NT1110 Claudine Estes Port Expander Port expanders is a device that allows one port on a computer system to connect to many devices. There are two forms of port expanders they are internal and external. The internal expander has a connection inside the computer, most likely on the motherboard the only part the user will see in the expansion plate with many ports. The external device plugs into the existing port and then it has multiple places to connect. When they are not a part of the computer system they are known as splitters. Internal port expander is common on desktop systems. With single expansion plate will also have multiple ports, often serval USB ports. Now on the inside the computer ports are all part of a single card that will plug into predesignated spots on the motherboard. These ports on the motherboard are programed to handle a single port, but the card will connects to the external ports that handles the routing so the system is not over loaded. External port expander is much more obvious. On commercial systems there are large numbers of different types of port expanders. Servers often have different power and load requirements than standard user system. Which will commonly use external devices to route and monitor usage through various ports. These systems range from one similar to a home system all the way to specialized internal hardware that is built to connect to external expander. There is a Commodore VIC-20 which uses a port expander to allow more than one cartridge to connect to single ROM cartridge port as well. There are serval types of port expander such as SCSI port expander, audio port expander, VGA port expander, RS-422 port expander, SATA port expander, Ethernet port expander, Modbus port expander, serial port expander, just to name a few of the port expanders. Each of these ports have their own space to connect the many different devices in which you may use when operating a computer system. A port replicator will offer many of the ports that desktop has but make sure it is available through a USB connection when you do so. On older models you may have 2x DIN-5 connectors or one or two d-sub9 serial ports a big 25-pin parallel port normally used for printers anywhere from 1 to 5 USB ports. Port expanders are made to be generic and can be used on most to any computer. Depending on what operation you are doing in a computer system it can be a disadvantages or an advantage of using port expander. Servers often have different power source and load requirements than standard systems. Which will commonly use external devices to route and monitor usage through ports. These systems range from one’s similar to a home system all the way to specialized internal hardware that is built to connect to external expanders. The Commodore VIC-20 uses a port expander to allow more than one cartridge to connect to single ROM cartridge port as well. There are several types of port expanders such as SCSI, audio, VGA, RS-422, SATA, Ethernet, Modbus, and serial port expanders. Port expanders are made to be generic and can be used on most to any computer. Depending on what operation you are doing with a computer system will determine the disadvantages or advantages of using port expenders. When using desktops an advantage is the ability to use more devices of a particular port type can be utilized at the same time. Another advantage of using port expanders is it is faster and loads content on the fly with low cost is a win. When using a data base all the information is together and portable if it is on a laptop an easier way to go. A disadvantage is if you have a small amount of Gbps in a port with a port expander installed that can support many devices, but only have a small amount of Gbps throughput bandwidth divided by each device will run slower. If there is too many devices plugged in there will be less bandwidth that the port can use also. Simple software with friendly interface and easy to learn it does not need electricity to power.