Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!munnari.oz.au!csource!david
From: david@csource.oz.au (david nugent)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: COM3/IRQ4
Keywords: IRQ4
Message-ID: <992@csource.oz.au>
Date: 13 Feb 91 15:51:08 GMT
References: <6820@rossignol.Princeton.EDU>
Organization: Unique Computing Pty Ltd, Melb, Aust.
Lines: 27

In <6820@rossignol.Princeton.EDU> sarantos@elan.Princeton.EDU (Sarantos Kapidakis) writes:

> The fact that COM1 and COM3 (as well as COM2 and COM4) use the same
> IRQ (on their standard configuration), means that I will not be able
> to use both of them at the same time (like under Windows), right ?

That depends on both the hardware and software configuration.

Some serial cards are capable of sharing IRQ's.  If you're wonding if yours
does, then refer to the documentation.  If it doesn't mention it, chances
are 99.9999% that the hardware doesn't support it.


> If yes, then what is the use of having COM3 and COM4 ?

Hanging different devices off each port.  You may not be able to use two
devices (on serial ports with the same IRQ) concurrently, but it sure
beats switching cables all the time. :-)



	david

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