Chapter 2: About Usb; Overview; Usb 2.0; Usb Icon - Linksys USB200M Guia Del Usuario

Chapter 2: About USB

Overview

USB, which is short for Universal Serial Bus, is a technology designed to
make connecting devices to computers easier. First developed in 1996 by a
group of computer industry leaders that included Compaq, Digital, IBM, Intel,
Microsoft, NEC, and Northern Telecom, USB is one of the most widely used
technologies for users who want to add peripherals to their computers.
USB is unique because it is Plug-and-Play, which allows a computer to
instantly recognize when a device like a keyboard, mouse, or scanner has been
connected to it. Once the device has been recognized, it's ready to go—no
special setup is required. Similarly, USB supports hot-swapping, the insertion
or removal of devices while the computer is turned on.

USB 2.0

The USB 1.1 standard supports two speed modes, 1.5 and up to 12Mbps. The
newest USB standard, USB 2.0, supports three speed modes: 1.5, 12, and up to
480Mbps. The new USB 2.0 devices are fully backward compatible with earlier
USB devices. USB 2.0 offers you increased functionality and additional
bandwidth, allowing you to add more peripherals to your computers.

USB Icon

The USB icon marks a USB port on a PC or device.
Figure 2-1
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Instant EtherFast ® Series
Compact USB 2.0 10/100 Network Adapter

USB Cabling

There are two kinds of USB connectors, Type A and Type B. Type A is a
rectangular connector, and Type B is a square connector.
USB Type A
Figure 2-2
The USB extension cable that comes with the Adapter has Type A connectors
on both ends. One is a male Type A connector that plugs into the PC's USB
port, and the other is a female Type A connector that plugs into the Adapter.
Male USB Type A
Figure 2-3
Figure 2-4 shows two USB ports as they might appear on your
computer. Note the two USB icons marking the ports.
USB Type B
Female USB Type A
Figure 2-4
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