NIC Full Form

NIC stands for Network Interface Card. NIC is additionally called Ethernet or physical or network card. NIC is one of the major and imperative components of associating a gadget with the network. Each gadget that must be associated with a network must have a network interface card. Even the switches comprise of NIC in arrange to associate to the systems. It is the foremost essential network component without which you cannot interface any gadget to a network. It could be a circuit board or a card that is introduced in the computer or PC so that it acts as an arbiter for organizing and computer or PC. It is shown on layer 2 of the OSI show which is an information interface layer that employs MAC address. 

In a straightforward frame, it can be clarified as the programmable card that changes over the address to electrical signals through the cables to the web and vice versa like ethernet, and for remote, it changes over the bits to radio signals and vice versa like Wi-fi.

Network Interface Card Diagram

Characteristics of NIC

• Physical network address All network connectors have a universally interesting physical address burned onto the card by the card producer. The physical address extraordinarily recognizes each individual card that interfaces to the network cable or media. For this reason, the physical address is additionally called the Media Access Control (MAC) address. MAC addresses are six bytes long. An ordinary MAC address might appear as 00-00-86-47-F6-65, where the primary three bytes are the merchant ID and the other three are special information.
• Network connection port Network connector cards will have one or more ports that are arranged to put through particularly to a given sort of arranging cable. A few more seasoned cards might have double ports so that they can interface to more than one network cable sort. Be beyond any doubt to choose a card with a port that matches the network media to utilize in your environment.
• Status indicator lights Network connectors ordinarily have one or more Light Emanating Diode (Led) status lights that can give data on the state of the network association. Most connectors have an interface lights that demonstrates in the event that there’s a flag from the organize. If the interface isn’t list, there’s, by and large, an issue with the cable or the physical connection. Most connectors have a movement light that flashes when parcels are calmed or sent. On the off chance that the light flickers constantly, the organization can be abused or there could be a framework creating arrange clamor.

Types of Network Interface Cards

There are two types of NICs:

Wired NICs (Ethernet NIC)

It was created by Robert Metcalfe in 1980. This types of NICs uses cables to connect to a networks. It is more secure as compare to wireless. It supports high-speed data up to 1 Gbps. It Establishes more stable connections as compared to wireless networks. This type of NICs used in LAN, MAN and WAN networks, as well as for gaming and video conferencing.

Examples : TP-Lick TG-3468 Gigabit PCI Express Network Adapter, Integrated Ethernet NICs.

Wireless NICs

This type of NICs uses radio signals to connect to a network. They are commonly used for Wi-Fi connections. It is more portable, often built into devices like laptops and phones. Wireless capability can also be added to computers without built-in Wi-Fi.

Examples : Intel 3160 Dual-Band wireless Adapter, Internal Wi-Fi cards, USB Wi-Fi adapters, Wi-Fi 6 adapters.

Advantages of NIC

• The communication speed utilizing the Web is high ordinarily in Gigabytes.
• Highly dependable connection.
• Many peripheral gadgets can be associated with utilizing numerous ports of NIC cards.
• Bulk information can be shared among numerous clients.

Disadvantages of NIC

• Badly arranged in case of wired cable NIC, because it isn’t versatile like a remote router
• The arrangement ought to be appropriate for superior communication.
• Data is unsecured.

Conclusion

NICs play a crucial role in connecting devices to networks and essential components for network connectivity. Understanding NICs helps you understanding computer network concepts.

Frequently Asked Questions on Network Interface Card – FAQs

What do you understand by NIC ?

NIC stands for Network Interface Card. It is used to connect devices to networks and can be either wired or wireless.

What are the examples of wireless network NIC ?

USB Wi-Fi adapters and Wi-Fi cards.

Which is a NIC address?

Network interface card address referred by a MAC address. MAC (Media Access Control ) addresses are six bytes long. Where the primary three bytes are the merchant ID and the other three as special information.

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