<aside> 💡 3.4.1 Understand that a computer needs a network interface card (NIC) to access a network 3.4.2 Understand what is meant by and the purpose of a media access control (MAC) address, including its structure 3.4.3 (a) Understand what is meant by and the purpose of an internet protocol (IP) address

(b) Understand that there are different types of IP address 3.4.4 Describe the role of a router in a network

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• Why does a computer need an NIC to access a network?

Network Interface Card

NIC is needed to allow device to connect to a network. It’s usually part of the device hardware and contains the Media Access Control address generated at the manufacturing stage.

Wireless network interface card (WNIC) is the same as NIC in that they connect devices to the internet or other networks.

• WNIC utilises an antenna to communicate with network wirelessly via microwaves.
• They would normally plug into USB port or be part of an internal integrated circuit.

Media Access Control (MAC) address

• Define what is meant by the term "MAC address"

A MAC address is made up of 48 bits which are shown as six groups of hexadecimal digits with the general format:

• First six HEX digits identify the device made by for example Apple,
• and the second set of HEX digits are the serial number of the device itself.

If the NIC card is replaced, the MAC address will also change.