Networking - Network Interface Card (NIC)

Networking Network Interface Card (NIC)
The University of Findlay's College of Education

A network interface card (NIC) is the networking component that connects the computer to the network. A NIC will have an interface that connects to the computer (PCI, USB, PCMCIA) and a network connector (RJ45, Wireless, Fiber). Most new computers come with a NIC, even if the computer is for home use. The type of NIC that is used in a computer is dependent on two things:

The network topology
The available interfaces in the computer (PCI, USB, PCMCIA, etc)

Most of today's networks will be 10/100 star topology. NIC's connecting to this type of network will use category 5 wire and require an RJ45 connector on the NIC.

	PCI NIC Most desktop computers will utilize a PCI NIC. This NIC has a PCI interface that connects to the bus of the computer. Installing one of these NICs will require opening the computer case. A patch cord with an RJ45 connector will plug into the network port on the NIC.
	PCMCIA NIC Laptops without an integrated NIC may use a PCMCIA NIC. This PCMCIA card includes a "dongle" that is used to connect to the network patch cord.
	PCMCIA NIC This PCMCIA card has a pop-out RJ45 port. This avoids the hassle of the "dongle", but is a fragile substitute.
	PCMCIA NIC The best PCMCIA solution is the NIC with an integrated RJ45 port. On a card like this, there is nothing that sticks out to be broken off. The RJ45 connects directly to the card. A card like this will use two PCMCIA slots.
	USB Ethernet If you have a computer with no available slots or no available PCMCIA slots, a USB ethernet adaptor is a possible NIC solution.
	Wireless A wireless network uses wireless NICs. Instead of hubs and switches, a wireless network uses access points. Often these access points are wired to a traditional star topology network. This can give the wireless network connectivity to servers and the Internet. Think of a wireless network as a "hub" network. This is because wireless is a "shared" network technology as apposed to a switched network. All wireless NICs (and access points) see all the packets, even packets destined for other NICs.
	Fiber NIC If your network requires a fiber connection (not unusual for a server), the NIC will require a fiber connection. This PCI card has an SC type fiber connector. A fiber optic patch cord is used to connect this NIC to a switch.