Network Interface Card example essay topic

NIC: The Unsung Hero The Network Interface Card, or NIC for short, is the most important peripheral when it comes to operating on a network. Many people think the most important item in a network is the cabling, or maybe the network software, or even the computer or server being used. While each of these items is important they are worthless without a Network Interface Card, for successful network operation. The NIC has taken most of the legwork out of the way we do business. No more does Bob, in the Production Department, have to save a file on a floppy disk just to hand carry it two floors up to Sue, in the Accounting Department. The NIC makes it possible to send the file across the network, saving precious production time, so Bob can work on other matters.

The importance of the NIC can be described in terms of what it is, what types there are, and system compatibility. So, what is a NIC? Simply put it is the physical interface between the computer and the network cable. The NIC performs many vital functions that are transparent to the user, in order to send and receive data. 1) It prepares data to be sent over the network by converting the computer, parallel data into serial data. 2) It advertises its address to the rest of the network, to distinguish itself from other cards on the network.

3) It carries on an electronic dialog with the receiving NIC about such things as the maximum size of the data to be sent, the time intervals between data chunks, and how much data each card can hold before it overflows, to name a few (Microsoft 76). All NICs operate pretty much the same way, but it is important to know about the different types of NICs. NICs come in two basic varieties: those designated for servers and those designated for desktops (Harvey 104). The application of the network being used will dictate what type of NIC to use.

Server NICs generally come with on board processors and memory. For a heavily trafficked server, multiple port cards allow for additional connections to a server, saving expansion slot space (Harvey 105). The desktop NIC is more of a bare bones type of card. It does not require an on board processor and memory, unless it is for a user that moves a lot of data (i. e., video or database information).

Server and desktop NICs do share the capability of having multiple connections for different types of cable (i. e., thick net, thin net, 10 base t, etc. ). The compatibility of a particular NIC with the server, desktop, and network depends on two factors. Compatibility refers to the computer's internal data bus architecture and the type of cable and cable connector being used in the network. If the network is to function properly each station must have a NIC that is suited to its internal structure.

A card that would work in an Apple computer communicating in a bus network will not work in an IBM computer in a ring environment (Microsoft 80). There are four types of computer bus architectures: ISA, EISA, Micro Channel, and PCI. The NIC must be compatible with the bus architecture being used in the computer or server. The NIC must also be compatible with the type of cable and connectors being used in the network. A thick net network connection uses a 15-pin attachment user interface (AUI) connector whereas a thin net network connection uses a coaxial BNC connector. As mentioned earlier, some NICs provide multiple connections for different cable interfaces, which allows for use with different types of cable.

Whether the NIC has multiple connections or a single connection it must be compatible with the network cable and connector. The significant role that the Network Interface Card has in the overall operation of a network should now be obvious. What the NIC does and how it functions are key to data flow from point A to point B. Before purchasing a NIC and depending on the network application, remember to check for the proper type and system compatibility. Long live the NIC.

Bibliography

Harvey, David. "The NIC is Dead". Buyers Guide 12.7 (2001): 104-106.
7 Apr, 2001 web Networking Essentials Plus.
Ed. William Sette n, Maureen Phillips, and Steve Perry. 3rd ed. Redmond: Microsoft Press, 2000.