Ethernet is the most popular network architecture for LAN. Ethernet was originally developed by Xerox in the 1970 and was proposed as a standard by Xerox DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) and Intel in 1980.
An Ethernet LAN typically uses coaxial cable of twisted. Ethernet is most commonly installed Ethernet system is called 10 base-T and provides transmission speed up to 10 MBPS (Mega Bits per Sec).
Fast Ethernet or 100 base-T provides transmission speed up to 100 MBPS and is typically used for LAN back bone system supporting work station with 10 base-T card.
Working of Ethernet
Ethernet specification defines the function that occurs at the physical layer and data link layer of the open system interconnection (OSI) reference model. It package data into frames for transmission on the wire. Ethernet is a base band network technology that sends its signal serially one bit at a time. It operate in half duplex mode in which a station can either transmit or receive, but cannot do both simultaneously.
Ethernet use the CSAMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection) media access control method for determining which station can transmit at any given time over the shared medium.