Who invented Ethernet?

YOU may be very familiar with the term Ethernet without actually knowing much about what it is and what it does.

But who actually invented the Ethernet and how does it operate? Here’s all you need to know on the topic.

1

What is Ethernet?

Ethernet is a way of connecting computers together in a local area network or LAN.

The basic idea of its design is that multiple computers have access to it and can send data at any time.

Ethernet cables are the primary connectors used in an Ethernet network.

The cables will connect directly from computers to a router or modem so the computers can “talk to one another” without using the wider internet.

Over time, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies.

Ethernet is used for its high speed, security and reliability.

It is typically less vulnerable to disruptions that wireless technology faces.

It can also offer a greater degree of network security and control than wireless technology because devices must connect using physical cabling. 

Who invented Ethernet?

Robert “Bob” Metcalfe was asked to create a local-area network (LAN) for Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Centre (PARC) back in 1972 and this changed everything.

Metcalfe, David Boggs and other members of the PARC team were assigned to a networking problem.

They only wanted to enable a connection between the first personal workstation and the world’s first laser printer.

It wasn’t easy as the network had to connect hundreds of computers simultaneously and be fast enough to drive the printer.

But Metcalfe and co. managed to write a memo describing a way to transmit data from the personal computer to the printer in 1973.

The connected computers all shared a single wire, the “ether”.

He named the new network technology the Ethernet.

What is the difference between Internet and Ethernet?

While it may sound confusing, the difference between the Internet and the Ethernet is actually quite straightforward.

The easiest way to remember the difference is that the internet is worldwide, and Ethernet is local. 

The internet is commonly known as a wide area network (WAN) while the Ethernet is a local area network (LAN).

A broad global network, the internet links a broad number of devices across the globe, while Ethernet is a network serving a small geographic region.