Ports

 Ports

What is a Port? A port:  is a physical docking point using which an external device can be connected to the computer.  can also be programmatic docking point through which information flows from a program to computer or over the internet.

Characteristics

A port has the following characteristics  External devices are connected to a computer using cables and ports.  Ports are slots on the motherboard into which a cable of external device is plugged in.  Examples of external devices attached via ports are mouse, keyboard, monitor, microphone, speakers etc.

Following are few important types of ports Serial Port

 Used for external modems and older computer mouse  Two versions: 9 pin, 25 pin model  Data travels at 115 kilobits per second Parallel Port

 Used for scanners and printers  Also called printer port  25 pin model  Also known as IEEE 1284-compliant Centronics port PS/2 Port

 Used for old computer keyboard and mouse  Also called mouse port  Most of the old computers provide two PS/2 port, each for mouse and keyboard

 Also known as IEEE 1284-compliant Centronics port

Universal Serial Bus (or USB) Port  It can connect all kinds of external USB devices such as external hard disk, printer, scanner, mouse, keyboard etc.  It was introduced in 1997.  Most of the computers provide two USB ports as minimum.  Data travels at 12 megabits per seconds  USB compliant devices can get power from a USB port VGA Port

 Connects monitor to a computer's video card.  Has 15 holes.  Similar to serial port connector but serial port connector has pins, it has holes. Power Connector

 Three-pronged plug  Connects to the computer's power cable that plugs into a power bar or wall socket Firewire Port

 Transfers large amount of data at very fast speed.  Connects camcorders and video equipments to the computer  Data travels at 400 to 800 megabits per seconds  Invented by Apple  Three variants: 4-Pin FireWire 400 connector, 6-Pin FireWire 400 connector and 9-Pin FireWire 800 connector Modem Port

 Connects a PC's modem to the telephone network.

Ethernet Port

 Connects to a network and high speed Internet.  Connect network cable to a computer.  This port resides on an Ethernet Card.  Data travels at 10 megabits to 1000 megabits per seconds depending upon the network bandwidth. Game Port

 Connect a joystick to a PC  Now replaced by USB. Digital Video Interface, DVI port

 Connects Flat panel LCD monitor to the computer's high end video graphic cards.  Very popular among video card manufacturers. Sockets

 Connect microphone, speakers to sound card of the computer