Network interface card assembly having port connector accessible from region outside of computing device

An apparatus comprising:

• a circuit card substrate associated with a network interface card and comprising a connector edge to be received in an M.2 slot connector disposed inside a computing device;
• and
• a port connector mounted to the circuit card substrate, the port connector to be accessible from a region outside of the computing device when the connector edge of the circuit card substrate is received in the M.2 slot connector.

A method comprising:

• inserting a network interface card assembly in an M.2 slot connector of a processor-based system;
• and
• extending an optical communication module of the network interface card assembly to an opening in a housing of the processor-based system to allow an external connection to the network interface card.