Ethernet Interfaces on SE
Left running head:
Chapter name (automatic)
164
Beta Beta
OmniAccess 5740 Unified Services Gateway CLI Configuration Guide
Alcatel-Lucent
ETHERNET OVERVIEW
In 1973, at Xerox Corporation, researcher Bob Metcalfe designed and tested the
first Ethernet network. While working on a way to link a computer to a printer,
Metcalfe developed the method of physically cabling the devices on the Ethernet.
Ethernet has since become the most popular and most widely deployed network
technology in the world.
The Ethernet standard has grown to encompass new technologies as computer
networking has matured. The original Ethernet described communication over a
single cable shared by all devices on the network. Once a device is attached to
this cable, it has the ability to communicate with any other attached device. This
allows the network to expand to accommodate new devices without requiring any
modification to those devices already on the network.
Refer the following section to configure the Ethernet interfaces on your system:
• “Ethernet Basics”
• “Ethernet Terminologies”
• “Full-duplex Ethernet”
• “Switched Ethernet”
ETHERNET BASICS
Ethernet is a local area technology with networks traditionally operating within a
single building, connecting devices in close proximity. At most, Ethernet devices
could have only a few hundred meters of cable between them, making it
impractical to connect geographically dispersed locations. Modern advancements
have increased these distances considerably allowing Ethernet networks to span
tens of kilometers.