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Ethernet
Ethernet is the most popular physical layer LAN technology
in use today. Other LAN types include Token Ring, Fast
Ethernet, Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI),
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and LocalTalk. Ethernet is
popular because it strikes a good balance between speed,
cost and ease of installation.
These benefits, combined with wide acceptance in the
computer marketplace and the ability to support virtually
all popular network protocols, make Ethernet an ideal
networking technology for most computer users today.
The Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
defines the Ethernet standard as IEEE Standard 802.3. This
standard defines rules for configuring an Ethernet network
as well as specifying how elements in an Ethernet network
interact with one another. By adhering to the IEEE standard,
network equipment and network protocols can communicate
efficiently.
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