· Serial
– Serial port “serializes” data.
– Mouse, Modems etc use Serial port.
· Parallel
– Bits transmitted in parallel.
– Used primaraly for Printers.
· PS/2
– Used to interface keyboards and pointing devices.
– Frees the serial port for other devices
· USB
– Data transfer rate 12Mbps/480Mbps.
– Multiple devices supported on the bus (127).
– Hot pluggable, Plug-and-play.
– Provide power through the cable.
– Host based.
· Firewire (IEEE 1394)
– Originally created by Apple and standardized in 1995.
– Fast transfer of data (up to 400 Mbps/800Mbps).
– Multiple devices supported on the bus (63).
– Hot pluggable, Plug-and-play.
– Provide power through the cable.
– Peer to peer.
– Supports synchronous devices.