2024-08-06 17:00:03 +01:00
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
|
tags: [networks, hardware]
|
|
|
|
|
created: Tuesday, August 06, 2024
|
|
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024-10-18 20:00:02 +01:00
|
|
|
# Network card
|
2024-08-06 17:00:03 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The network card (technically know as the Network Interface Card (NIC)) or
|
|
|
|
|
_network adapter_ is the hardware device that allows a computer to connect to a
|
|
|
|
|
network.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
They are the physical interface between the computer and the network
|
|
|
|
|
[link](./Link_Layer_of_Internet_Protocol.md), e.g. WiFi or ethernet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
They can be internal and built into the [motherboard](./Motherboard.md) or
|
|
|
|
|
external as in the case of USB adaptors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Each network card has a unique [MAC address](./MAC_addresses.md) to identify the
|
|
|
|
|
device on the network.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Network cards on consumer-grade devices typically utilise the devices resources
|
|
|
|
|
and the kernel manages its actions via a driver. More high-end devices
|
|
|
|
|
(typically used in servers) have their own processors and memory.
|
