Users Guide

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I/O Ports and Connectors: Dell
®
PowerEdge
®
1300 Systems User's Guide
Overview | I/O Ports and Connectors | Serial and Parallel Ports | Adding an Expansion Card Containing Serial or
Parallel Ports | Serial Port Connectors | Parallel Port Connector | Keyboard and Mouse Connectors | Keyboard
Connector | Mouse Connector | Video Connector | USB Connectors
Overview
This file provides specific information about the input/output (I/O) ports and connectors on the back panel of the
computer system.
I/O Ports and Connectors
The I/O ports and connectors on the back panel of the system are the gateways through which the computer system
communicates with external devices such as a keyboard, mouse, printer, and monitor. Figure 1, I/O Ports and
Connectors, identifies the I/O ports and connectors for your system.
Serial and Parallel Ports
The two built-in serial ports use 9-pin D-subminiature connectors on the back panel. These ports support devices such as
external modems, printers, plotters, and mice that require serial data transmission (the transmission of data one bit at a
time over one line).
Most software uses the term COM (for communications) plus a number to designate a serial port (for example, COM1
or COM2). The defaults for your system's built-in serial ports are COM1 and COM2.
The built-in parallel port uses a 25-pin D-subminiature connector on the system's back panel. This I/O port sends data in
parallel format (where eight data bits, or one byte, are sent simultaneously over eight separate lines in a single cable).
The parallel port is used primarily for printers.
Most software uses the term LPT (for line printer) plus a number to designate a parallel port (for example, LPT1). The
default for the system's built-in parallel port is LPT1.
Figure 1. I/O Ports and Connectors