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Network Hardware

The document explains the role of Network Interface Cards (NICs) in connecting computers to networks, detailing their function in data transmission and the significance of MAC and IP addresses. MAC addresses are static identifiers for devices on a local area network, while IP addresses can be static or dynamic and are used for communication over the internet. Additionally, the document describes routers as devices that route data between networks, manage traffic, and assign IP addresses to connected devices.

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12 views5 pages

Network Hardware

The document explains the role of Network Interface Cards (NICs) in connecting computers to networks, detailing their function in data transmission and the significance of MAC and IP addresses. MAC addresses are static identifiers for devices on a local area network, while IP addresses can be static or dynamic and are used for communication over the internet. Additionally, the document describes routers as devices that route data between networks, manage traffic, and assign IP addresses to connected devices.

Uploaded by

trevor
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Network Interface Card (NIC)

Local Area Network Hardware: Network Interface


Card (NIC)
• Network hardware is a selection of essential components that enable
the connectivity and communication of devices within computer networks
• Networks use a variety of hardware to function, some of which include:
o Router
o Wireless access point (WAP)
o Switch
o Transmission media
o Network interface card (NIC)
• The exam requires you to understand the purpose of the network interface
card (NIC)

What is a network interface card (NIC)?

• The Network Interface Card (NIC) is required for a computer to connect to a


network
• A NIC can be both wired and wireless and allows your computer to send and
receive data over a network
MAC Addresses & IP
Addresses (Cambridge (CIE)
IGCSE Computer Science)
• There are two types of network address systems:
o MAC Address
o IP Address

MAC Addresses
What is a MAC address?

• A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique identifier given to


devices which communicate over a local area network (LAN)
• A network interface card is given a MAC address at the point of manufacture
• MAC addresses are static, meaning they can never change
• MAC addresses make it possible for switches to efficiently forward data to
the intended recipient
• Any device that contains a Network Interface Card (NIC) has a MAC
address assigned during manufacturing
• A device connecting to a local network already has a MAC address, if it
moves to a different network then the MAC address will stay the same

• A MAC address is represented as 12 hexadecimal digits (48 bits),


usually grouped in pairs
• The first three pairs are the manufacturer ID number (OUI) and the last
three pairs are the serial number of the network interface card (NIC)
• There are enough unique MAC addresses for roughly 281 trillion devices

IP Addresses
What is an IP address?

• An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique identifier given to devices


which communicate over the Internet (WAN)
• IP addresses can be static, meaning they stay the same or dynamic,
meaning they can change
• IP addresses make it possible to deliver data to the right device
• A device connecting to a network will be given an IP address, if it moves to a
different network then the IP address will change

IPv4

• Internet Protocol version 4 is represented as 4 blocks of denary


numbers between 0 and 255, separated by full stops
• Each block is one byte (8 bits), each address is 4 bytes (32 bits)

• IPv4 provides over 4 billion unique addresses (232), however, with over 7
billion people and countless devices per person, a solution was needed

IPv6

• Internet Protocol version 6 is represented as 8 blocks of 4 hexadecimal


digits, separated by colons
• Each block is 2 bytes (16 bits), each address is 16 bytes (128 bits)

• IPv6 could provide over one billion unique addresses for every person on
the planet (2128)

WORKED EXAMPLE

Computers in a network can be identified using both IP addresses and MAC


addresses.

Describe two differences between IP addresses and MAC addresses [2]

Answer

• IP address is dynamic/can change // MAC address is static/cannot change


• IP address is used to communicate on a WAN/Internet // MAC address is
used to communicate on a LAN

Router (Cambridge (CIE)


IGCSE Computer Science)
Router
What is a router?

• The router is responsible for routing data packets between different networks
• An example of data the router can direct is, sending internet traffic to the
correct destination/devices in your home network
• The router connects networks together, local area networks (LAN) to the
wider internet which is a type of wide area network (WAN)
• The router can manage and prioritise data traffic, which can help to keep
connections stable
• The router will assign IP addresses to the devices on the network

Image of a router
Image of how a router connects LANs to other networks
WORKED EXAMPLE

State 3 tasks carried out by a router [3]

To answer the question you must simply identify 3 tasks a router does

1 mark each to max 3 e.g.

• Send and Receive packets of data


• Connect a local network to the internet
• Assign IP addresses to nodes/devices
• Converts packets from one protocol to another

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