Before Wi-Fi became Ubiquitous, Ethernet was the way to link devices together. By installing Ethernet cables on a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN), you can send traffic back and forth. Ethernet allows machines to recognize data intended for them and send data to other devices. It is still widely used because sending data over wires is faster, more reliable, and more secure than sending it as radio waves, as Wi-Fi does.
If you like Get the best out of your Internet connection, Ethernet is still a great way to do it, and it’s an obvious choice for any organization that values high speed, security, and reliability. Here you will find everything you need to know about Ethernet. You can also take a look at our guides on How to buy a router, The best Wi-Fi routersand The best mesh systems.
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ethernet history
First created in 1973 by a group of engineers at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), including Robert Metcalfe and David Boggs, Ethernet allowed people to connect multiple computers on a local area network (LAN). Ethernet provided a set of rules to send data back and forth between specific machines quickly. The name Ethernet was inspired by luminiferous ether.
To greatly simplify the early history of ethernet, Xerox gave up its trademark on the Ethernet name, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) formalized the 802.3 standard (also known as Ethernet) in 1983. Other technologies existed, but Ethernet soon became the dominant standard. because it was open, therefore network equipment was available from various manufacturers. Ethernet was also easy to upgrade, with each version offering backwards compatibility.
The first official version of Ethernet supported speeds up to 10 Mbps. Then 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet came along in 1995, and Gigabit Ethernet followed in 1999. By 2002, 10-Gigabit Ethernet was possible. Power over Ethernet, or PoE, which allowed devices to use a single cable for power and networking, arrived in 2003. Since then, work has continued to increase Ethernet capabilities, reaching 40 Gbps in 2010, then 100 Gbps. that same year. Research continues, but 40 Gbps is the maximum speed available for use in the home today, and that’s far more than most of us need.
Ethernet and Wi-Fi
Even if you’ve only ever used Wi-Fi, you’re probably familiar with Ethernet jacks and cables. The cable that connects your modem to your main Wi-Fi router or mesh unit is probably an Ethernet cable with an RJ45 connector. Ethernet offers three main advantages over Wi-Fi: it is faster, more stable, and safer. But it requires you to install cables between devices, and the connected devices must have Ethernet ports. Network cabling can also be complex and expensive.
Ultimately, the speed you get will always be limited by the lowest rated component, be it the cable, port, or switch. Let’s take a closer look at all three.
ethernet cables
Photography: Amazon
There are seven categories of Ethernet cable in use today, offering various maximum bandwidths and data rates.