drivers in linux

[Andrew Critchlow]

Can anyone please explain to me how drivers work in linux/debian?
I am a newbie and have come over from microsoft. So my knowledge is of drivers 
and device manager and stuff from windows.
 
 
Is there such a device manager in linux/debian?
And if I was to install a network card for example how could I check to see if 
it was installed correctly (without trying it), how would I install drivers for 
it etc?
 
 
 
thanks all
 
 
 
 
Andrew.