6.5.1+Port+&+Handshake

=Define Port and Handshaking=

**__Port__**

 * A //port// enables two devices to connect with each other
 * A //port// allows data to enter and exit and to send it to the peripheral device
 * Depending on the type of port one uses there are different limitations set to transfer speed and maximum distance between the nodes

//Software Port//
 * //Port// can also refer to a software port used to directly transfer data between two nodes
 * //Software ports// are usually used over the Internet via TCP/UDP
 * Firewalls are important because they keep the ports that are not used closed to prevent illegal access

There are many different types of hardware ports (as seen by the images below)
 * PS2
 * FireWire
 * Serial Port
 * Parallel port
 * USB (Universal Serial Bus)
 * Ethernet Port
 * VGA connector (Video Graphics Array)
 * DVI connector (Digital Video Interface)

**__Handshake__**

 * A //Handshake// is a short automated process that initiates the connection between two foreign devices.
 * It makes sure whether or not the receiving device is actually there and receiving before it sends something away.
 * The //handshake// makes sure that the connection is set up before communication.
 * Diverse hardware differences could be spotted through the handshake and changes can be made to convert data for the node if this is necessary.
 * A //handshake// can set limitations of the communication process

__**Images**__

 * [[image:PS2_connectors.jpg width="151" height="70" caption="Two PS2 connectors"]] || [[image:Firewire.jpg width="150" height="91" caption="A FireWire port"]] || [[image:Serial_port.jpg width="150" height="116" caption="A Serial Port"]] || [[image:Parallel_port.jpg width="150" height="76" caption="A Parallel port"]] ||
 * [[image:usb_port.jpg width="138" height="150" caption="A male USB cable"]] || [[image:ethernet_connector.jpg width="150" height="150" caption="A Ethernet cable"]] || [[image:vga-cable.jpg width="150" height="109" caption="A VGA cable"]] || [[image:dvi-cable.jpg width="150" height="117" caption="A DVI cable"]] ||

Edited By: Daniel Gillo Last Update: 4/01/2011

Sources
 * "Computer Port (hardware)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 19 December 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 4 January 2011. https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Computer_port_%28hardware%29
 * "Computer Port (software)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 5 November 2010. Wikimedia Foundation. 4 January 2011. https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Computer_port_%28software%29
 * "Handshaking." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 4 January 2011. Wikimedia Foundation. 4 January 2011. https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Handshaking