CHAPTER Microcomputer as a Communication Device

Chapter Objectives Examine the components of the motherboard that relate to communication Describe a few communication links involving the microcomputer Discuss the Port Settings and Port Resources Outline the procedure for installing and configuring a multi-port interface card

Chapter Modules Overview of Communication Components of a Microcomputer Communication Ports Communication Device Interface Communication Port Configuration

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MODULE Overview of Communication Components of a Microcomputer

Communication Components Of a Micro Expansion Bus Parallel Port Serial Port Built-in port connection. USB Bus Port Firewire Bus Port Expansion Bus

Port and a Bus Port is used for connecting only one device –Serial port, parallel port etc. A bus can be used for connecting multiple devices –PCI, USB, SCSI etc.

Motherboard (Main Board) PCI expansion slots. ISA expansion slots. Built-in serial and parallel port connection.

Devices Connected to Communication Port or Expansion Bus Modem ISDN adapter LAN cards Terminal emulation cards Etc.

Older Expansion Bus Technologies ISA (Industry Standard Association ) EISA (Extended Industry Standard Association) MCA (Micro Channel Architecture) VESA (Video Electronic Standards Association)

PCI: Newer Expansion Bus Technology PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) Developed by Intel Found in most Intel based microcomputers Supports plug-and-play Continuously being improved by releasing new chip sets

PCI Technology PCI –Older versions are slower than AGP PCI 2.0 PCI Express –Generally faster than AGP

Expansion Bus Width 8, 16, 32 and 64 bits wide 16-bit is common with ISA technology 32-bit is the norm with PCI technology PCI technology also supports 64-bit bus Most PCs have a combination of 16-bit and 32-bit buses –16-bit ISA slots and 32-bit PCI slots

PCI Bus Speed Older PCI buses operated at 33 MHz Newer PCI buses operate at speeds of 66 MHz, 100 MHz and 133 MHz

Sample Expansion Bus Configurations Four 32-bit PCI slots and four 16-bit ISA slots – now outdated PCI 32-bit 33 MHz Evolving PCI MHz or faster Advanced microcomputers such as those specially intended to function as fast network servers incorporate 64-bit PCI slots

Sample Expansion Bus Configurations: Past an Future Past –Three 32-bit EISA slots and five 16-bit ISA slots –Two 32-bit VESA slots, five 16-bit ISA slots and one 8-bit ISA slot Current –32-bit and 64-bit PCI slots –PCI Express technology or higher –Faster bus speeds in MHz..

PCI Bus Technology PCI 1.0 PCI 2.0 PCI Express –PCI X1, X2, X4, X8 and X16

In Summary Expansion bus technology plays an important role with respect to the performance of the devices attached –Important in the case of a network interfere card –Not as critical in the case of a low speed device such as a modem

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MODULE Communication Ports

Serial port –The older RS-232 standard –The newer USB standard –IEEE 1394 FireWire Parallel port –IEEE 488 standard Enhanced by ECP and EPP Additional details can be found in modules entitled serial and parallel communications

Com and LPT Ports on a Computer Port Holders Com2 Com1 LPT1

Ports on the Back of a Computer

Combo Ports on an NIC

NIC Connection Twisted Pair Cable NIC

Newer Communication Ports USB 2.0 Firewire

Disadvantages of Legacy Ports Each port requires a set or resources Each port can be connected to only one device In the case of newer ports, only one set of resources are needed per USB hub –Several devices can be connected to the hub

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