What is pnp?

PNP, or Plug and Play, is a technology that allows a computer to automatically detect and configure hardware devices that are connected to it. It simplifies the process of adding new hardware by eliminating the need for manual configuration, such as setting IRQs (Interrupt Requests) and DMA (Direct Memory Access) channels.

Key aspects of PNP include:

  • Automatic Device Detection: PNP enables the operating system to automatically identify newly connected devices. See more about Automatic%20Device%20Detection
  • Resource Allocation: PNP assigns system resources, like IRQs and memory addresses, to devices to avoid conflicts. This is also known as Resource%20Allocation.
  • Driver Installation: PNP can automatically install the necessary drivers for the device or prompt the user to provide them. Details about Driver%20Installation can be found here.
  • Device Configuration: PNP handles device configuration without user intervention in many cases. Check out Device%20Configuration for more.

The main goal of PNP is to make hardware installation easier and more user-friendly.