View Source: CSMA/CD - Waikato Linux Users Group

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[Acronym] for __C__arrier __S__ense __M__ultiple __A__ccess / __C__ollision __D__etection

A set of rules determining how network devices respond when two devices attempt to use a data channel simultaneously (called a collision). Standard [Ethernet] networks use [CSMA/CD]. This standard enables devices to detect a collision. After detecting a collision, a device waits a random delay time and then attempts to re-transmit the message. If the device detects a collision again, it waits randomly (up to twice as long as the previous attempt) to try to re-transmit the message. This is known as exponential back off.

Some manufacturers don't (or didn't in the past) use exponential back off, so that in a mixed environment their cards would perform better (as measured by throughput). This however means that if you had a network of only their cards, as the network load goes up the network performance deteriorates quickly. Smart thinking...

[CSMA/CD] is a type of ContentionProtocol.

see also [CSMA/CA]

6 pages link to CSMA /CD:

Last edited on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 8:05:53 am by JohnMcPherson

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