Network Interface Card

In this article I have tried to explain about Network Interface Card in a very different way. Follow the conversation between 2 friends Neela and Diganth.

Diganth:  Neela, let us take our example itself, you always say I am reserved. But you (Neela) are not like me. You are a social person.I am not ready to mingle with people so I don’t talk to them. But you initiate the talk with people and make friends.  But still you are wise enough to choose good friend’s right? You will have your own logic to select friend’s right? You don’t go make everyone as your friend right?

Similar way if a computer system wants to be in a network (Network is a group of two or more computer networks connected together) then it has to talk to others. Talk refers to data communication (Data communication means transmitting or receiving data between two or more computer systems). How do you talk? You talk if you have a vocal cord right? Here you should have NIC. That’s Network Interface Card. Alias Network Adapter Card, Network Adapters, and LAN Adapters. NIC is popular, so we will use this name. This is a hardware which connects computer system to the network. Computer system can transfer and receive data through NIC. If a computer system doesn’t have NIC it cannot be a part of data communication.

Neela, Let me ask you a question. If you need to send message to a person, what all you need?

Neela: That’s an easy question. I need phone.

Diganth: Is that all?

Neela: Yes. 

Diganth: When I say what ‘all’. You should tell in detail. Forget it now. Let me explain. You need SIM card, phone number of the person. Here phone number is the unique identity.Similarly NIC has its own unique identity. That is called MAC address. MAC refers to Media access control which is the unique identifier assigned to NIC.

Neela: Where is this NIC? How it looks? 

Diganth: Good you asked. Come let us go to Computer system. Look backside of the Computer CPU.

Neela: Wait a minute. Diganth, you said only if you need to be in a computer network you need to have NIC. My system is  not in  network right? I am having only one system at my home. So I won’t be having NIC.

Diganth: Good doubt. Do you have internet connection? Will you be able to send an email?

Neela: Yes. 

Diganth: Then I think you must have got an answer.

Neela: No. I didn’t get you.

Diganth: When you are sending an email, Isn’t it data communication? 

Neela: Ya. So it’s happening through NIC.

Diganth: Yes.

Neela: Okay. Let me look at the backside of CPU.

Diganth: Observe at the blinking light.

Neela: Yes.

Diganth: The cable where it is connected to is NIC. The place where you are plugging the cable is called Jack.

Neela: Titatnic Jack.

Diganth: You and your PJs.

Neela: It’s called sense of humour. Not PJ (Poor Joke)

Diganth: Come back to NIC. I was telling about MAC address before you interrupted. If a computer system in a network needs to send data to my system. What all is required?

Neela: MAC address. 

Diganth: Correct. This is kind of high level. But it is very important to know the basics of NIC and MAC address. I hope you have got at least something about it.

Neela: Yes. Thank you Mr Reserved.

Diganth: Okay I think it is enough for today. See you tomorrow at sharp 5pm. Bye.

Neela: Mr Perfect. Okay bye bye.

Diganth: Stop calling with such names.

Neela: Yaya will try.