from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
IEEE 802.3
802.3
<networking> The {IEEE} standard defining the {hardware layer}
and {transport layer} of (a varient of) {Ethernet}. The
maximum {segment} length is 500m and the maximum total length
is 2.5km. The maximum number of hosts is 1024.
The maximum {packet} size is 1518 bytes. If the upper layer
{protocol} submits a {PDU} less than 64 bytes, 802.3 will pad
the {LLC Info} field to achieve the minimum 64 bytes.
Although it is not technically correct, the terms "{packet}"
and frame are used interchangeably. The {ISO}/{IEC} 8802-3
{ANSI}/{IEEE} 802.3 Standards refer to {MAC} sub-layer
{frames} consisting of the Destination Address, Source
Address, Length, LLC Info., and {FCS} fields. The {Preamble}
and {SFD} are (usually) considered a header to the {MAC}
Frame. This header plus the MAC Frame constitute a "Packet".
(1995-07-09)