verkkokortteita

Verkkokortti, known in English as a network interface card (NIC) or network adapter, is a piece of computer hardware that allows a computer to connect to a computer network. It serves as the physical interface for network communication. Verkkokortti translates network traffic into signals that can be transmitted over the network medium, such as Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi radio waves, and vice versa.

These cards can be integrated directly onto the motherboard of a computer or installed as an expansion card in a slot, like a PCI or PCIe slot. Modern computers, especially laptops and desktops, almost universally have integrated Ethernet ports and Wi-Fi capabilities, making dedicated expansion cards less common for general users. Verkkokortti supports various networking protocols, with Ethernet being the most prevalent for wired connections and Wi-Fi for wireless connections.

The primary function of a verkkokortti is to provide a unique MAC address, a hardware identifier assigned to each network interface. This address is crucial for devices to be identified and communicate at the data link layer of the network model. When a computer sends data, the verkkokortti encapsulates it into packets and transmits them. Conversely, when data arrives, the verkkokortti receives the signals, de-encapsulates the packets, and passes the data to the operating system for further processing.