In today’s digital world, connectivity is king, and ethernet ports are a great part of this connectivity. You might have seen it on the back of your computer, TV, or router, but do you know what it does?
Ethernet cables are everywhere. They are the workhorses of the wired network world. These cables are vital when creating a home or business network or establishing internet connections.
Let’s dive into the world of Ethernet ports, What they do, and why you need them.
Table of Contents
How Does Ethernet Ports Function?
Ethernet ports can also be referred to as sockets or jacks. The main function of an ethernet port is to create an ethernet connection. Ethernet connections can be created between computers, servers, switches, hubs, routers, modems, gaming consoles, printers, and much more.
When multiple devices are connected it is called a LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), or MAN (Metropolitan Area Network). Ethernet ports are connected to devices on the inside of your product.
They are connected to NIC (Network Interface Controller) which looks like a motherboard. On one end is the ethernet port and the rest consists of electrical circuits used to communicate with a wired connection. A NIC is commonly used in computers and is something that can be switched with another type of NIC. This depends on the type and brand of computer.
Another way in which an ethernet port functions is by being a part of an ethernet controller. These are typically in switches, routers, and modems. Each device controller will do different tasks of the network transport.
Key Components of an Ethernet Connection
An Ethernet connection encompasses the following:
- The Ethernet protocol: This protocol was developed in the 1970s by Xerox. It is a series of standards that governs how data is sent between Ethernet components as explained before.
- The Ethernet port: Ethernet ports (commonly known as jacks or sockets) are openings on computer network infrastructure into which one may plug in Ethernet cables. It supports cables with RJ-45 connectors. The Ethernet connector on the majority of computers serves to connect the equipment to a wired connection. The Ethernet port of a computer is linked to an Ethernet network adapter, also known as an Ethernet card, mounted on the motherboard. A router may contain numerous Ethernet ports to support various wired network devices.
- Ethernet network adapter: An Ethernet adapter is a chip or card that fits into a slot on the motherboard and allows a computer to connect to a local area network (LAN). In the past, these were always used with desktop computers. Ethernet is now integrated into the chipsets of laptop and desktop motherboards.
- An Ethernet cable: Ethernet cable, often known as a network cable, links your computer to a modem, router, or network switch. The Ethernet cable consists of the RJ45 connection, the internal cabling, and a plastic jacket.
How to Connect an Ethernet Port
Ethernet ports are connected in a couple of ways. The most common way to connect an ethernet port is using a patch cable. A patch cable is a copper twisted pair assembled with an RJ45 modular plug on either end. You plug one side of the cable in the port until it clips in and you do the same on the other device. This then creates a connection between both devices.
This can be done from your computer to router, router to modem, router to switch, and anything that has an ethernet port on it.
Patch cables can come pre-assembled or you can create custom-length cable runs using Bulk Network Cables. The type of cable will depend on your environment and your speed requirements.
Image Source: Infinity Cable Products
Uses of Ethernet Connections
- Improves consumer internet experiences: When their wireless Wi-Fi data connection speed is insufficient, many in their homes deploy Ethernet connections. Ethernet is typically used to link several devices in a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN).
- Offers high bandwidth connections: Ethernet offers data transfer rates of 10, 100, 1000, 10000, 40000, and 100000 megabits per second (Mbps). When Ethernet was originally created, bands were defined in megabits per second (Mbps), but they are currently calculated in gigabits per second (Gbps).
- Strikes a balance between cost and performance: Ethernet is widely used due to its affordable price and compatibility with any subsequent network device. It is extensively used by companies, hospitals, schools, universities, and gamers due to its fast speed, network security, and dependability.
- Amplifies the capabilities of your Wi-Fi network: In recent years, Wi-Fi has become increasingly popular. Wi-Fi has improved speeds and offered extensive coverage due to technological improvements. Wi-Fi transmissions can only simultaneously support a limited number of devices. In older buildings with frequent Wi-Fi dead zones, Ethernet connections are essential.
- Enforces greater security: Ethernet has the advantage of being more secure than Wi-Fi. Anyone within a Wi-Fi hotspot’s range may access data transferred over the radio. Because radio signals deliver the information, it is vulnerable to theft. In contrast, data supplied by Ethernet can only be accessible on the local area network.
- Supports direct current (DC) power transmission: As its names suggest, Power over Ethernet (POE) is the provisioning of energy supply over Ethernet connections. It powers many devices, including CCTV cameras and wireless access points. One of the primary advantages of Power over Ethernet is that a distinct power source is unnecessary. This is especially useful for placing devices in locations that are far from the nearest power source.
Ethernet Ports on Computers
Most desktop computers include one built-in Ethernet port that is used to connect the device to a wired network. A computer’s built-in Ethernet port is connected to its internal Ethernet network adapter, called an Ethernet card, which is attached to the motherboard.
Laptops usually have an Ethernet port, too, to connect to a network that doesn’t have wireless capabilities. An exception is the MacBook Air, which doesn’t have an Ethernet port but does support connecting an Ethernet dongle to a USB port on the computer.
READ ALSO: 4 of the Best Cables To Bring When Traveling
Troubleshoot Issues with Ethernet Ports
If your computer experiences internet connectivity issues, the Ethernet port is the first place to look.
Here are three reasons for connectivity issues:
- The network cable is unplugged. This condition often results in a network cable is unplugged error. This error message appears when a computer or laptop is moved, which can knock the cable out of the Ethernet port.
- The network card is unseated. If the computer has been moved around, the Ethernet card may come unseated from the expansion slot on the motherboard.
- Network card drivers are corrupt or missing. Something else related to the Ethernet port is the network driver for the network card, which can become outdated, corrupt, or missing. One of the easiest ways to install a network driver is with a free driver updater tool.
Ethernet Ports on Routers
All popular broadband routers feature one or more Ethernet ports. With this setup, multiple wired computers in a network can reach the internet and the other connected devices on the network.
An uplink port (also called a WAN port) is a special Ethernet jack on a router that connects to a broadband modem. Wireless routers include a WAN port and typically four additional Ethernet ports for wired connections.
Ethernet and Wi-Fi
Even if you have only ever used Wi-Fi, you are probably familiar with Ethernet plugs and cables. The cable that connects your modem to your Wi-Fi router or main mesh unit is likely an Ethernet cable with an RJ45 connector.
Ethernet offers three main advantages over Wi-Fi: It is faster, more stable, and more secure. But it requires you to run cables between devices, and connected devices must have Ethernet ports. Wiring up a network can also be complex and costly.
Ultimately, the speed you get will always be limited by the lowest-rated component, whether that’s the cable, port, or switch. Let’s take a closer look at all three.
Conclusion
Ethernet ports are a vital component of modern networking, providing fast, reliable, and secure connections.
They are a powerful tool to connect multiple devices together using an ethernet cable. This can be your computer, router, modem, Xbox, PlayStation or even Chromecast or Apple TV’s.
The advance in WiFi technology has reduced the need for ports in some devices but they are still a powerful tool for any size network.
FAQs on Ethernet Ports
A standard Ethernet cable, such as Cat5e, Cat6, or Cat7, will work with most Ethernet ports.
Ethernet is one way to access the internet with Wi-Fi being the other major way. Either one works, and you won’t need both.
The ethernet cable one uses is equally important as the connection. You have to make sure the cable you’re using is rated for the speed your port supports, so be sure to consult your router’s listed specifications online or in the manual.
Ethernet cables can be rated for speeds much higher than what Wi-Fi can reliably transmit, but not every cable and every router is the same, so a very good Wi-Fi setup can outclass a very bad ethernet setup.