·         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.