Ethernet
Ethernet is the most popular physical layer LAN technology in use today. Ethernet is most widely used in Local Area Network (LAN) technology.The Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) defines the Ethernet standard as IEEE Standard 802.3. This standard defines rules for configuring an Ethernet network as well as specifying how elements in an Ethernet network interact with one another. Type of Ethernet are given below....
Fast Ethernet
For Ethernet networks that need higher transmission speeds, the Fast Ethernet standard (IEEE 802.3u) has been established. This standard raises the Ethernet speed limit from 10 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 100 Mbps with only minimal changes to the existing cable structure.
There are three types of Fast Ethernet: 100BASE-TX for use with level 5 UTP cable, 100BASE-FX for use with fiber-optic cable, and 100BASE-T4 which utilizes an extra two wires for use with level 3 UTP cable.
Gigabit Ethernet
Describe Ethernet standards that support Ethernet packets at a rate of a gigabit per second i.e. 1000Mbps.
There are FOUR type of Gigabit ethernet 1000BASE-SX , 1000BASE-LX , 1000BASE-T and 1000BASE-TX .
10-Gigabit Ethernet
10GbE is the most recent and fastest Ethernet standards. It was developed by IEEE 802.3ae in 2002. It is ten time faster than Gigabit Ethernet. It uses full-duplex mode of transmission and must run on fiber. It supports a segment length upto 40Km.
Net work Cables and Stuff:
In the network you will commonly find three types of cables used these are the, coaxial cable, fiber optic and twisted pair.
Thick Coaxial Cable
This type cable is usually yellow in color and used in what is called thicknets, and has two conductors. This coax can be used in 500-meter lengths. The cable itself is made up of a solid center wire with a braided metal shield and plastic sheathing protecting the rest of the wire.
Thin Coaxial Cable
As with the thick coaxial cable is used in thicknets the thin version is used in thinnets. This type cable is also used called or referred to as RG-58. The cable is really just a cheaper version of the thick cable.
Fiber Optic Cable
As we all know fiber optics are pretty darn cool and not cheap. This cable is smaller and can carry a vast amount of information fast and over long distances.
Twisted Pair Cables
These come in two flavors of unshielded and shielded.
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)
Is more common in high-speed networks. The biggest difference you will see in the UTP and STP is that the STP use's metallic shield wrapping to protect the wire from interference.
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
This is the most popular form of cables in the network and the cheapest form that you can go with. The UTP has four pairs of wires and all inside plastic sheathing. The biggest reason that we call it Twisted Pair is to protect the wires from interference from themselves. Each wire is only protected with a thin plastic sheath.