Editing Ethernet (section)

{{Short description|Computer networking technology}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2023}}

[[File:Ethernet Connection.jpg|thumb|An Ethernet port on a [[Laptop|laptop computer]] connected to a [[twisted pair]] cable with an [[8P8C modular connector]]]]
[[File:Apple Ethernet Symbol.svg|thumb|100px|Symbol used by [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] and [[Google]] on some devices to denote an Ethernet connection]]

'''Ethernet''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|iː|θ|ər|n|ɛ|t}} {{respell|EE|thər|net}}) is a family of wired [[computer network]]ing technologies commonly used in [[local area network]]s (LAN), [[metropolitan area network]]s (MAN) and [[wide area network]]s (WAN).<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.mef.net/Assets/White_Papers/Metro-Ethernet-Services.pdf | title = Metro Ethernet Services – A Technical Overview | year = 2003 | access-date = January 9, 2016 | author = Ralph Santitoro | website = mef.net | archive-date = December 22, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181222184046/http://www.mef.net/Assets/White_Papers/Metro-Ethernet-Services.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref> It was commercially introduced in 1980 and first standardized in 1983 as [[IEEE 802.3]]. Ethernet has since been refined to support higher [[bit rate]]s, a greater number of nodes, and longer link distances, but retains much [[backward compatibility]]. Over time, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies such as [[Token Ring]], [[FDDI]] and [[ARCNET]].

The original [[10BASE5]] Ethernet uses a thick [[coaxial cable]] as a [[shared medium]]. This was largely superseded by [[10BASE2]], which used a thinner and more flexible cable that was both cheaper and easier to use. More modern Ethernet variants use [[Ethernet over twisted pair|twisted pair]] and [[fiber optic]] links in conjunction with [[Network switch|switches]]. Over the course of its history, Ethernet data transfer rates have been increased from the original {{val|2.94|ul=Mbit/s}}<ref name=Alto>{{cite web|last1=Xerox|title=Alto: A Personal Computer System Hardware Manual|url=http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/Alto_Hardware_Manual_Aug76.pdf|publisher=Xerox|date=August 1976|access-date=August 25, 2015|page=37|archive-date=September 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904111228/http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/Alto_Hardware_Manual_Aug76.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> to the latest [[Terabit Ethernet|{{val|800|u=Gbit/s}}]], with rates up to {{val|1.6|ul=Tbit/s}} under development. The [[:Category:Ethernet standards|Ethernet standards]] include several [[Ethernet physical layer|wiring and signaling variants]] of the [[Physical layer|OSI physical layer]].

Systems communicating over Ethernet divide a stream of data into shorter pieces called [[Frame (networking)|frames]]. Each frame contains source and destination addresses, and [[frame check sequence|error-checking data]] so that damaged frames can be detected and discarded; most often, higher-layer protocols trigger [[retransmission (data networks)|retransmission]] of lost frames. Per the [[OSI model]], Ethernet provides services up to and including the [[data link layer]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.tcpipguide.com/free/t_DataLinkLayerLayer2.htm| title = Data Link Layer (Layer&nbsp;2)| date = September 20, 2005| access-date = January 9, 2016| author = Charles M. Kozierok| website = tcpipguide.com| archive-date = May 20, 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190520101511/http://www.tcpipguide.com/free/t_DataLinkLayerLayer2.htm| url-status = live}}</ref> The 48-bit [[MAC address]] was adopted by other [[IEEE 802]] networking standards, including [[IEEE 802.11]] ([[Wi-Fi]]), as well as by [[FDDI]]. [[EtherType]] values are also used in [[Subnetwork Access Protocol]] (SNAP) headers.

Ethernet is widely used in homes and industry, and interworks well with wireless [[Wi-Fi]] technologies. The [[Internet Protocol]] is commonly carried over Ethernet and so it is considered one of the key technologies that make up the [[Internet]].