The Network Interface Device
The first thing to make sure that your machine is equipped with is a network interface device. In most desktop PCs, this device is an Ethernet card with an RJ-45 jack on it—the most common modern type of Ethernet connector. Almost all cards today are 10/100 cards, meaning that they support both 10Mbps and 100Mbps speeds. Some are even Gigabit cards, although those are more expensive. Some cards have multiple types of connectors on them, such as the card shown in Figure 13.1, which has (from left to right) an RJ-45 jack, a DB-15 serial connector, and a BNC coaxial connector. Most cards today only have an RJ-45 jack. Modern machines frequently come with Ethernet capabilities built on to the motherboard, and an RJ-45 ...
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