Gigabit Ethernet: From 100 to 1,000 Mbps

The chair of the Gigabit Ethernet task force and chief technical editor of the standard (IEEE 802.3z) summarize changes in the data-link and physical network layers of the newest standard in the world's most widely deployed L AN technology. The changes include two to the Ethernet's essential Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) protocol to better support its use in enterprise backbones, as it scales up two orders of mag nitude-to 1,000 Mbps, while maintaining compatibility with the installed ba se of 10 and 100 Mbps Ethernet systems. The authors also introduce the draft standard for the 1000Base-T supplement to Gigabit Ethernet, which will open up the possibility of gigabit communi cation over ordinary building wires.