Question

Using suitable examples, briefly explain functions of the five components of this
network adapter.

Answer 1

1. Link Interface: the subsystem that implements the physical layer and MAC sub-layer of the data link layer 

2. Processing Element (PE): the processing subsystem responsible for data management, data movement, and protocol processing

3. DMA unit: the component that handles fast data movement between the link interface and the memory

4. Memory: the data storage unit of the adapter 

5. End system interface: the interface between the adapter and the end system

Architecture of Network Systems

by Dimitrios N. Serpanos and Tilman Wolf(ch. 6 p 65)