Network Frame Formats
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Note that this problem exists only at the MAC interface level, and is
independent of the higher level protocols being used, such as TCP/IP.
Therefore, systems which use Ethernet and IEEE 802.3, may not be able
to communicate with each other even though they use the same higher
level protocol.
Many vendors’ interfaces can recognize both IEEE 802.3 and Ethernet
frames on the same network. This is done by using Ethernet packet types
that are greater than the maximum frame length. Packets with legal
frame length fields are assumed to be IEEE 802.3 format while others are
assumed to be Ethernet format. You may consult the supplier of your
network hardware and software products to ascertain what the effects of
mixing Ethernet and IEEE 802.3 networks will be.
