Week 3 - Ethernet Standards

Ethernet Standards have been developed by non-profit organizations such as IEEE for decades. They employ the world's top experts to develop and implement the newest technology to enhance and improve our ethernet capabilities, focusing on speed and performance. Originally created by Xerox in 1973 for company use, Ethernet was then handed over to IEEE to allow them to promote a new industry standard. A working group called IEEE 802.3 was formed to focus on these standards. The 802.3 committee defines wired network standards that share the same basic frame type and network access method.

 Here are some examples of some of these standards from Mike Meyer's CompTIA Network+ Certification All-in-One Exam guide:

• 802.3i - 10 Mbps Ethernet using twisted pair cabling (1990)
• 802.3ab - Gigabit Ethernet over twisted pair (1999)
• 802.3by - 25 Gigabit Ethernet over fiber (2016)

In the beginning, the most popular Ethernet version was 10BaseT (10 Mbps using twisted pair), consisting of two or more computers connected to one central hub. In the 1990's IEEE created Gigabit Ethernet, which is the most common Ethernet used today.1000BaseT uses four pair UTP or STP to create the gigabit performance. This is also the most dominant standard of twisted pair cabling.

There are several other standard configurations that can be used, such as 1000BaseSX, which uses fiber to increase speed. In 2010, the IEEE 802.3ba committee approved 40 and 100 Gb Ethernet standards. Next up for Ethernet standards, is 800 Gb (800GBASE-R).

This article talks about the 25G Ethernet Consortium (now called the Ethernet Technology Consortium) formed by Google and Microsoft. It seems that IEEE isn't as aggressive as most people in the industry would like, so they took it upon themselves to set the future standards.

What do you think is the best Ethernet standard and why?

Do you agree with companies, aside from IEEE, forming their own committees to develop and promote the latest technology developments?

Reference:

Meyers, Mike. CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Guide: (Exam N10-007). McGraw-Hill Education,     2018.