Network Interface Cards (NICs)
A Network Interface Card (NIC) is a hardware component that enables a computer to connect to a network.
- Functions: Data transmission, MAC addressing, signal encoding
- Types: Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Fiber Channel
- Interfaces: PCIe, USB, onboard
- Data Rates: 10/100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps, higher
- Features: Wake-on-LAN, VLAN tagging, Jumbo Frames
Commonly used in desktops, servers, and laptops for wired or wireless connectivity.