The chapter began with explaining Network Interface Cards
(NIC) and the role they plan. In part they enable a workstation, server,
printer, connectivity device or other node to receive or transmit data over the
network media. The text goes through three types of NIC’s which are:
- Expansion Board NICs – connected internally to the motherboard.
- Peripheral NICs – connected externally to motherboard.
- On-Board NICs – connected directly to motherboard.
The lesson
then walks you through installing a NIC and ensuring it’s functionality.
It talks
about modular interfaces specifically Gigabit interface converter (GBIC) and Small
form-factor pluggable (SFP’s). These types of network interfaces are commonly
used in connectivity devices such as switches and routers. Switches are
connectivity devices that subdivide a network into smaller logical pieces.
Routers are multiport connectivity device that directs data between nodes on a
network. Repeaters are the simplest type of connectivity device that
regenerates a digital signal. As for a hub it is the most primitive type of
repeater. The chapter covers several other topics like VLANS and TRUNKING,
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), and various router protocols.
For me the
chapter was very helpful in clarifying NIC’s and their use. The chapter summary
at the end was did a great job reviewing the material.
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