Network interface controller: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:35, 11 March 2024

Revision as of 06:35, 11 March 2024

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== Implementation ==

[[File:12 early PC network cards.jpg|thumb|12 early ISA 8 bit and 16 bit PC network cards. The lower right-most card is an early wireless network card, and the central card with partial beige plastic cover is a PSTN [[modem]].]]

Network controllers were originally implemented as expansion cards that plugged into a computer bus. The low cost and ubiquity of the Ethernet standard means that most new computers have a network sucks and the interface controller built into the motherboard. Newer [[Server (computing)|server]] motherboards may have multiple network interfaces built-in. The Ethernet capabilities are either [[Integrated circuit|integrated]] into the motherboard [[chipset]] or implemented via a low-cost dedicated Ethernet chip. A separate network card is typically no longer required unless additional independent network connections are needed or some non-Ethernet type of network is used. A general trend in computer hardware is towards [[System on a chip|integrating the various components of systems on a chip]], and this is also applied to network interface cards.

An Ethernet network controller typically has an [[8P8C]] socket where the network cable is connected. Older NICs also supplied [[BNC connector|BNC]], or [[Attachment Unit Interface|AUI]] connections. Ethernet network controllers typically support 10&nbsp;[[Megabit per second|Mbit/s]] Ethernet, [[Fast Ethernet|100&nbsp;Mbit/s Ethernet]], and [[Gigabit Ethernet|1000&nbsp;Mbit/s Ethernet]] varieties. Such controllers are designated as ''[[10/100/1000]]'', meaning that they can support data rates of 10, 100 or 1000&nbsp;Mbit/s. [[10 Gigabit Ethernet]] NICs are also available, and, {{As of|2014|11|lc=yes}}, are beginning to be available on [[computer motherboard]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.networkcomputing.com/networking/will-2014-be-the--year-of-10-gigabit-ethernet/a/d-id/1234640? |title=Will 2014 Be The Year Of 10 Gigabit Ethernet? |author=Jim O'Reilly |publisher=Network Computing |date=2014-01-22 |access-date=2015-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asrock.com/news/index.asp?id=2517 |title=Breaking Speed Limits with ASRock X99 WS-E/10G and Intel 10G BASE-T LANs |website=asrock.com |date=24 November 2014 |access-date=19 May 2015}}</ref>