Network Card (NIC) is a device that provides a medium to connect between computers, most network cards are internal cards, namely network cards that are installed in expansion slots inside the computer. Some computers such as MAC computers, use a special box that is plugged into the serial port or SCSI port of the computer. On notebook computers there is a slot for a network card which is usually called a PCMCIA slot.
The most widely used network cards today are: Ethernet network cards, LocalTalk connectors, and Token Ring network cards. The ones that are currently popular are:
- Ethernet,
- Token Ring,
- LocalTalk.
1. Ethernet Card / Ethernet Network Card
Ethernet network cards are usually purchased separately from the computer, except for Macintosh computers that already include an Ethernet network card in them. Ethernet network cards generally have provided connection ports for coaxial cables or twisted pair cables, if designed for coaxial cables the connector is BNC, and if designed for twisted pair cables it will have an RJ-45 connector. Some Ethernet network cards sometimes also have AUI connectors. All of that is connected with coaxial, twisted pair, or fiber optic cables.
Ethernet Network Card Image From Top To Bottom RJ-45 connector, AUI connector, and BNC connector.
2. LocalTalk Connectors/LocalTalk Connectors
LocalTalk is a network card for Macintosh computers, it uses a special adapter box and a cable that is attached to the Port for the printer. The disadvantage of LocalTalk compared to Ethernet is the speed of its data transfer rate, Ethernet bi Computer networks are not something new today. Almost every company has a computer network to facilitate the flow of information within the company. The Internet that is starting to be popular today is a giant computer network which is a network of computer networks that are connected and can interact with each other. This can happen because of the very rapid development of network technology, so that in just a few years the number of computer network users who are members of the Internet has doubled. It can usually reach 10 Mbps, while LocalTalk can only operate at a speed of 230 Kbps or equivalent to 0.23 Mbps.
3. Token Ring Cards
Token Ring network cards look almost the same as Ethernet network cards. One difference is the type of connector on the back of the network card, Token Ring generally has a 9 Pin DIN connector type that connects the network card to the network cable.