2024-12-09 18:34:15 +00:00
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---
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tags: [networks, hardware]
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created: Tuesday, August 06, 2024
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---
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# Network card
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The network card (technically know as the Network Interface Card (NIC)) or
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_network adapter_ is the hardware device that allows a computer to connect to a
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network.
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They are the physical interface between the computer and the network
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2025-01-16 07:08:09 +00:00
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[link](Link_Layer_of_Internet_Protocol.md), e.g. WiFi or ethernet.
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2025-01-16 07:08:09 +00:00
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They can be internal and built into the [motherboard](Motherboard.md) or
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external as in the case of USB adaptors.
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2025-01-16 07:08:09 +00:00
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Each network card has a unique [MAC address](MAC_addresses.md) to identify the
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device on the network.
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Network cards on consumer-grade devices typically utilise the devices resources
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and the kernel manages its actions via a driver. More high-end devices
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(typically used in servers) have their own processors and memory.
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