Which IEEE standard corresponds to 10 Mbps Ethernet?

The standard that corresponds to 10 Mbps Ethernet is indeed the 802.3i standard. This standard was the original specification for Ethernet over twisted pair cabling and defined the physical layer and media access control (MAC) for 10 Mbps networks utilizing coaxial cable (10BASE5 and 10BASE2).

In terms of nomenclature, the "10" refers to the speed (10 Mbps), and "BASE" indicates baseband signaling, while "5" and "2" refer to the maximum length of the cable segments in hundreds of meters (5 for 10BASE5 and 2 for 10BASE2). This standard laid the foundation for subsequent Ethernet technologies that increased speed and improved networking capabilities.

In contrast, the other standards listed pertain to different types of Ethernet speeds and technologies. For instance, 802.3u is associated with Fast Ethernet, which operates at 100 Mbps, and 802.3ab corresponds to Gigabit Ethernet over twisted pair cabling (1 Gbps). Similarly, 802.3an refers to 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Understanding these standards is crucial for networking professionals, as it helps in identifying and implementing the appropriate technologies for specific network requirements.