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Network Interface Controller

A network interface controller (NIC) connects a computer to a computer network by implementing the electronic circuitry required for physical layer and data link layer communication standards like Ethernet, Wi-Fi or Token Ring. Early NICs were expansion cards but most modern computers have the network interface built into the motherboard. The NIC indicates available packets for transfer via polling or interrupts and transfers data through programmed I/O or direct memory access. Ethernet NICs typically support 10/100/1000 Mbps speeds and have LEDs and an 8P8C socket to connect to the network cable.

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74 views

Network Interface Controller

A network interface controller (NIC) connects a computer to a computer network by implementing the electronic circuitry required for physical layer and data link layer communication standards like Ethernet, Wi-Fi or Token Ring. Early NICs were expansion cards but most modern computers have the network interface built into the motherboard. The NIC indicates available packets for transfer via polling or interrupts and transfers data through programmed I/O or direct memory access. Ethernet NICs typically support 10/100/1000 Mbps speeds and have LEDs and an 8P8C socket to connect to the network cable.

Uploaded by

Avinash Jadhav
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Network interface controller

A network interface controller (NIC, also known as a network interface card, network adapter, LAN
adapter, and by similar terms) is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer
network.
[1]

Early network interface controllers were commonly implemented on expansion cards that plugged into
a computer bus; the low cost and ubiquity of theEthernet standard means that most newer computers have a
network interface built into the motherboard.
Purpose[edit]
The network controller implements the electronic circuitry required to communicate using a specific physical
layer and data link layer standard such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi or Token Ring. This provides a base for a full
networkprotocol stack, allowing communication among small groups of computers on the same LAN and
large-scale network communications through routable protocols, such as IP.

Implementation[edit]

An ATM network interface.

An Intel 82574L Gigabit EthernetNIC, PCI Express x1 card
Whereas network controllers used to operate on expansion cards that plugged into a
computer bus, the low cost and ubiquity of the Ethernet standard means that most new
computers have a network interface built into the motherboard.
Newer servermotherboards may even have dual network interfaces built-in. The Ethernet
capabilities are either 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 additional interfaces are needed or some
other type of network is used.
The NIC may use one or more of two techniques to indicate the availability of packets to
transfer:
Polling is where the CPU examines the status of the peripheral under program control;
Interrupt-driven I/O is where the peripheral alerts the CPU that it is ready to transfer
data;
and may use one or more of two techniques to transfer packet data:
Programmed input/output is where the CPU moves the data to or from the designated peripheral to
memory;
Direct memory access is where an intelligent peripheral assumes control of thesystem bus to access
memory directly. This removes load from the CPU but requires more logic on the card. In addition, a
packet buffer on the NIC may not be required and latency can be reduced.
An Ethernet network controller typically has an 8P8C socket where the network cable is connected. Older
NICs also suppliedBNC, or AUI connections. A few LEDs inform the user of whether the network is active,
and whether or not data transmission occurs. Ethernet network controllers typically support
10 Mbit/s Ethernet, 100 Mbit/s Ethernet, and 1000 Mbit/s Ethernetvarieties. Such controllers are
designated 10/100/1000 - this means they can support a notional maximum transfer rate of 10, 100 or 1000
Megabits per second.
Some products feature NIC partitioning (NPAR).
[3]

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