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Lesson Summary

The following points summarize the main elements of this lesson:

• Every device in a computer needs a unique name and address.
• In order for the CPU to identify which devices need to use the data bus, it monitors the IRQs.
• Generally, no two devices can use the same IRQ or DMA channel.
• Most conflicts during an installation of a new device are caused by IRQ conflicts.
• BIOS routines or device drivers can use I/O addresses to initiate "conversations" over the external data bus by means of an interrupt request (IRQ).
• DMA handles all the data passing from peripherals to RAM and vice versa.
• COM ports are for serial devices; LPT ports are for parallel devices.
• The computer technician should document addresses and DMA and IRQ settings for any non-Plug and Play device installed in a computer.

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