Network interface controller: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:50, 21 February 2004

Revision as of 22:09, 26 February 2004

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A '''network card''' (also called '''network adapter''', '''network [[interface]] [card]''', etc.) is a piece of [[computer hardware]] designed to provide for [[computer communication]] over a [[computer network]].

The communicationcard isimplements the usuallyelectronic carriedcircuitry outrequired into accordancecommunicate withusing a certainspecific [[protocolphysical layer]] and [[data link layer]] standard such as such as [[ethernet]] or [[token ring]]. This provides a base for a full network [[protocol stack]], allowing communication among small groups of computers on the same [[LAN]], and throughlarge-scale anetwork communications through routable protocolprotocols, such as [[Internet Protocol|IP]], for large-scale network communications.

A network card typically has a [[twisted pair]] or [[BNC connector]] socket where the network cable is connected, and a few [[Light-emitting diode|LED]]s to inform the user of whether the network is active, and whether or not there is data being transmitted on it.