What follows the EtherType field in an Ethernet frame?

In an Ethernet frame, the EtherType field is crucial as it indicates the protocol encapsulated in the payload of the frame. Following the EtherType field, the Frame Check Sequence (FCS) is included, which serves a vital role in ensuring data integrity during transmission.

The FCS is a sequence of bits used by the receiving device to check for errors in the frame. It is calculated based on the content of the entire frame, except the FCS itself, and is appended to the data. When the receiving device gets the frame, it performs a similar calculation and compares the result to the FCS. If they match, the frame is presumed to be error-free. This mechanism is essential for maintaining the reliability of data communication over the network.

The other choices involve different components that may be present in higher layers of the network stack or different protocols entirely, which do not immediately follow the EtherType field within an Ethernet frame structure.