Ethernet flow control

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Ethernet Flow Control is defined by IEEE 802.3 for full-duplex operation. (See IEEE 802.3 for related Ethernet specifications.)

Ethernet is a specification used by computers to send information over a physical medium, such as copper cables or fibre optics.

It is impossible to make two devices exactly the same speed, one will always talk faster than the other, even two devices of the same rating. Due to this, one device may require the other to pause briefly so that information can be locally processed.

Flow control is the sub-specification that allows devices to send a message to the other host to request a pause in data transfer. If a device sends a pause frame, the receiving device is expected to halt transmission for the duration of time specified in the pause frame.

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