1973
- On May 22, 1973, Bob Metcalfe at Xerox PARC documented the invention of Ethernet in a memo, which described communication across different "ethers" - including cable, telephone, and radio - building on the ALOHAnet protocol.
- Bob Metcalfe, David Boggs, and Tat Lam built the first Ethernet prototype at 2.94 Mbps.
1978
- Xerox developed X-Wire, a 10 Mbps Ethernet running on a
coaxial cable.
1979
- Bob Metcalfe founded 3Com
to commercialize the Ethernet.
- Bob Metcalfe persuaded Gordon
Bell at DEC, David
Liddle at Xerox and Phil Kaufman at Intel
to jointly develop an Ethernet specification based on X-Wire. This group was called DIX.
- Ralph Ungermann and Charlie Bass founded Ungermann-Bass
to develop Ethernet-based terminal access products.
1980
- John Shoch published his Stanford doctorate thesis, "Design and Performance of Local Computer Networks."
- DIX group published "Blue Book" Ethernet specification.
- IEEE formed an 802 committee to develop local area networking standards.
- Vitalink was founded to develop satellite data communication systems. Vitalink then moved into Ethernet-wide area bridges.
1981
- Mayfield Fund, Melchor Venture Management, and
New Enterprise Associates led a $1.1 million,
first-round financing for 3Com.
- Interlan founded to develop Ethernet components.
- Bridge Communications founded to develop Ethernet-based terminal access products and internetwork routers.
1982
- Excelan founded to develop Ethernet adapter cards and components.
- DAVID Systems founded to develop Ethernet on twisted pair and hubs.
- Sun Microsystems founded to develop UNIX workstations with Ethernet.
- David Redell, Yogen Dalal, John Shoch, and Ron Crane author "Evolution of the Ethernet Local Computer Network," published in IEEE Computer.
- Intel introduces the first Ethernet interface card.
1983
- Novell founded to develop network software on Ethernet.
- Cabletron founded as a cabling installation company.
- 802.3 specification formally approved by IEEE.
- BICC Data Networks founded as one of the first European companies to provide Ethernet products.
1985
- SynOptics founded to develop twisted-pair Ethernet
hubs.
- Lannet founded to develop Ethernet switching hubs.
1987
- 3Com acquired Bridge and entered the router business.
- Kalpana and Alantec founded to develop intelligent switching hubs.
1989
- Network Peripherals founded to manufacture high-speed networks.
1990
- Crescendo founded to develop twisted-pair FDDI network products and Ethernet hubs.
1992
- Grand Junction Networks founded to develop 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet products.
1993
- Cisco acquired Crescendo to enter the Ethernet switch business.
- 3Com acquired BICC Data Networks.
1995
- Granite Systems founded to develop Gigabit Ethernet products.
- Compaq acquired Networth.
- 3Com acquired Chipcom.
- Cisco acquired Grand Junction Networks.
1996
- Alteon, Extreme,
Foundry, Packet Engines, Prominet, Rapid City, and Yago founded to develop Gigabit Ethernet equipment.
- Cisco acquired Granite Systems.
1997
- Bay acquired Rapid City.
- Lucent acquired Prominet.
2003
- Ethernet turned 30 years old.
