Internet appeared recently, but has already managed to "grow a" specific terms, such as for example a router, gateway, network adapter.All of these names denote the methods and types of the Internet connection and sometimes have the same meaning.The most common means of access to the network - a network card or adapter.It serves as a transmitter between the power cord and the computer system.
There are many types of network interface cards, but they perform the same function.Firstly, they transmit and receive data to assemble the packets.They are formed in the buffer memory and the computer adapter communicates through memory.Furthermore, Internet cards encode or decode data using a parallel or serial codes (depending on how this information is received or transmitted).
By way of integration of the network adapter is divided into three types: external, internal and built.It includes a built-in adapters that are part of the motherboard.The connector that connects the power cord, and process information chip located directly on the PCB, and the built-in adapter additional functions implemented by the CPU.These cards are equipped with almost all motherboards.
internal network adapter - a chip installed in the system unit.To the system board, he is connected to either PCI, PCIe or ISA.Network card External type is enclosed in a plastic casing and connected to the system via USB-interface.Such cards are used where there is no built-in adapter or internal, or it is broken.
More recently, Internet-card is the only means of access to the network.Gradually, however, this device has been supplanted by wireless communications.One of them - is a wireless network adapter (or Wi-Fi).In fact, Wi-Fi - an antenna that allows you to connect to the network "on air".Such adapters are too external, internal and integrated.Built-in Wi-Fi are integrated into the motherboard.Interior very often "hybrid" network card and antenna.External Wi-Fi-adapter is very similar to the currently fashionable 3G-modem.They are equipped with an antenna necessarily - or built-in or external - the latter have a much greater speed.
Network cards differ not only by the process of integration, but also in its capabilities.Some adapters have a socket to install their own software.Other distinguished digit bus system or the presence of additional ports.There are Internet cards equipped with memory and LEDs.Additionally, the network adapter has several species differing in the way of interacting with the computer system and operating modes.Interact with the system through the card can be as a control bus and via direct memory access.By operating conditions these devices are divided into two types: cyclic I / O and memory sharing.
From these properties depend on the speed of Internet cards.Network adapter that has at least half of these features provide a very fast and comfortable access to the network.
