The 

Media Access Control (MAC) data communication protocol sub-layer, also known as the Medium

Access Control, is a sublayer of the Data Link Layer specified in the seven-layer OSI model (layer 2). It
provides addressing and channel access control mechanisms that make it possible for
several terminals or network nodes to communicate within a multi-point network, typically a local area
network (LAN) or metropolitan area network (MAN). The hardware that implements the MAC is referred to
as a Medium Access Controller.

The MAC sub-layer acts as an interface between the Logical Link Control (LLC) sublayer and the
network's physical layer. The MAC layer emulates a full-duplex logical communication channel in a multi-
point network. This channel may provide unicast, multicast or broadcast communication service.

The Logical Link Control (LLC) data communication protocol layer is the upper sub-layer of the Data

Link Layer (which is itself layer 2, just above the Physical Layer) in the seven-layer OSI reference model.
It provides multiplexing mechanisms that make it possible for several network protocols (IP, IPX) to
coexist within a multipoint network and to be transported over the same network media, and can also
provide flow control mechanisms.

The LLC sub-layer acts as an interface between the Media Access Control (MAC) sublayer and
the network layer.

As the Ethertype in an Ethernet II framing formatted frame is used to multiplex different protocols on top

of the Ethernet MAC header it can be seen as LLC identifier.

Ethernet is a family of frame-based computer networking technologies for local area networks (LANs).

The name came from the physical concept of theether. It defines a number of wiring and signaling
standards for the Physical Layer of the OSI networking model as well as a common addressing format
andMedia Access Control at the Data Link Layer.

Ethernet is standardized as IEEE 802.3. The combination of the twisted pair versions of Ethernet for
connecting end systems to the network, along with thefiber optic versions for site backbones, is the most
widespread wired LAN technology. It has been used from around 1980[1] to the present, largely replacing
competing LAN standards such as token ring, FDDI, and ARCNET.