CertiGuide to A+ (A+ 4 Real)  9  Chapter 13: Basic Networking Terminology       9  OSI Reference Model and Networking Protocols and Technologies            9  Layer 2 - Data Link Layer

CSMA/CD 1 Token Ring

Ethernet is a broadcast transmission technology. This means that all devices on a network can see all data that passes along the networking media. However, not all the devices on the network will process the data. Only the device whose MAC address and IP address matches the destination MAC address and destination IP address carried by the data headers will copy the data.

Once a device has verified the destination MAC and IP addresses carried by the data headers, it then checks the data packet for errors. If the device detects errors, then the data packet is discarded. The destination device will not notify the source device, regardless of whether the packet arrived successfully or not. Ethernet is connectionless network architecture and is referred to as a best-effort delivery system.

Despite the extreme popularity of Ethernet, it is important to mention other technologies that could replace Ethernet with the help of improved technologies to access the medium.

CSMA/CD 1 Token Ring