NIC drivers are computer instructions necessary for a NIC to function. They are not considered software but are sometimes called driver software. NIC drivers enable hardware cards to function and configure their settings. They are provided on a CD or can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website or other online databases.
Network interface card (NIC) drivers are computerized instructions and information required for a NIC to function after it has been installed or connected to a computer. These instructions are usually written by highly proficient computer programmers who could program in a variety of programming languages such as C or C++. A NIC card is a piece of hardware, and hardware drivers can be thought of as the computer code or machine language that “drives” the hardware or makes it work. If a NIC was physically plugged into a machine but no NIC drivers were available to provide the instructions and information needed to let the machine know that the device was plugged in and how it should work, network connectivity would not be achieved.
While NIC drivers are developed in a specific programming language just like computer software is, they are not usually referred to as computer programs or software because they tend to be smaller in file size and have the specific purpose of “driving ” a hardware component. However, they are sometimes referred to as driver software. There are many types of drivers; for example, NIC drivers drive a so-called NIC card, printer drivers drive a printer, and sound card drivers drive a sound card.
These drivers not only enable the hardware card to function, but are also closely involved in configuring its settings. When a computer needs to be connected to the Internet, it must use a NIC card or a modem, which is a form of network interface card. Information is transmitted from one machine to another across networks via wires or waves, and that information can be in the form of email, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), file sharing, or fax machines, commonly known as fax machines. These various features and configurations are made possible by NIC drivers. Another less commonly used term for drivers is “controllers,” because they control a device.
A network interface card, when purchased new, almost always comes with the NIC drivers needed to make it work provided on a compact disc (CD) by the manufacturer. Depending on the brand of card, NIC drivers may be included in the operating system running on the machine. If they are not included, they must be installed. Many manufacturers also make drivers for their cards available for free download from their company’s official website. Other sites on the Internet also serve as a database from which users can download drivers for NIC cards and drivers for many other computer hardware devices.
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