What is the most popular LAN Data Link Layer technology?

The most popular LAN Data Link Layer technology is Ethernet. Ethernet has become the foundational technology for local area networking due to its wide adoption and standardization, primarily since it efficiently utilizes a star topology and can achieve high data transfer rates. Besides, Ethernet supports multiple devices on a single network by managing their communication through a system called Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD), which allows devices to share the same communication medium effectively.

Its versatility allows for various types of cabling—such as twisted pair and fiber optics—making it scalable and adaptable to different environments. The development of various Ethernet standards, such as Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet, has further contributed to its popularity, enabling faster data rates and better performance as network demands have evolved.

Meanwhile, while technologies like Token Ring were historically significant, they did not achieve the same level of widespread use as Ethernet. Wi-Fi, although extensively used for wireless networking, operates at the Physical layer and is not strictly categorized under the Data Link Layer in the same sense as Ethernet. Frame Relay, a technology used primarily in wide area networking, is not designed specifically for LANs, which further distinguishes Ethernet in this context.