024
- Maximum nodes per segment 2
- Maximum hubs in a chain 4
- Maximum nodes per network 1024
100Mbps Ethernet:
For some applications, a 10Mbps data rate is not enough.
Two competing standards of 100Mbps:
- 100VG-AnyLAN.
- 100baseT Ethernet or Fast Ethernet.
100VG-AnyLAN has thefollowing advantages:
- It is faster
- It supports both Ethernet and Token Ring packets
- It uses a demand priority access method
- Hubs can filter individually addressed frames for enhanced privacy