What is Network Interface Card?
Definition: Network interface card is a hardware component (circuit board) that installed in the computer system. It helps to make connection with different types of networking devices like as server and PC to share data over the entire computer network. NIC offers several functionalities like as Direct Memory Access (DMA) interfaces, partitioning, data transmission, and I/O interrupt.
Network Interface Card has other names the “Network Interface Controller“, “Network Adapter“, “Ethernet card“, “Connection card“, and “LAN (Local Area Network) Adapter“.
Diagram of Network Interface Card
Main purpose of network interface card (NIC) is to allow make communication in between computer systems through local area network, and to make communications over large-scale network via Internet Protocol (IP).
Network interface card (NIC) consists 48 bit unique serial number that known as MAC address; saved in ROM carried on the card. At least one NIC gets integrating in the each computer system, if user wants to make connection to internet.
Types of Network Interface Card
Network Interface Cards are of two different type, but it depend on the slots, which integrated into motherboard. Below explain each one with examples:
- Internal Network Cards
- External Network Cards
Internal Network Cards: Here, no need any other any network cards because motherboard contains a slot for inserting the network card where this card can fit. But, it needs the network cable to offer network access. Internal network card has two variants connection like as “Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) and Industry Standard Architecture (ISA)”.
Internal Network Cards (NIC) has input jack that built with Ethernet Cable. It prefers of a Ethernet connection is Register Jack’ that mostly used to RJ 45 connector. Ethernet-base’s Internal Network Cards can be measuring as 10/100/1000 Mbps.
Ethernet has four standard like as “5-Base T, 10-Base T, 100-Base T, and 1000-Base T”.
Example is “TP-LINK TG-3468 Gigabit PCI Express Network Adapter“
External Network Cards: Desktop and laptop do not contain any internal NIC card because external network card uses outside of your computer system. It does not require any cable for network access. Mostly it is using for traveling purpose because it makes comfortable for wireless networking access.
External Network Card has two variants like as “Wireless and USB based“.
- Wireless NIC: Wireless network card can fit into motherboard slot. But it doesn’t need any network cable to make connection with computer to internet. These types of NIC cards get introducing for Wi-Fi enabled connections.
Wireless network cards have a small size antenna integrated on the surface of card where to make communication in between multiple devices with using of routers and other network protocols.
Examples are “Intel 3160 Dual-Band Wireless Adapter and Fiber data Digital Interface FDDI“
- USB NIC: These types of network cards help to make connection over device plugged in the USB port.
Examples are “TP-Link TL-UE300 USB 3.0 to RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet Network Adapter and USB-Ethernet Adapter“
Functions of Network Interface Card
Network interface card (NIC) performs various functions; below list and explain each one –
- It plays role as translator that helps to convert data into digital signal.
- Network card provides both communication methods like as wired and wireless.
- It acts as middleware in between computer and data network. For example, when user sends the requests for any query on the internet then LAN card receives data from the user system, and then send them to the server over the internet, then finally it receives the needed data back from internet for viewing for users.
- This network card uses both OSI model layer such as physical and data link layer. Physical layer uses for transmitting signal and network layer to transfer data packets.
Working of Network Interface Card is divided into two segments, like as –
Wired Network Connectivity: In the wired network, Ethernet cable is connected to network port in the motherboard. It enables with direct to make connection to hub or switches. It uses the MAC address to share data or resources.
Wireless Network Connectivity: In the wireless network, to make communication in between multiple devices and center hub or switches through radio wave that means wireless medium.
Components of Network Interface Card
Memory: It is most important component of the network card because it helps to save all data while making communication.
Connectors: Connectors use to attach cables with Ethernet port.
Processor: These processors help to alter all data message into comfortable format for making communication.
Jumpers: Manage all communication operations without requiring of any program.
Router: To offer wireless connectivity.
MAC Address: With the help of this MAC address NIC card decide where to send data with computer system.
Driver: Need software that transfer data between PC’ operating system and network card.
LED Indicators: This LED get connecting with connectors, and it helps to notify to user when data is transferring while connecting network.
Controller: It is like as mini CPU that monitors the performance of the network adapter.
ROM Socket: This socket is enabled with boot ROM ability that allows to diskless workstation for making connection with the network. As well as, it also helps to enhance the protection and get low cost of the hardware components.
