Computer Hardware Terms, Glossary and Dictionary

Hotplug, also known as hot swapping, is the ability to remove and replace components of a machine, usually a computer, while it is operating. The operating system automatically recognizes the change. Once the appropriate software is installed on the computer, one can plug and unplug the device without rebooting. Two external bus standards -- Universal Serial Bus (USB ) and IEEE 1394 -- support hot plugging. This is also a feature of PCMCIA.

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hotplug