Computer networksLesson 1 of 4 in the course Link and physical layer

Ethernet: Standards, Frames, Media, Switching, and Operation

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

Save course
Lesson progress
0 / 5

Your progress is kept in this browser only.Sign up to save it

Summary

Ethernet is a family of wired networking standards used in local, access, and metropolitan networks. This lesson introduces Ethernet's purpose, its beginnings, and the ideas that made it a widely adopted open standard.

Ethernet defines ways for devices to communicate over a wired network. It covers the physical layer, including signaling and transmission media, and provides services at the data link layer, where devices exchange frames. Ethernet commonly carries Internet Protocol (IP) traffic, helping connect computers and other devices to the Internet.

All flashcards

What is Ethernet?
Ethernet is a family of wired networking standards used to connect devices. It specifies physical transmission methods and data-link communication, and is widely used in LANs and other networks.
What was ALOHAnet?
ALOHAnet was a shared-channel radio network developed for the University of Hawaii in the late 1960s. Its shared-channel design served as an important predecessor to Ethernet.
Who developed Ethernet at Xerox PARC?
Robert Metcalfe and David Boggs adapted shared-channel networking to a coaxial cable network at Xerox PARC in 1972.
What does CSMA/CD stand for?
Carrier-Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection, a shared-medium access method in which stations sense the channel and detect collisions.
What does it mean that Ethernet is an open standard?
Its specifications are publicly standardized, so different manufacturers can build compatible Ethernet equipment.

Quiz questions

  1. What does the Ethernet frame check sequence (FCS) do?Answer: It detects frame corruption using a CRC-based check.
  2. How does a bridge learn which segment contains a device?Answer: It records the source MAC address and incoming segment of a frame.
  3. Why is CSMA/CD unnecessary on a properly operating full-duplex point-to-point Ethernet link?Answer: Both endpoints can transmit and receive simultaneously without sharing a collision domain.
  4. Why can a Layer 2 switching loop cause a broadcast storm?Answer: Broadcast frames can circulate repeatedly because Ethernet frames have no time-to-live field.
  5. What is the purpose of the EtherType field in an Ethernet frame?Answer: It identifies the protocol that should process the frame's payload.

Based on the Wikipedia article Ethernet, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

More in Computer networks

All Computer networks lessons
Computer networksWi-Fi: Standards, Network Operation, Applications, and Security5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Computer networksComputer Networking Foundations: Media, Protocols, Topologies, and Security5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Computer networksBorder Gateway Protocol: Routing, Sessions, Policy, and Operations5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Computer networksPacket Switching: Forwarding, Service Models, and Internet Development5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Computer networksOSI Model: Layer Functions, Encapsulation, and TCP/IP Comparison5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Computer networksARP: Address Resolution, Caching, and Related Protocols5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →