< 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)