Which media type is managed at the Physical Layer (Layer 1) of the OSI model?

The correct choice, Ethernet, is fundamentally a technology that operates at the Physical Layer (Layer 1) of the OSI model. At this layer, the focus is on the transmission of raw binary data over a physical medium, which includes defining the electrical, optical, and radio signals that enable communication. Ethernet encompasses various cable types (like twisted pair and fiber optic) as well as signaling characteristics that ensure data can be transmitted effectively between devices on the same local area network (LAN).

The Physical Layer is crucial because it establishes how data is physically sent through the medium used for networking. It deals with aspects such as voltage levels, timing of voltage changes, physical data rates, and the physical layout of connectors and cables. Any networking technology that pertains to the actual transmission of data at this foundational level will fall under this layer.

When considering the other options, they relate to the Data Link Layer and above. Media Access Control (MAC) is also part of the Data Link Layer, as it concerns how devices on a network interface and manage access to shared media. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a protocol that operates at the Transport Layer, focusing on secure communication over a network. HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is an application layer protocol that