Installing Network Interface Cards

Once the network cabling is installed, we can then install the Network Interface Cards (NICs) in all PC hosts. Many PC hosts already come with built-in NICs. Sometimes the NICs are installed before the cabling is installed. A common practice is to install one NIC in a PC host to test the cabling as the cabling is being installed.

NIC installation is straightforward. A NIC can only be installed one way in a PC host because it does not fit mechanically any other way. The physical NIC installation requires opening the PC, finding an empty slot that matches the NIC bus type, unbolting the rear connector plate, inserting the NIC, and bolting it into the PC host. This process requires five or 10 minutes. For two or ...

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