Overview

In this section we will discuss what has become the single most significant technology in networking. Today, Ethernet-type ports account for well in excess of 70% of the total installed worldwide, and that number will continue to grow almost exponentially. The reason? Many would argue that it is simply because it is the best technology available. Some, that it is the single technology that is keeping pace with users demands. Others, that it is most cost effective in terms of installation.

That its the best technology is questionable, to say the least. In a similar vein, although it has undergone significant improvements in recent years, and although it is constantly being developed, that is not necessarily what has made it so popular. Cost effective it is, though, and that cannot be ignored when discussing popularity. The biggest driving force behind Ethernet however, has to be that the technology was made available to vendors at an early stage. While proprietary elements do exist, none provide extensions to the access protocol itself, and therefore interoperability between vendors is assured. Where such proprietary extensions do exist, these are generally related to cable lengths and connector types - the infrastructure, so to speak. Generally though, users can find good quality components available from all major manufacturers, and with that inherent competition, extremely competitive pricing.

So, is Ethernet the panacea for our network headaches and does it really provide a future-proofed infrastcture? The simple answer here is no - Ethernet, like the...