Online Computer Terms Dictionary - D

daisy chain

<networking> A bus wiring scheme in which, for example, device A is wired to device B, device B is wired to device C, etc. The last device is normally wired to a resistor or terminator. All devices may receive identical signals or, in contrast to a simple bus, each device in the chain may modify one or more signals before passing them on.

Characteristic of RS-485, of Apple's LocalTalk, and of various industrial control networks; also often used to describe Thinwire Ethernet (10base2).

(1997-01-07)