ETHERNET

ISO/IEC/IEEE 8802-3 Telecommunications and exchange between information technology systems — Requirements for local and metropolitan area networks — Part 3: Standard for Ethernet

IEEE Std 802.3™ was first published in 1985. Since the initial publication, many projects have added  functionality or provided maintenance updates to the specifications and text included in the standard. Each IEEE 802.3 project/amendment is identified with a suffix (e.g., IEEE Std 802.3ba™-2010).

The half duplex Media Access Control (MAC) protocol specified in IEEE Std 802.3-1985 is Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD). This MAC protocol was key to the experimental Ethernet developed at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, which had a 2.94 Mb/s data rate. Ethernet at 10 Mb/s was jointly released as a public specification by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), Intel and Xerox in 1980. Ethernet at 10 Mb/s was approved as an IEEE standard by the IEEE Standards Board in 1983 and subsequently published in 1985 as IEEE Std 802.3-1985. Since 1985, new media options, new speeds of operation, and new capabilities have been added to IEEE Std 802.3. A full duplex MAC protocol was added in 1997. Some of the major additions to IEEE Std 802.3 are identified in the marketplace with their project number. This is most common for projects adding higher speeds of operation or new protocols. For example, IEEE Std 802.3u™ added 100 Mb/s operation (also called Fast Ethernet), IEEE Std 802.3z added 1000 Mb/s operation (also called Gigabit Ethernet), IEEE Std 802.3ae added 10 Gb/s operation (also called 10 Gigabit Ethernet), IEEE Std 802.3ah™ specified access network Ethernet (also called Ethernet in the First Mile) and IEEE Std 802.3ba added 40 Gb/s operation (also called 40 Gigabit Ethernet) and 100 Gb/s operation (also called 100 Gigabit Ethernet). These major additions are all now included in and are superseded by IEEE Std 802.3-2015 and are not maintained as separate documents.

The use and widespread introduction of Ethernet in the automation of industrial processes has long been constrained by the requirements for explosion safety, in cases where the final device was installed in an explosive zone. Until now, installing Ethernet in hazardous areas has been a difficult task in terms of ensuring continuous operation under voltage and ensuring a fast, secure connection. The physical layer of Ethernet consists of a transmission medium (optical cable, twisted pair or wireless medium) and information encoding methods for each transmission rate. The use of wireless connectivity imposes significant limitations on mission-critical devices. In the case of "optics", for repair or maintenance, it is required to de-energize the network for a long time, which is unacceptable for most industries. The twisted pair solution of intrinsically safe industrial Ethernet is more acceptable for working with mission-critical devices. 

Understanding Ethernet Cable Color Codes

Color coding in Ethernet network cables is a critical component of effective infrastructure management that goes far beyond aesthetic considerations. It serves as a strategic imperative to improve network performance, enhance security, and optimize overall manageability. Implementing proper color coding of LAN cables directly facilitates and speeds up troubleshooting, simplifies maintenance procedures, and greatly simplifies future network expansion. Organizations that strictly implement standardized color coding have demonstrated significant reductions in network downtime, which is directly related to more efficient problem resolution and faster problem identification. This increased efficiency also leads to improved workflows, as cables are easier to locate and identify. 

Temperature's Influence on Ethernet Cable Performance and Longevity

Temperature has a profound effect on the performance and longevity of 4-Pair twisted pair Ethernet cables, primarily by affecting their electrical signal integrity and the physical properties of the material. Elevated temperatures significantly increase signal attenuation, requiring a reduction in maximum allowable cable length to maintain reliable data transmission. Beyond electrical performance, extreme temperatures and repeated thermal cycling cause physical degradation, including material expansion and contraction, insulation breakdown, and conductor oxidation, which can lead to premature cable failure.