Ethernet protocol refers to the set of rules and standards governing the physical and data link layers of the Ethernet network. It defines how devices in a local area network (LAN) communicate with each other using Ethernet frames. This includes specifications for data encoding, framing, addressing (MAC addresses), collision detection, and network topology.
The term “Ethernet” generally refers to the entire networking technology or the physical medium (such as Ethernet cables) used to connect devices in a LAN. On the other hand, “Ethernet protocol” specifically pertains to the rules and procedures that govern data communication within an Ethernet network.
The data link layer of the Ethernet protocol specifies how data is formatted for transmission and reception between devices in a LAN. It includes protocols such as Ethernet II (DIX), IEEE 802.3 (which standardizes Ethernet), and others that define frame structure, error checking, and media access control (MAC).
Ethernet is primarily a wired networking technology that uses physical cables (such as twisted-pair copper cables or fiber-optic cables) to transmit data between devices. It operates on the principles of CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection), where devices on the network listen before transmitting and handle collisions if they occur.
Ethernet itself is neither TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) nor UDP (User Datagram Protocol). TCP and UDP are transport layer protocols that operate above the data link layer (where Ethernet operates). Ethernet frames carry data between devices at the data link layer, while TCP and UDP manage data transmission, reliability, and addressing at the transport layer in the TCP/IP protocol suite.