title: Clarification on Ethernet, MII, SGMII, RGMII and PHY
body: <p>I primarily come from an Embedded Software background and hence I have very limited knowledge about hardware in general. I always use to think Ethernet as that little physical connector on your computer into which you attach your Ethernet cable. And from a Software perspective all you need to do is to install the driver (in Windows) or configure the Linux kernel to include the driver for your Ethernet. </p>
  
  <p>Questions:</p>
  
  <p>But as I have started going down one level (towards the hardware) and looking at various datasheet and schematics, I have started to come across terms like PHY, MII, SGMII, RGMII, etc. And now I am little confused as to what constitutes an Ethernet? For example, when I say Intel 82574L 1.0 Gbps Ethernet port, where do all these terms fit in?</p>