Computing Atlas

How Computing Was Built
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
System

Ethernet

Also Known As IEEE 802.3
Network and Internet Systems

Ethernet is a family of wired computer networking standards designed for, but not limited to, local area networks. In 1972 Robert Metcalfe and David Boggs at Xerox PARC adapted the ALOHAnet radio network approach to transmission over a shared coaxial cable; the system first ran on 11 November 1973 at 2.94 megabits per second, and a published standard for 10 megabit Ethernet over coaxial cable followed in 1983. Half a century on, the office cable in the wall still speaks its descendant. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Year
1973 1
First ran 11 November 1973, at 2.94 megabits per second.
Significance
The wired local area networking standard that connected the world's offices, from a 1973 Xerox PARC experiment to the ubiquitous cable in the wall. 1
Status
Status
Active / In Use 1
FAQs

What do cable names such as 10base5 mean?

The first number is the data rate in megabits per second.

Ethernet cables are classified by names of the form XbaseY, for example 10base5. X is the data rate in megabits per second, base means baseband as opposed to radio frequency, and Y is the category of cabling.
Connections

Associated With

Xerox Alto, Systems
Source Wikipedia: Xerox Alto

In Field

Invented By

Source Wikipedia: Robert Metcalfe
In the Other Atlases

Developed By

Also in Business Atlas: the developer of this subject.

Sources
1. Wikipedia: Ethernet
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead section
    Ethernet ( EE-thər-net) is a family of wired computer networking standards designed for (but not limited to) local area networks (LAN), access networks, and metropolitan area networks (MAN).
  • History
    It first ran on November 11, 1973 with a bit rate of 2.94 Mbit/s.
  • In Group: Local and Wireless Network Standards, Lead
    Ethernet ( EE-thər-net) is a family of wired computer networking standards designed for (but not limited to) local area networks (LAN), access networks, and metropolitan area networks (MAN).
View the Source
Wikidata: Ethernet
Wikidata Q79984, resolved via en.wikipedia pageprops (wave rule R-L)View the Source
Wikipedia: Robert Metcalfe
Wikimedia FoundationInvented By: Robert Metcalfe, Career
Quote, Invented By: Robert Metcalfe, Career
Metcalfe was working at PARC in 1973 when he and David Boggs invented Ethernet, initially as a standard for connecting computers over short distances.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Xerox Alto
WikipediaAssociated With: Xerox Alto, Opening paragraph, on Ethernet pioneeringView the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.