Ethernet Basics
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Ethernet is a local area technology, with networks traditionally
operating within a single building, connecting devices in close
proximity. At most, Ethernet devices could have only a few hundred
meters of cable between them, making it impractical to connect
geographically dispersed locations. Modern advancements have increased
these distances considerably, allowing Ethernet networks to span tens of
kilometers.
Ethernet Terminology
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Ethernet follows a simple set of rules that govern its basic operation.
To better understand these rules, it is important to understand the
basics of Ethernet terminology.
Medium - Ethernet devices attach to a
common medium that provides a path along which the electronic signals
will travel. Historically, this medium has been coaxial copper cable,
but today it is more commonly a twisted pair or fiber optic cabling.
Segment - We refer to a single shared medium as an Ethernet segment.
Node - Devices that attach to that segment are stations or nodes.
Frame - The nodes communicate in short messages called frames, which are variably sized chunks of information.