Network management refers to a network’s administration, maintenance, and oversight, covering both hardware and software.
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The Ethernet Data Link
IEEE 802.3 is a combination of standards and protocols defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). IEEE 802.3 is also known as the Ethernet standard and defines the physical and media access control (MAC) of the data link layer for wired Ethernet networks.
“Ethernet” is the term that is casually applied to a number of very different data link implementations. You will hear people refer to “Ethernet” and they might be referring to the original DEC, Intel, and Xerox implementation of Version 1 or Version 2 Ethernet. This, in a sense, is the “true” definition of “Ethernet”. When the IEEE built the 802.3 standards in 1984 the term “Ethernet” was broadly applied to them as well. Today we talk about “Fast Ethernet” and, although this technology bears many similarities to its predecessors, the engineering technology has changed dramatically.
Whatever you call it, this is a Data Link technology – responsible for delivering a frame of bits from one network interface to another – perhaps through a repeater, switch, or bridge.