ETHERNET

What is Ethernet?
Ethernet is a type of network cabling and signaling specifications (OSI Model layers 1
[physical] and 2 [data link]) originally developed by Xerox in the late 1970. In 1980,
Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC), Intel and Xerox (the origin of the term DIX, as in
DEC/Intel/Xerox) began joint promotion of this baseband, CSMA/CD computer
communications network over coaxial cabling, and published the "Blue Book Standard"
for Ethernet Version 1. This standard was later enhanced, and in 1985 Ethernet II was
released. The IEEE's (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers') Project 802 then
(after considerable debate) used Ethernet Version 2 as the basis for the 802.3 CSMA/CD
network standard. The IEEE 802.3 standard is generally interchangeable with Ethernet
II, with the greatest difference being the construction of the network packet header. A
complete description of all Ethernet specifications is far outside the scope of this
document. If this area interests you, you are encouraged to obtain copies of the IEEE
802.3 documents, and perhaps the ISO 8802-3 documents as well.