What is the NIC and on what layer(s) does it reside?
What is the NIC and on what layer(s) does it reside?
The network interface controller (NIC) implements the electronic circuitry required to communicate using a specific physical layer and data link layer standard such as Ethernet, Fiber Channel, Wi-Fi or Token Ring.
This provides a base for a full network protocol stack, allowing communication among small groups of computers on the same LAN and large-scale network communications through routable protocols, such as IP. The NIC allows computers to communicate over a computer network, either by using cables or wirelessly. The NIC is both a physical layer and data link layer device.