Ethernet

Ethernet is a large, diverse family of frame-based computer networking technologies operating at various speeds within local area networks (LANs). The name comes from the physical concept of the ether. It defines a number of wiring and signaling standards for the physical layer, through means of network access at the Media Access Control (MAC)/Data Link Layer, and a common addressing format. Ethernet has become the most widespread wired LAN technology. It has been in use from the 1990s, largely replacing competing LAN standards such as coaxial cable Ethernet, token ring, FDDI, and ARCNET. In recent years, although Wi-Fi, the wireless LAN, has been used instead of traditional cabled Ethernet, the presentation (see later) of the service has remained the same.

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