What Is a Network Card?
A network card is part of a computer's hardware configuration. This device allows a computer to connect to, and communicate with, a network of any size. Network cards, typically Ethernet cards, are also known as network interface cards (NICs), network adapters and LAN adapters.
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Standard Component
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Network cards were once considered an extra component, to be bought and installed by the computer user at a later date. Now, however, network cards are standard for all computers and laptops sold, and are integrated into the hardware during manufacture. When installed, a network card shows that the computer is connected to the network by lighting LEDs on the card.
Identification
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Each network card is unique, and has its own media access control (MAC) address, which can be used to identify the computer from which data originated on a network. This address is a 48-bit identification number that is physically burned onto a ROM chip located on the network card. The first 24 bits of the MAC address are known as the organizationally unique identifier (OUI). The MAC address is assigned by the manufacturer during assembly, but can be changed later in a procedure known as MAC spoofing.
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OSI Model
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Network cards operate on two layers of the open systems interaction (OSI) model. They operate on the physical layer, due to the fact that the network card provides physical access to the network. Network cards also operate on the second layer of the OSI model, the data link layer, by providing addressing. They do this by means of the MAC address encoded into each network card.
Connections
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Network cards can allow users to connect to a network physically or wirelessly. When connecting via a physical cable, they typically offer connection by a RJ-45 jack. A wireless network card typically has no physical connection capability.
Capabilities
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Both types of network card, wireless and physical, can support approximately the same transfer speeds. These speeds range from 10 megabits per second up to 1000 megabits per second, depending on the model purchased.
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