About USB | Linksys Compact USB 2.0 manual

Instant EtherFast® Series

Package Contents

Figure 1-1

•One Compact USB 2.0 10/100 Network Adapter

•One Driver Installation CD with User Guide included

•One USB Coupler

•One Quick Installation guide

•One Registration Card

Minimum Requirements

One PC with the following:

•200MHz or Faster Processor

•64MB RAM Recommended

•Available USB Port (USB 2.0 for maximum throughput)

•CD-ROM Drive

•Windows 98, Millennium, 2000, or XP

Compact USB 2.0 10/100 Network Adapter

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 instant- ly recognize when a device like a keyboard, mouse, or scanner has been con- nected 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 earli- er 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