What is the name of the device for the interconnection of one computer with others?

What is the name of the device for interfacing computers with other computers? Well, if this question is spinning in your head, then you correctly do that you are reading this article. So, the device for the interconnection of one computer with others is an adapter (in other words, a network card). What is he like? How does it work? What functions does it perform? All of these questions can be answered within the framework of this article.

What is an adapter

This is the name of the peripheral device of the computer, which directly works with the data transmission medium. Thanks to it, directly or with the use of other communication equipment, there is a development of connections with other computers.

This device solves the problem of ensuring the reliability of the exchange of binary data, which is represented in the form of the corresponding electromagnetic signals. They are transmitted using external communication lines. Because the adapter is a computer controller, it is running under the appropriate driver of the operating system in use. The differentiation of functions between them can vary, depending on the implementation.

Development of adapters

So, we already know that the device for the interconnection of one computer with others is an adapter. Now let's briefly see how this technology developed.

In the first local networks, the adapters, together with the coaxial cable segment, took over the entire spectrum of communication equipment. Thanks to them and organized the interaction of computers. Then, direct interaction between various computers was used.

Such technology is still used, but most modern standards also provide for a number of special communication devices (for example, a bridge, a switch, a hub or a router). They sort out some of the functions related to flow control.

Erroneous assumptions

It is often possible to hear or read that the device for the interconnection of one computer with others is a processor. Know that this is not true. The device for the interconnection of one computer with others is called an adapter or a network card, but nothing else! Whence such error has gone, it is reliably unknown, but if someone is mistaken, it will be better to correct it.

Data processing and coding functions

Adapter functions consist in the fact that the information must be transmitted in the form of a frame having a certain format. At the same time, encoding is understood as representing information with the help of certain signals in such a way that they can be received on the other side, but the meaning contained in them should not be lost.

Let's take a closer look at this. Several service fields are included in the frame. These include the address of the computer that you want to transfer data and the checksum of each frame. It will make a conclusion about the correctness of the information provided. About coding it can be said that its meaning lies in overcoming the interference and enabling the receiving equipment to recognize the received data.

Also there are some technical nuances. So, when using broadband cables in a LAN, adapters do not use signal modulation. Because this is necessary only when the transmission is on narrowband communication lines (as such can be telephone channels of voice frequency).

Access function

The following function is used when interacting with the data translation environment. It is used in those cases when it is necessary to access by a certain algorithm.

This is necessary because of the operation of the shared data transmission medium. But there has been a tendency to abandon such an approach in favor of individual computer communication channels with the communication devices of the network (similar to what is done in wire telephony).

Transformation and synchronization function

Transformation and synchronization are necessary to provide data in a readable form. So, thanks to the adapter, the information can be transformed from serial to parallel and vice versa. This is necessary due to the fact that to simplify the synchronization task (and also to reduce the cost of communication lines), data is transferred gradually - one bit after another. For comparison - in the computer information is moved byte-byte.

Concerning the synchronization, it can be said that it is necessary to maintain a constant, conflict-free interaction between the receiver and the data transmitter. This task is successfully solved by the adapter, thanks to special coding methods, where an additional bus with clock sync signals is not used.

Thanks to this method, the signal state can be periodically changed periodically, which is transmitted. In addition to problems with synchronization at the bit level, the adapter handles similar tasks and relative bytes and frames.

Technical features

There are adapters on the internal data bus and the technology used. So, if we talk about the first case, then there can be the following types:

• ISA;
• EISA;
• MCA;
• PCI.

With network technologies, not everything is so unambiguous. Usually one adapter supports one of them. But, despite this, information is transmitted without problems. This is achieved due to the fact that different data transmission media are used. For example, one of the most popular technologies - Ethernet - can safely support coaxial and fiber optic cables or unshielded twisted pair.

If the adapter can support only one environment, then use converters and transceivers. What are these devices?

Transceivers and converters

Transceivers are also called transceivers. They are part of the network adapter and represent its terminal device that goes to the cable. Although, it should be noted that initially they were located on the cables (if we consider the first Ethernet standard), but then it was decided that it is more convenient to place it on the adapter.

Instead of a transceiver, you can use a converter. It deals with the coordination of information when using different media for data transmission. As an example, you can bring a local home network, where twisted pair with a coaxial cable is used.

Conclusion

Well, the task is done - the terminology and features of the adapters are explained. Now there should be no questions about how the device is called to connect one computer with other computers. In addition, we examined which functions are performed by adapters, what development path they have passed, and how they can be improved without major changes. For in-depth study of the topic of information provided is not enough, but as the beginning of studying the construction of physical data transmission, it will be useful to you.