Ethernet is the technology widely used in wired local area networks (LANs). A LAN is a network of computers and other electronic devices that covers a small area, such as a room, office, or building. It is in contrast to a wide area network (WAN), which covers a large geographic area.
What is Ethernet?
Ethernet is a network protocol that governs how data is sent over a LAN and is referred to as the IEEE 802.3 protocol. The protocol has evolved and improved over time to transfer data at rates of over a gigabit per second.
Many people use Ethernet technology their entire lives without even realizing it. It’s likely that every wired network in the office, at the bank, and at home is an Ethernet LAN. Most desktop and laptop computers come with an integrated Ethernet card and are ready to connect to an Ethernet LAN.
To set up a wired Ethernet LAN, you will need:
