Lab-02 Adding Network Interface Card

Lab 02: Adding Network Interface Card

2.1 Objective

Having completed this experiment, you will be familiar with:

1. Introduction to Network interface card (NIC)
2. Installation of Network Interface Card (NIC)
3. Configuration of Network Interface Card (NIC)

Apparatus: Network Interface Card

2.2 Introduction
What is network interface card (NIC)?
Short for Network Interface Card, a NIC is also commonly referred to as a network adapter and
is an expansion card that enables a computer to connect to a network such as a home network
and/or the Internet using a Ethernet cable with a RJ-45 connector.
A network interface card (NIC) is a hardware component, typically a circuit board or chip, which
is installed on a computer so that it can connect to a network. Modern NICs provide functionality
to computers such as support for I/O interrupt, direct memory access (DMA) interfaces, data
transmission, network traffic engineering and partitioning.
A NIC provides a computer with a dedicated, full-time connection to a network by implementing
the physical layer circuitry necessary for communicating with a data link layer standard, such as
Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Each card represents a device and can prepare, transmit and control the flow
of data on the network. The NIC uses the OSI model to send signals at the physical layer,
transmit data packets at the network layer and operate as an interface at the TCP/IP layer.
The network card operates as a middleman between a computer and a data network. For
example, when a user requests a web page, the computer will pass the request to the network
card which converts it into electrical impulses. Those impulses are received by a web server on
the internet and responds by sending the web page back to the network card as electrical signals.
The card gets these signals and translates them into the data that the computer displays.
Originally, network controllers were implemented as expansion cards that could be plugged into
a computer port, router or USB device. However, more modern controllers are built directly into
the computer motherboard chipset. Expansion card NICs can be purchased online or in retail
stores if additional independent network connections are needed. When purchasing a NIC,
specifications should correspond with the standard of the network.
The term network interface card is often considered interchangeable with the terms network
interface controller, network adapter and LAN adapter.
It is also referred to as a Local Area Network (LAN) or network adapter. NIC is both an input
and output device. A protocol such as CSMA/ CD is used for connection purposes.

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Figure 2.1: Network Interface Card

Types of network interface cards

While the standard NIC is a plastic circuit board that slides into a computer to connect with the
motherboard, there are multiple ways this connection can occur:

Wi-Fi – Wireless Network Interface Card:

This is known as wireless network adaptor. It is a wireless network technology that allows
devices to communicate over wireless signals. It is usually connected to a wireless radio-based
computer network and under this type of NIC cables are not necessary for connectivity of
various devices. Rather than cables, radio waves are used for the same.

For a wireless network to work there must be a router which has antennae that enables
connectivity. A router is the main thing under making a wireless network connection; These are
NICs that use an antenna to provide wireless reception through radio frequency waves. Wireless
NICs are designed for Wi-Fi connection. The strength of the connectivity is totally dependent on
the quality of radio waves being received at any particular time too.

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Figure 2.2: Wireless Network Interface Card

Ethernet Network Interface Card:

This is a wired NIC that is mostly used on Local Area Networks (LAN), Metropolitan Area
Network (MAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN).

Ethernet is the most commonly used NIC in the world today. It was invented by Engineer
Robert Metcalfe and was first commercially introduced in 1980. Its introduction replaced
popular Local Area Networks such as token ring and FDDI.

Figure 2.3: RJ45 Connector

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Figure 2.4: Ethernet Connection

Initially, Ethernet networks could support 10 megabits per sec (10 MBPS) and this has greatly
improved. Today it has gone as far as 10 Gigabits per second. Other than computers, Ethernet is
today used for connectivity of personal appliances such as tablets and smartphones. It is the
leading network adapter in the world today.

The traveling of data on Ethernet is facilitated by protocols called frames. A frame is basically a
communication transmission. There are NICs that have input jacks made for cables. The most
popular wired LAN technology is Ethernet.

USB

These are NICs that provide network connections through a device plugged into the USB port.
Even sometimes Bluetooth is also being used. A Bluetooth device is just like Wi-Fi who uses
radio waves for connectivity with other devices. So, for the connectivity to take place, all the
sharing devices must have Bluetooth radio and software and a computer chip. The pairing of
devices is also mandatory.

In a Bluetooth network environment, the device sending information is known as the master and
all other devices receiving information are known as the slaves.

Unlike the two above, connectivity using Bluetooth can only happen when devices are within the
same range probably like the same room. The further the distance between devices, the weaker
the strength of the Bluetooth radio waves.

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Figure 2.5: USB Based Network Card

Bluetooth comes in so many different interfaces and so do WIFI, you can buy a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth
PCIe Card for your desktop or you can buy a “USB Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Dongle” which can be used
on any computer or laptop.

Multiple Network Interface Controllers (Fiber optics):

These are expensive and more complex NICs that are used as a high-speed support system for
network traffic handling on server computers. This could also be accomplished by combining
multiple NICs.

There are instances where multiple Network Interface Controllers can be connected to one
device. In such cases, proper configuration is one key to ensuring success. The available
network settings should be carefully understood and adhered to otherwise connectivity would be
an issue.

Manually specifying IP settings of each Network Interface Controller would be ideal for
avoiding automatic IP assignment.

While many would be found in instances where they need to use more than one Network
Interface Controller, probably due to slow connectivity speeds of one, it is not a good idea as
there are so many control mechanisms to ensure effectiveness and success.

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Components of network interface cards

Network interface card components include the following:

Speed: All NICs have a speed rating in terms of Mbps that suggests the general performance of
the card when implemented in a computer network with ample bandwidth. If the bandwidth is
lower than the NIC or multiple computers are connected with the same controller, this will slow
down the labeled speed. The average Ethernet NICs are offered in 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 1000
Mbps and 1 Gbps varieties.

Driver: This is the required software that passes data between the computer's operating system
(OS) and the NIC. When a NIC is installed on a computer, the corresponding driver software is
also downloaded. Drivers must stay updated and uncorrupted to ensure optimal performance
from the NIC.

MAC address: Unique, unchangeable MAC addresses, also known as a physical network
address, are assigned to NICs that is used to deliver Ethernet packets to the computer.

Connectivity LED: Most NICs have an LED indicator integrated into the connector to notify the
user of when the network is connected and data is being transmitted.

Types of NIC Configuration:

There are mainly two types of NIC configuration used to use the network device, which are
“Plug and Play” and the “Driver Software”.

Plug and Play (PnP):

PnP is the latest technology that is currently in use on modern Operating Systems. The computer
recognizes a device once a user plugs it in. Manual configuration is actually not necessary.

Driver Software:

On installation, this needs to be manually configured by the user’s side. Mainly, right after when
you installed a new Operation System or maybe install a new Network Device while running the
old OS in your computer, and that’s the part where once you need to install a program named
“Network Driver”, in order to interact that network hardware with the running Operating System.

When Network Interface Controller Fails

If your network card isn't working, it's likely that the driver is missing, corrupted, or outdated.
Updating network card drivers can be tricky since you usually need the internet in order to
download the driver, but the driver issue is precisely what's preventing you from accessing the
internet!

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There are instances when connectivity will fail to happen. In such cases, it is important to first
run diagnostic. If the Internet system is working then the problem is probably a software or
hardware related.

Should the internet also be a problem, however, then a chance that Network Interface Controller
is faulty is very likely.

The common reasons why Network Interface Controller may fail are NIC hardware failure,
software failure and malware.

On suspicion of Network Interface Controller failure, the following steps should be followed
first:

1. Test the hardware to rule it out. For instance, change of cables and use on different
machines would highlight whether the problem is the cable.
2. Test the software. This can be achieved by doing a computer reboot. At times software
just shuts off and a reboot restores everything. Checking the status of network adapters in
the device manager may also be a perfect idea.
3. To protect Network Interface Controller from failure, actions such as use of genuine
antivirus, protection from power surges and restoration of the operating systems are
among the measures a user should take.
4. A Network Interface Controller is very important to corporates and also to individuals
especially those that use the internet. It is necessary to have the right conditions to ensure
the proper functionality.

Installation Process in Windows

1. First step is to read the user's guide and familiarize with the new card.
2. Power down PC and remove the AC power card.
3. Open the computer case.
4. Find an available Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) slot on the motherboard and
remove slot insert if one exists.

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Figure 2.6: PCI Slot

5. Carefully remove the network card from its static-proof plastic envelope, and slide it into the
slot.

Figure 2.7: PCI Slot

6. Seat the card in the slot firmly with gentle pressure along the length of the card, especially
right about the slot itself.
7. Snugly, screw the card to the computer frame, but do not over tighten.
8. Close the computer case.
9. Plug your computer in and power it up.
10. Click Start, then click Control Panel.

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Figure 2.8: Control Panel Window

11. In Category View (vs. Classic View) click Hardware and Sound.
12. Click on the Device Manager under the Devices and Printers Options

Figure 2.9: Hardware and Sound window

13. Beneath it should appear the name of your Ethernet card.

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Figure 2.10: Device Manager Window

14. Next, double click the name of your Ethernet adapter.

15. The text in the "Device Status" box says "This device is working properly.", then the card
is successfully installed and finished.

Figure 2.11: PCI Controller Properties window

2.3 Lab Tasks

Q1. Why network interface card is necessary to use?

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Q2. How many types of configurations for NIC?

Q3. What steps should be taken in case of NIC failure?

Q4. What are the components of the NIC?

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