CONNECTOR GLOSSARY ================== This Reference attempts to use the correct, or at least consistent, designations for all connectors. Some of these designations are not in common use, so this glossary lists and describes all connector names used. BNC Two-conductor (center and shield) coaxial connector with twist lock. Typically used for thin Ethernet. CARD-EDGE Not an official designation. A connector, usually without a shell, consisting of an extended piece of printed-circuit board with conductors on one or both sides, or a matching female connector, with a slot into which the circuit board extension is pushed. Common examples are the ISA, EISA, MicroChannel, PCI, and Multibus buses. DE Small D-subminiature shell, commonly used for nine-pin serial ports and video connectors, and fifteen-pin VGA video connectors. DE9 DE shell with nine pins in two rows, commonly called DB9. Typically used for serial ports and monochrome video connectors. DA Somewhat wider D-subminiature shell, commonly used for AUI Ethernet connectors (sometimes incorrectly called "thicknet") and game ports on IBM-type PCs. DA15 DA shell with fifteen pins in two rows, commonly called DB15. Typically used for AUI Ethernet and type-3 keyboard/mouse connectors. DB The most common size of D-subminiature shell, commonly used for 25-pin serial ports, SCSI ports on Macintoshes, and parallel ports on IBM-type PCs. DB25 DB shell with 25 pins in two rows. Typically used for serial ports. DD Large D-subminiature shell, not in common use outside of older Sun equipment. DD50 DD shell with 50 pins in three rows, commonly called DB50 or D50. Typically used for SCSI ports on older equipment. DIN-8 Not an official designation. Round DIN shell with eight pins. HD50 Not an official designation. D-subminiature-like shell with fifty closely-spaced pins in two rows, typically used for SCSI ports on newer equipment. HEADER Not an official designation. A connector, possibly without a shell, consisting of pins on 1/8" (???) centers, reminiscent of a jumper block, or a matching female connector. May have any number of pins or rows. Typically used only internally. Common examples are VME and the connectors on raw SCSI and IDE disk drives.