NETWORK INTERFACE CARD

The NIC contains the electronic circuitry required to communicate using a wired
connection (e.g., Ethernet) or a wireless connection (e.g., Wi-Fi). A network
interface card is also known as a network interface controller, network adapter, or
Local Area Network (LAN) adapter.

FOR NIC INSTALLATION & CONFIGURATION ONE NEEDS TO PASS

THESE THREE PHASES:

I. Setting
II. Configuration
III. Interfacing

CHARACTERSTICS:

 A network interface card provides a fast connection to the Internet. For

example, a gigabit NIC provides speeds up to 1 Gbps. Unlike a wireless
connection, the speed of a NIC should stay constant even as the wires travel
through walls, floors or other obstacles.
 They require a hard wired connection, in order to work properly
 The Network interface card needs to be capable of the same speed as the
network switch to which it is connected i.e. that a network switch running at
100Mb will require the network cards in the computer to be running at the
same speed.
 A NIC is not as convenient as a wireless card
 NICs are not as portable as wireless cards.
 HUB
When referring to a network, a hub is the most basic networking device that
connects multiple computers or other network devices together. Unlike a network
switch or router, a network hub has no routing tables or intelligence on where to
send information and broadcasts all network data across each connection.

CHARACTERSTICS:

 Hubs are of three types: 1) Active Hub 2) Passive Hub 3)Intelligent Hub
 Hubs Capacity- 4,8,16 & 24 Ports
 As the number of devices connected to the hub increases, network
performance and data transfer rates decrease substantially.
 It costs less than a comparable switch
 Network hubs can only communicate in half-duplex mode; they can only
send or receive data at any given time
 Hubs are unable to support networks that are as large as switches because
hubs send all traffic to all devices on the network. The more devices you
add, the slower the network gets, eventually becoming unusable
 SWITCHES
A network switch (also called switching hub, bridging hub, officially MAC
Bridge) is a computer networking device that connects devices together on a
computer network, by using packet switching to receive, process and forward data
to the destination device.

CHARACTERSTICS:

 The ability to route packages to designated end locations is one of the key
advantages to using network switches.
 Network switches eliminate collisions by creating a direct on-the-fly
connection between the sending and receiving devices or computers.
 Network switches tend to be difficult to install and use.
 There is reduced workload on individual computers.
 Network problems can be difficult to trace through a switch.
 Networks that include switches experience fewer frame collisions because
switches create collision domains for each connection (a process called
micro segmentation)
 REPEATERS
A repeater is a network device that is used to regenerate or replicate signals that are
weakened or distorted by transmission over long distances and through areas with
high levels of electromagnetic interference (EMI).

CHARACTERSTICS:

 The primary advantage of using a wireless repeater is that it can improve

wireless signal strength without having to move a computer or router.
 It helps to reduce the impact of obstructions that may impact the wireless
connection.
 The potential drawback of using a wireless repeater is that it may not boost
signal strength as much as desired.
 They require no processing overhead, so very little if any performance
degradation occurs.