Ethernet Fundamentals (1.3, 2.1, 2.3, 4.4 & 5.5) Flashcards
Ethernet Fundamentals
o Ethernet Fundamentals
▪ In early computer networks, there were many different network technologies competing for a portion of the market share
▪ Ethernet, Token Ring, Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), and others fought for dominance
▪ Currently, Ethernet is dominant for Layer 1
▪ Due to Ethernet’s popularity, it is important to understand the fundamentals of Ethernet
Origins of Ethernet (first was coax (10base5, 10base2) / ethernet is now twisted pair / 10BASE-T is UTP)
▪ Was first run over coax cables (10Base5, 10Base2)
▪ Ethernet has changed to using twisted pair cables
▪ 10BASE-T is Unshielded Twisted Pair
● Maximum speed: 10 Mbps
● Maximum distance: 100 meters
How should devices access the network?
▪ Deterministic
● Very organized and orderly
● Need an electronic token to transmit
● For example, Token Ring networks
▪ Contention-based
● Very chaotic
● Transmit (almost) whenever you want
● For example, Ethernet networks
Carrier Sense Multiple Access/ Collision Detect (CSMA/CD)
▪ Ethernet devices transmit based on a principle called carrier sense multiple access/collision detect (CSMA/CD)
▪ Carrier sense
● Listen to the wire, verify it is not busy
▪ Multiple access
● All devices have access at any time
▪ Collision detect
● If two devices transmit at the same time, a collision occurs
● Back off, wait a random time, and try again
Example of CSMA/CD
Collision Domains
▪ Comprised of all devices on a shared Ethernet segment (everything on same cable or hub)
▪ Devices operate at half-duplex when connected to a hub (Layer 1 device)
▪ Devices must listen before they transmit to avoid collisions when operating as CSMA/CD
Collision Domains with Switches
▪ Ethernet switches increase scalability of the network by creating multiple collision domains
▪ Each port on a switch is a collision domain, no chance of collisions, and increases speed
▪ Switches can operate in full-duplex mode
Speed Limitations
▪ Bandwidth is the measure of how many bits the network can transmit in 1-second (bps)
▪ Type of cable determines the bandwidth capacity of the network
Distance Limitations
▪ Type of cable determines the distance limitation of the network
Network Infrastructure Devices
Network Infrastructure
▪ Primary devices used in our networks (devices include a router, and a switch)
▪ Devices they evolved from (bridge and hub)
Hub
▪ Layer 1 device used to connect multiple network devices/workstations
▪ Known as multiport repeaters
▪ Three basic types of Ethernet hubs:
● Passive hub
o Repeats signal with no amplification
● Active hub
o Repeats signal with amplification
● Smart hub
o Active hub with enhanced features like SNMP
Collision Domains
▪ Multiple network segments connected together by hubs
▪ Hubs (layer 1) were used to connect multiple network segments together
▪ Each LAN segment becomes a separate collision domain
Bridges
▪ Bridges analyze source MAC addresses in frames entering the bridge and populate an internal MAC address table
▪ Makes intelligent forwarding decisions based on destination MAC address in the frames
Switch
▪ Layer 2 device used to connect multiple network segments together
▪ Essentially a multiport bridge
▪ Switches learn MAC addresses and make forwarding decisions based on them
▪ Switches analyze source MAC addresses in frames entering the switch and populate an internal MAC address table based on them
Layer 2 Switch
▪ Each port on a switch represents an individual collision domain
▪ All ports belong to the same broadcast domain
Router
▪ Layer 3 device used to connect multiple networks together
▪ Make forwarding decisions based on logical network address information
● Such as using IP addresses (IPv4 or IPv6)
▪ Routers are typically more feature rich and support a broader range of interface types than multilayer switches
▪ Each port is a separate collision domain
▪ Each port is a separate broadcast domain
Layer 3 Switch
▪ Layer 3 device used to connect multiple network segments together
▪ Can make Layer 3 routing decisions and interconnect entire networks (like a router), not just network segments (like a switch)
Summary of Network Infrastructure
Additional Ethernet Features
o Features to enhance network performance, redundancy, security, management, flexibility, and scalability
▪ Common switch features
● Virtual LANs (VLANs)
● Trunking
● Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
● Link aggregation
● Power over Ethernet
● Port monitoring
● User authentication