Ethernet

1. What Is Ethernet?

Answer: Ethernet is a family of wired computer networking technologies commonly used in local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN), and wide area networks (WAN).[1] It was commercially introduced in 1980 and first standardized in 1983 as IEEE 802.3. Ethernet has since been refined to support higher bit rates, 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.

Experts often recommend Ethernet as a quick fix to your Internet speed woes or latency issues at home. But what is it, and how can you use it? Here’s a quick primer on what you need to know about Ethernet.

The original 10BASE5 Ethernet uses coaxial cable as a shared medium, while the newer Ethernet variants use twisted pair and fiber optic links in conjunction with switches. Over the course of its history, Ethernet data transfer rates have increased from the original 2.94 Mbit/s[2] to the latest 400 Gbit/s, with rates up to 1.6 Tbit/s under development. The Ethernet standards include several wiring and signaling variants of the OSI physical layer.

Systems communicating over Ethernet divide a stream of data into shorter pieces called frames. Each frame contains the source and destination addresses, and error-checking data so that damaged frames can be detected and discarded; most often, higher-layer protocols trigger the retransmission of lost frames. Per the OSI model, Ethernet provides services up to and including the data link layer.[3] 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.

Although Ethernet was invented almost 50 years ago in 1973, it’s still used widely around the world. One of the reasons for this is its ability to keep pace with evolving network needs. While the first official iteration of the technology was only capable of 10Mbps data transfer speeds, most modern Ethernet connections can reach gigabit speeds. And the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has already ratified Ethernet standards capable of up to 400Gbps speeds.

1.1. Types of Ethernet

Ethernet has seen multiple iterations since its public debut in 1983 when the first Ethernet standard was approved. Each iteration is known with a different name, and as of 2022, three of the most common iterations are Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, and 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE). While Fast Ethernet supports speeds of around 100Mbps, Gigabit Ethernet can reach up to 1Gbps. And 10 Gigabit Ethernet, as its name suggests, supports up to 10Gbps data transmission speeds.

Although 10GbE is probably the fastest Ethernet iteration you will currently find in consumer-grade devices, it isn’t the fastest Ethernet iteration available. Multiple faster Ethernet standards, such as 40GbE, 100GbE, 200GbE, and 400GbE, have been approved by IEEE. Some of these are also actively being used by data centers, internet service providers, or other similar industries that need the fastest possible data transmission speeds.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Ethernet

Ethernet cables can connect a network of devices to the internet in place of Wi-Fi signals. Although most people today are more familiar with Wi-Fi, ethernet can be appealing because of certain benefits that it holds over the former. When setting up a home or business network, you should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of ethernet before automatically going with Wi-Fi.

Advantage: Greater Rapidity

Ethernet provides much faster speeds than Wi-Fi. You may attain around 10 Gbps with ethernet cables without too much trouble, whereas Wi-Fi hovers around only 1000 Mbps. The direct contact that ethernet cables make from routers to computers and vice versa gives them this potential. For basic functions, such as using word processors or checking emails, the difference in speed doesn’t mean much. However, when you need to support applications that feature video or download/upload large amounts of data, ethernet is preferable.

Disadvantage: Limited Flexibility

Of course, ethernet cables have less flexibility than Wi-Fi signals. You face constraints on cable length and bend radius. You may not be able to arrange a desk or workplace exactly how you want it since you must accommodate the additional wires. Also, ethernet is not suitable when you use smartphones and tablets often since you won’t be able to move around much when linked to your network by ethernet.

Advantage: Higher Reliability

Wi-Fi is susceptible to outside interference, which can disrupt your activities as you experience frequent and random moments of disconnection or extreme slowness. Radio waves from nearby devices as well as tangible objects and walls can block Wi-Fi signals at times. With ethernet, you have assurances that your network connection will remain steadfast so long as the cable is functional and plugged in. If you are in an area where neighboring networks are numerous or barriers weaken Wi-Fi, ethernet can be a better choice.

Disadvantage: Physical Vulnerability

Each ethernet cable comes wrapped in a protective jacket to guard against hazards that would damage the inner wires and hurt their functioning. However, if that jacket rips and exposes the wires, your cables can quickly cease to work. Common conditions such as temperature changes and liquid spills can hurt them. Moreover, ethernet cables may break simply through physical force. Some would rather not worry about these potential perils. Learn what happens when water gets inside ethernet cables or they encounter extensive heat and cold so that you can carry out actions to protect them.

Using Ethernet in Your Home

Wi-Fi is incredibly convenient, and it’s almost impossible to give it up for a complete Ethernet setup. But you can use Ethernet to complement the wireless network in your house. And there are quite a few devices and applications that can benefit from using a hardwired connection to the router. For example, if you use a media server, a NAS, or a shared storage drive, an Ethernet connection will make things much faster than Wi-Fi to back up your data or stream from the media server.