Ethernet connection box

The Ethernet connection box, or EAD for short, was used for Ethernet connections. In the early 1980s, EADs supported IT administrators in their work. Before that, data transmission took place via coaxial cable. At that time, the entire network had to be switched off as soon as a new device was to be connected or repaired. The reason for this was the principle of series connection that the networks followed. This meant that quite a few tasks of the IT administrators could only be done after office hours. EADs provided the solution, so that plugging in or unplugging devices became possible without paralysing the entire network. In the 1990s, the use of EADs decreased, so that they are now considered obsolete.