---
title: "Network Cards"
description: "Depending on the type of network card, they may or may not be automatically added to the hardware."
category: "Knowledge Base"
subcategory: "Collection"
last_updated: "2023-04-06"
source_url: "https://docs.xeox.com/knowledge-base/1tsADjnvsqfNJwHKuwpWZK/network-cards/jEYk4SS8fDebgqksMP7rtj"
---

# Network Cards

## Problem:

Depending on the type of network card, they may or may not be automatically added to the hardware.

## Solution:

When adding network cards, there are three cases that are handled in 2 different ways.

- Built-in network card:

It is automatically added to the hardware as it cannot be extended.

- USB adapter with its own MAC-Address:

Since the adapter can be unplugged and plugged into another device, multiple devices can have the same MAC-Address, that of the adapter and not the device itself, which can cause inconsistencies. Therefore, USB network cards are not automatically added to the hardware.

- A docking station:

For example from Dell, is a special case and is therefore not treated the same as a USB adapter, because it only works with pass through. This means it is only an extension of the built-in network card and does not have its own MAC address. The address is only forwarded from the actual network card. This is automatically added to the hardware.