NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Network card

A network card, network adapter or NIC (network interface controller) is a piece of computer hardware designed to allow computers to communicate over a computer network. It is both an OSI layer 1 (physical layer) and layer 2 (data link layer) device, as it provides physical access to a networking medium and provides a low-level addressing system through the use of MAC addresses. It allows users to connect to each other either by using cables or wirelessly. Download high resolution version (1444x1071, 99 KB)Image depicting a network card. ... This article is 150 kilobytes or more in size. ... Ethernet is a large and diverse family of frame-based computer networking technologies for local area networks (LANs). ... Industry Standard Architecture (in practice almost always shortened to ISA) is a bus standard for IBM compatibles introduced in 1984 that extends the XT bus architecture to 16 bits. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... In computer networking, Fast Ethernet is a collective term for a number of Ethernet standards that carry traffic at the nominal rate of 100 Mbit/s, against the original Ethernet speed of 10 Mbit/s. ... Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) is a term describing various technologies for transmitting Ethernet packets at a rate of a gigabit per second, as defined by the IEEE 802. ... Optical fibers An optical fiber (or fibre) is a glass or plastic fiber designed to guide light along its length by total internal reflection. ... Token-Ring local area network (LAN) technology was developed and promoted by IBM in the early 1980s and standardised as IEEE 802. ... 3Com (NASDAQ: COMS) is a manufacturer best known for its computer network infrastructure products. ... Novell was also the name of a road bicycle racing team. ... Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC, SEHK: 4335), founded in 1968 as Integrated Electronics Corporation, is an American multinational corporation that is best known for designing and manufacturing microprocessors and specialized integrated circuits. ... Realtek Semiconductor Corp. ... A network card, network adapter or NIC (network interface controller) is a piece of computer hardware designed to allow computers to communicate over a computer network. ... Computer hardware is the physical part of a computer, including the digital circuitry, as distinguished from the computer software that executes within the hardware. ... Bold text For the scientific and engineering discipline studying computer networks, see Computer networking. ... The Open Systems Interconnection Basic Reference Model (OSI Reference Model or OSI Model for short) is a layered, abstract description for communications and computer network protocol design, developed as part of the Open Systems Interconnection initiative. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In computer networking a Media Access Control address (MAC address) is a unique identifier attached to most network adapters (NICs). ...

Every network card has a unique 48-bit serial number called a MAC address, which is stored in ROM carried on the card. Every computer on a network must have a card with a unique MAC address. No two cards ever manufactured share the same address. This is accomplished by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), which is responsible for assigning unique MAC addresses to the vendors of network interface controllers. In computer networking a Media Access Control address (MAC address) is a unique identifier attached to most network adapters (NICs). ... Read-only memory (ROM) is a class of storage media used in computers and other electronic devices. ... The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers or IEEE (pronounced as eye-triple-e) is an international non-profit, professional organization for the advancement of technology related to electricity. ... The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers or IEEE (pronounced as eye-triple-ee) is an international non-profit, professional organization incorporated in the State of New York, United States. ...

Whereas network cards used to be expansion cards that plug into a computer bus, the low cost and ubiquity of the Ethernet standard means that most newer computers have a network interface built into the motherboard. These motherboards either have Ethernet capabilities integrated into the motherboard chipset, or implemented via a low cost dedicated Ethernet chip, connected through the PCI (or the newer PCI express bus). A separate network card is not required unless multiple interfaces are needed or some other type of network is used. Newer motherboards may even have dual network (Ethernet) interfaces built-in. Fitting an expansion card into a motherboard An expansion card in computing is a printed circuit board that can be inserted into an expansion slot of a computer motherboard to add additional functionality to a computer system. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... PCI Express (formerly known as 3GIO for 3rd Generation I/O, not to be mistaken with PCI-X) is an implementation of the PCI computer bus that uses existing PCI programming concepts and communications standards, but bases it on a much faster serial communications system. ...

The card implements the electronic circuitry required to communicate using a specific physical layer and data link layer standard 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 large-scale network communications through routable protocols, such as IP. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Ethernet is a large and diverse family of frame-based computer networking technologies for local area networks (LANs). ... Token-Ring local area network (LAN) technology was developed and promoted by IBM in the early 1980s and standardised as IEEE 802. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with communications protocol. ... Lan can stand for several things: A local area network Lan (airline) formerly LanChile Lan Peru LÃ¤n, a kind of administrative division used in Sweden Lan Mandragoran, a fictional character in the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. ... The Internet Protocol (IP) is a data-oriented protocol used for communicating data across a packet-switched internetwork. ...

There are four techniques used to transfer data, the NIC may use one or more of these techniques.

A network card typically has a twisted pair, BNC, or AUI socket where the network cable is connected, and a few LEDs to inform the user of whether the network is active, and whether or not there is data being transmitted on it. The Network Cards are typically available in 10/100/1000 Mbits/s(Mbps). This means they can support a transfer rate of 10 or 100 or 1000 Megabits per second. A microprocessor (sometimes abbreviated ÂµP) is a programmable digital electronic component that incorporates the functions of a central processing unit (CPU) on a single semiconducting integrated circuit (IC). ... A peripheral is a type of computer hardware that is added to a host computer in order to expand its abilities. ... This article is about the computer interface. ... A microprocessor (sometimes abbreviated ÂµP) is a programmable digital electronic component that incorporates the functions of a central processing unit (CPU) on a single semiconducting integrated circuit (IC). ... A peripheral is a type of computer hardware that is added to a host computer in order to expand its abilities. ... An address bus is (part of) a computer bus, used by CPUs or DMA-capable units for communicating the physical addresses of computer memory elements/locations that the requesting unit wants to access (read/write). ... This article is about the computer interface. ... A peripheral is a type of computer hardware that is added to a host computer in order to expand its abilities. ... A microprocessor (sometimes abbreviated ÂµP) is a programmable digital electronic component that incorporates the functions of a central processing unit (CPU) on a single semiconducting integrated circuit (IC). ... A peripheral is a type of computer hardware that is added to a host computer in order to expand its abilities. ... Front Side Bus (FSB) is the term used to describe the CPU data bus. ... 25 Pair Color Code Chart 10BASE-T UTP Cable Twisted pair cabling is a common form of wiring in which two conductors are wound around each other for the purposes of cancelling out electromagnetic interference known as crosstalk. ... Male BNC connector Adapter between a female BNC connector and banana plugs The BNC connector is a type of RF connector used for terminating coaxial cable. ... AUI Connectors. ... Led is also the past tense of the verb to lead Blue, green and red LEDs. ... A megabit per second (Mbps or Mbit/s or Mb/s) is a unit of data transmission equal to 1,024 kilobits per second or 1048576 bits per second. ...

Notable manufacturers

haha he he haha he he he he 3Com (NASDAQ: COMS) is a manufacturer best known for its computer network infrastructure products. ... AMD redirects here. ... Belkin Corporation is a global manufacturer of computer hardware which specializes in connectivity devices. ... Broadcom Corporation is a leading American supplier of integrated circuits (ICs) for broadband communications. ... Cisco may refer to: Cisco Systems, a computer networking company Cisco IOS, an internet router operating system CISCO Security Private Limited, a security company in Singapore Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation, a statutory board in Singapore Abbreviation for San Francisco, California Cisco (wine) The Cisco Kid, a fictional character created... The DEC logo Digital Equipment Corporation was a pioneering American company in the computer industry. ... Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC)(SEHK: 4335) is the worlds largest semiconductor company and the leading manufacturer of the x86 series of microprocessors, the processor found in many personal computers. ... Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL) is an American producer of storage, communications and consumer semiconductor products. ... Categories: Electronics companies of the United States | Companies based in California | Corporation stubs ... NETGEAR, founded in 1996, is a manufacturer of computer networking equipment and other computer hardware. ... Novell was also the name of a road bicycle racing team. ... Realtek Semiconductor Corp. ...

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See also

Notable manufacturers