Let's talk about standards
An introduction to the IEEE Standards that are the building blocks of modern networks
I was recently studying for the HPE Aruba Networking Campus Access Professional Certification, and this is the first item on the blueprint…
Briefly explain how 802.11, 802.1, and 802.3 form the foundation of wired and wireless networks.
In the IT world, we have a massive number of standards, and they are usually given hard to remember naming conventions, one of which is the 802 family.
Whilst I was preparing for the exam, and making notes on all of these topics, I wanted to write a bit of a study guide, so here you go, this is me hoping to help other engineers crush these certifications.
The 802 standards were developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) LAN/MAN Standards Committee back in the 1980s. The standards were created to address a growing requirement for interoperability and consistency between the networks created by the various organisations out there.
👉 A fun myth: The numbers “802” come from the committees meeting date in February 1980!
It’s a myth!
There are a lot of 802 standards in Networking, some of them encompass sub-standards, here are just a few that we need to talk about:
802.1
This standard includes networking protocols related to network management, security, and bridging.
Key sub-standards are:
802.1Q for VLAN (Virtual LAN) tagging, which helps segment network traffic for better performance and security.
802.1d better know as Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), which helps prevent loops in switched topology.
802.1X for port-based network access control, which enhances network security by controlling user access based on authentication.
802.1 standards play a pivotal role in network configuration and management, ensuring smooth and secure data transmission.
802.3
This one is often associated with Ethernet, the 802.3 standards define wired networking protocols, including specifications for data rates, cable types, and communication methods.
These standards provide the framework for Ethernet technology, enabling high-speed, reliable wired connections in LAN environments. 802.3 standards ensure that devices can connect over wired networks with predictable performance and reliability.
802.11
You have heard of Wi-Fi right? Well none of that would be possible without these standards.
It covers various aspects of wireless communication, including data rates, frequency bands, and methods for managing and securing wireless connections.
Essentially, 802.11 standards ensure devices devices all do the same thing to allow them to connect and communicate over wireless LANs (WLANs), making them pretty much the basis of how we do anything today.
If you thought the IT industry was bad for acronyms, standards are much worse, and if you are planning on sitting any engineering certification exams, these standards are in them, so you need to know your 1s from your 3s and 11s.
I will be continuing to post content on these topics, and eventually, I hope this will be a good repository to help you learn the fundamentals and help you get through those pesky exams!