The Network Interface Card is widely used in desktop PCs and laptop PCs. And the Wireless Network LAN Card need to be used together with the Wireless router. Network LAN Card has many kinds of interface: The PCI interface LAN card is for desktop PCs, the USB one is for both desktop and laptop PCs, and the Mini PCI/ PCMCIA one is for the laptop computers. All network interface cards come direct from China manufacturers, and are available at hugely discounted prices? Go direct with ActFind.com.As far as networking is concerned, the network interface card (NIC) is one of the most important PC devices. Each computer on the network (including servers and clients) requires one, and it is the NIC that provides the connection between the PC and the network’s physical medium.An IBM PC (or compatible PC) typically requires that a NIC be added to it (unless you buy your network clients and servers with a NIC as their standard hardware configuration). Even Macintoshes and Apple PowerPCs require NICs. In most cases, newer Apple computers, such as the iMac, have built-in Ethernet NICs. Not only does the NIC provide the computer with a connection to the network, but it also handles an important data-conversion function. Data travels in parallel on the PC’s bus system; the network medium demands a serial transmission. The transceiver (a transmitter and receiver) on the NIC card is able to move data from parallel to serial, and vice versa. This is not unlike automobiles moving on a multi-lane superhighway that must all merge into one lane of traffic.Network interface cards provide the connection between the PC and the network cabling.Network interface cards also supply the basic addressing system used to get data from one computer to another on the network. This hardware or MAC address is burned into a ROM chip on the NIC. It is referred to as the MAC address because the Media Access Control (MAC) layer is actually a sublayer of the OSI model’s Data Link layer.Selecting a NICNICs come in different types, depending on the network architecture being used on the network (such as Ethernet or token ring, which are both discussed in the next chapter). NICs also differ in the type of motherboard slot they fit into. PCI NICs fit into a PCI slot on a motherboard. ISA NICs fit into an ISA slot. When you select a NIC, it needs to be compatible with the architecture of the network. The Ethernet network is, by far, the most common network architecture type and is used for both peer-to-peer networks and large-scale corporate networks. Ethernet connectivity devices, such as hubs, are also much cheaper than the connectivity devices deployed on a token-ring network.Installing a NICYou certainly don’t need an engineering degree to install a network card in a PC. However, before you tackle the job, you need to be aware of one thing: You need to have a handle on a subject area that an old colleague of mine referred to as "static awareness." Static electricity can actually produce enough voltage to ruin a motherboard or expansion card, such as a NIC. This means that you should use some sort of antistatic wristband that attaches to the PC case or do your work while standing on an antistatic mat. The bottom line is that you should avoid working on the computer in a room that is carpeted.You will also want to be sure you have a couple of decent screw drivers. These screw drivers should not have magnetized tips. Now, here are the steps to follow:1.                 Open up the case on the computer and install the NIC in an open expansion slot.2.                 Close up the case and attach the network medium (typically twisted-pair cabling).3.                 Boot up the computer. If you purchased a plug-and-play network card and are using an OS that supports plug-and-play technology, the most you will have to do is provide a disk or CD-ROM that contains the driver for the NIC.4.                 If you are using an operating system that does not detect new hardware devices, you will have to manually install the NIC. If the card came with installation software, use that software to install the necessary drivers.Because most new computers and the operating systems that they run embrace plug-and-play technology, installing a NIC in a computer is really just a matter of placing the NIC in an empty motherboard slot and then restarting the computer. Plug-and-play NICs will be recognized by the operating system and the appropriate software driver will be loaded on the system.

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