serial - Ethernet RJ45 interfacing with microcontroller

I am working on a project, (still in the nascent stage) where I have to implement a serial communication interface and an Ethernet interface. I tried to find out as much as I can and got the following information:

• For the serial interface I can implement using (DB9/DB25 via max232 line driver)


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  For RJ45 interface I am in doubt which method is right. Either:

  
  
  
  
  1. RJ45 => Ethernet Controller IC => Microcontroller(with SPI) would this method interfere with the serial communication port as SPI would require rxd and txd pins of micro-controller which are used to connect with pins of line driver (totally confused)
  
  
  2. RJ45 => Micro-controller( I doubt it)
  
  
  
  

Kindly advise, please forgive my ignorance I am quite new to networking arena.