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9.2 Network Devices Driver
The Network Driver, is a software component that facilitates communication
between a computer's operating system and network devices such as Network
Interface Cards (NICs), modems, and routers. It is responsible for translating the
network traffic between the software layer and the hardware layer in the computer
system.
Network drivers are essential components for any computer system that needs to
connect to a network, whether it's a Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wide Area
Network (WAN). They provide the necessary instructions for the computer to
communicate with other devices on the network and access the internet.
There are various types of network drivers, each designed to work with specific
network devices and operating systems. Some common examples include Ethernet
drivers, Wi-Fi drivers, and modem drivers. Each driver is designed to work specifically
with the supported devices and the operating system it is intended to run on.
Typically, network drivers communicate with the operating system using a
standardized interface known as the Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) on
Windows or the Network Device Interface (NDI) on macOS and Linux. This interface
allows the driver to send and receive data packets between devices and the network
layer in the operating system.
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