I'm trying to wrap my head around the terms used for network hardware. Are network adapters and network cards the same thing? Also, what about network interfaces? If the network interface is tied to a physical card, how does the process of installing and uninstalling network adapters work? It feels a bit like installing RAM to me, and I'm just really confused by the terminology involved here.
3 Answers
Technically, yes, they are similar, but physically they can be different. A network card typically plugs directly into your motherboard, while an adapter might be integrated into the motherboard itself. Terms get thrown around interchangeably, but it doesn't hurt to know the difference! You need drivers for everything to function, no matter what you call it.
Yeah, network adapters and network cards are often treated as the same thing. It can get a bit confusing, though.
I found a chart online that helped clarify things, but I still think the terminology is a bit of a mess. When you're installing or updating adapters, you're often working with what you might call 'virtual' adapters, right?
Got it! So drivers are key here.