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What is DIX Standard?
DIX standard is a popular standard for Ethernet that was introduced in 1978. The name DIX is an abbreviation of the three organizations who developed it: DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation), Intel, and Xerox. DIX Ethernet provides a data transmission speed of 10 Mbps.
DIX Ethernet is also known as Ethernet II framing and remains one of the most widely used Ethernet frame formats in modern networks. It differs from IEEE 802.3 framing primarily in its Type field, which identifies the upper-layer protocol.
DIX Ethernet Frame Structure
The DIX Ethernet frame consists of several distinct fields, each serving a specific purpose in data transmission:
-
Preamble − An 8-byte starting field that provides synchronization and timing information for the receiving station.
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Destination Address − A 6-byte field containing the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the destination station.
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Source Address − A 6-byte field containing the MAC address of the sending station.
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Type − A 2-byte field that identifies the upper-layer protocol (e.g., IPv4, IPv6, ARP) to which the frame should be delivered.
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Data − A variable-sized field carrying the payload from upper layers. The data field can range from 46 to 1500 bytes.
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Padding − Added to ensure the data portion meets the minimum requirement of 46 bytes when necessary.
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CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) − A 4-byte field containing error detection information to verify frame integrity.
DIX vs IEEE 802.3
| Feature | DIX Ethernet II | IEEE 802.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol Identification | Type field (2 bytes) | Length field + LLC header |
| Value Range | ? 0x0600 (1536 decimal) | ? 0x05DC (1500 decimal) |
| Usage | Most common in TCP/IP networks | Less common, more complex |
Common Type Field Values
The Type field in DIX frames uses specific values to identify different protocols:
-
0x0800− IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) -
0x86DD− IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) -
0x0806− ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) -
0x8035− RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol)
Conclusion
DIX Ethernet standard, developed by DEC, Intel, and Xerox in 1978, introduced the Ethernet II frame format that remains widely used today. Its distinguishing Type field makes it ideal for modern TCP/IP networks by efficiently identifying upper-layer protocols.
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