3.4 Network hardware

By the end of this section you should be able to

• 3.4.1 Explain why a computer needs a NIC
• 3.4.2 Describe the purpose and structure of a MAC address
• 3.4.3 Describe IP addresses, static and dynamic, IPv4 and IPv6
• 3.4.4 Describe the role of a router

Lessons

1. NICs and MAC addresses
2. IP addresses and routers

Key vocabulary

Network interface card (NIC)

Hardware that lets a device connect to a network.

MAC address

A unique address given to a NIC when it is made, made of a manufacturer code and a serial code.

IP address

An address allocated to a device by the network it connects to.

Static IP address

An IP address that stays the same each time the device connects.

Dynamic IP address

An IP address that can change each time the device connects.

IPv4

An IP address format made of four groups of denary numbers (32 bits).

IPv6

An IP address format made of eight groups of hexadecimal (128 bits).

Router

Sends data to the right destination and connects a local network to the internet.