Need help on what an ethernet is?

WEATHERBY460 · 03-03-2013, 10:16

What are the hardware parts to an ethernet connection....and what does it do?

Thanks

Green Mountain Boy · 03-03-2013, 10:19

An ethernet connection is typically used for wired networks and wired internet. Most laptops have an Ethernet connection and so do most desktop units.

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podwich · 03-03-2013, 10:27

Yep--it's the one that looks like a wide telephone plug.

Cybercowboy · 03-03-2013, 10:30

One is curious: What is the reason for asking this question?

Detectorist · 03-03-2013, 10:31

Google is your friend.

Altaris · 03-03-2013, 10:44

NIC --> enternet(RJ45) cable --> router/switch --> cable into your wall --> porn

WEATHERBY460 · 03-03-2013, 10:46

new job and i will be involved more with computers...i know its plugged into the wall...and then it gets confusing

dbarry · 03-03-2013, 10:47

wife says it's what you catch an ether-bunny with...

sorry. :O)

**janice6** · 03-03-2013, 10:49

It is a network by which the individual computers are interconnected. It is also the "Standard" or description of the physical requirements of the electrical performance and mechanical connections in and out of the network, necessary to pass information over it to another computer.

Cybercowboy · 03-03-2013, 11:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by WEATHERBY460

new job and i will be involved more with computers...i know its plugged into the wall...and then it gets confusing

Ethernet routers and switches are the "core" of the ethernet network. The wires that connect these devices are all pretty much identical (yes, there are things called crossover cables that are wired differently) and then of course there are wireless ethernet connections/devices.

If you've ever installed a wireless router in your home, you've set up an ethernet network in essence - roughly the simplest version possible. Then we can get into the whole TCP/IP thing, which is a networking protocol that runs on ethernet networks. And yes, Google is your friend. It's a subject that people spend their entire careers learning about, implementing, securing, coding for, etc.

686Owner · 03-03-2013, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altaris

NIC --> enternet(RJ45) cable --> router/switch --> cable into your wall --> porn

You forgot modem.

MtBaldy · 03-03-2013, 11:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by WEATHERBY460

new job and i will be involved more with computers...i know its plugged into the wall...and then it gets confusing

Ethernet is how networked computers were all connected before WiFi. It's still the most secure and preferred for most corporate installations where all the computers are in the same building. The ethernet cable is plugged into your computer and a wall outlet. Your complete lack of knowledge on the subject suggests all you will need to know about it is to check and see if the cable is plugged in if you can't get on the network. Anything beyond that and you will need to call the IT department and they will send a nerd to fix it.

Shinytop · 03-03-2013, 12:23

There are three different speeds for ethernet. Hardly ever found is the 10Mps variety. Still common is the 100 and the latest is 1000 or Gigabyte (pronounced gigabit) ethernet. Most newer computers are labeled as 10/100/1000 meaning they can communcate with a switch or router at any of the speeds. If the router or switch is 100 the speed of the network is 100. If the router or switch is 1000 then the speed of the individual connections depends on the speed of the network interface card (nic) in the the computer.

BuckFiddy · 03-03-2013, 12:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by WEATHERBY460

new job and i will be involved more with computers...i know its plugged into the wall...and then it gets confusing

Obama's new computer Czar?

jknight8907 · 03-03-2013, 12:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shinytop

There are three different speeds for ethernet. Hardly ever found is the 10Mps variety. Still common is the 100 and the latest is 1000 or Gigabyte (pronounced gigabit) ethernet. Most newer computers are labeled as 10/100/1000 meaning they can communcate with a switch or router at any of the speeds. If the router or switch is 100 the speed of the network is 100. If the router or switch is 1000 then the speed of the individual connections depends on the speed of the network interface card (nic) in the the computer.

There is a big difference in a gigabyte and a gigabit. It is gigabit ethernet, not gigabyte, both written and pronounced.

Sent via teletype

md2lgyk · 03-03-2013, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by WEATHERBY460

new job and i will be involved more with computers...i know its plugged into the wall...and then it gets confusing

Well, I hope your new job isn't in the IT department.

Altaris · 03-03-2013, 13:17

Here you go....

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=What+is+an+ethernet

podwich · 03-04-2013, 18:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by jknight8907

There is a big difference in a gigabyte and a gigabit. It is gigabit ethernet, not gigabyte, both written and pronounced.

Sent via teletype

Well, it is an 8x difference.

Huaco Kid · 03-04-2013, 18:49

If you have to ask that question, you might not be qualified for that position.

Make sure you know everything there is to know about token-ring networks. It will impress the hell out of all the other computer guys there.

HKLovingIT · 03-04-2013, 20:00

The Skynet Funding Bill is passed. The system goes on-line August 4th, 1997. Human decisions are removed from strategic defense. Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. In a panic, they try to pull the plug.

audiomechanic · 03-04-2013, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huaco Kid

If you have to ask that question, you might not be qualified for that position.

Make sure you know everything there is to know about token-ring networks. It will impress the hell out of all the other computer guys there.

I'm only 29 and I have more token ring experience than I'd like. At my old job, the old POS POS system (see what I did there?) ran over a token ring loop. If someone at the site accidentally disconnected one of the terminals, all of them went down and it was a big emergency. Finding the culprit terminal was sometimes fun too. The terminals had a whopping 2MB of memory (some of them even had 4MB...OOOOOOOOO) and to load that 2-4MB of memory, they took 45 minutes to fully IPL or boot.

Glad I ain't messin with that antiquated junk any more!

captainstormy · 03-04-2013, 22:12

I'm a bit curious what kind of job the op just got where he would need to know that sort of stuff, but asks such a basic question.

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DoubleWide · 03-04-2013, 22:33

Depending on what you're going to be doing, probably start with Ethernet for Dummies then move to Network Plus certification.

If you can give a better description of your job, we can probably give you better ideas.

Learn to make and test cables would be a good start.