Ethernet The Definitive Guide

Ethernet has been the core networking technology since the early 1980s, and is used by every high-tech business. While the basic protocols have changed little, new options such as Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet have increased the complexity of the topic. Ethernet: The Definitive Guide provides everything you need to know to set up and manage an Ethernet network. Ethernet: The Definitive Guide includes details about the IEEE 802.3 standard and its protocols, and is separated into five parts: Introduction to Ethernet provides a tour of basic Ethernet theory and operation, including a description of Ethernet frames, operation of the Media Access Control (MAC) protocol, full-duplex mode, and Auto-Negotiation. Ethernet Media Systems is the heart of the book. This section shows you how to build media-specific Ethernet networks, from a basic 10BASE-T Ethernet offering 10 Mbps over twisted-pair cables, to an advanced 1000BASE-X Gigabit Ethernet system, providing up to 1 Gbps of data transfer over fiber optic cables. Building Your Ethernet System teaches you how to build twisted-pair and fiber optic media segments, as well as how to expand the reach of your local area network using repeaters and switching hubs. Performance and Troubleshooting is divided into two chapters. The first describes the performance of a given Ethernet channel, as well as the performance of the entire network system. The second chapter includes a tutorial on troubleshooting techniques and describes the kinds of problems; network administrators are likely to encounter. The last part of the book, Appendixes, includes a complete glossary of terms used throughout the book, a resource list, descriptions of thick and thin coax-based Ethernet systems, and a guide to AUI equipment installation and configuration. Ethernet: The Definitive Guide is the one essential source of information for network administrators who need to build and manage scalable local area networks.