Network interface controller
A Network Interface Controller (NIC) is a hardware interface that handles and allows a network capable device access to a computer network such as the internet. The NIC has a ROM chip that has a unique Media Access Control (MAC) Address burned into it. The MAC address identifies the vendor and the serial number of the NIC which is unique to the card. Every NIC has a unique MAC address which identifies it on the LAN. The NIC exists on both the ‘Physical Layer’ (Layer 1) and the ‘Data Link Layer’ (Layer 2) of the OSI model.
Sometimes the word ‘controller’ and ‘card’ is used interchangeably when talking about networking because the most common NIC is the Network Interface Card. Although ‘card’ is more commonly used, it is in less encompassing. The ‘controller’ may take the form of a network card that is installed inside a computer, or it may refer to an embedded component as part of a computer motherboard, a router, expansion card, printer interface, or a USB device.
A MAC Address is a unique 48 bit network hardware identifier that is burned into a ROM chip on the NIC to identify that device on the network. The first 24 bits is called the Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) and is largely manufacturer dependent. Each OUI allows for 16,777,216 Unique NIC Addresses.
Smaller manufacturers that do not have a need for over 4096 unique NIC addresses may opt to purchase an Individual Address Block (IAB) instead. An IAB consists of the 24 bit OUI, plus a 12 bit extension (taken from the ‘potential’ NIC portion of the MAC address)
OUI and IAB blocks are available for purchase from the IEEE Registration Authority.