A network interface card is used to connect a computer to an
Ethernet network. The card (shown in the figure
below) provides an interface to the media. This may be either using an external
transceiver (as shown) or through an internal integrated transceiver mounted on
the network interface card PCB. The card usually also contains the protocol
control firmware and Ethernet Controller needed to support the Medium Access
Control (MAC) data link protocol used by Ethernet.
Network Interface Card for connection of a computer to an Ethernet
Network
There is also a page showing examples of various types of networking
equipment, include NICs for Ethernet.
Ethernet source address
Each network interface card is assigned an Ethernet source address by the
manufacturer of the network interface card (this is normally stored in a PROM on
the network interface card). The addresses are globally unique, and are assigned
in blocks of 16 (or 8) million address to the Ethernet interface manufacturers,
according to a flat addressing structure. This ensures that no two Ethernet
network interface will ever have the same source address.
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