
The PS/2 connector is used for connecting some keyboards and mice to a PC compatible computer system. Its comes from the IBM Personal System/2 series of personal computer, with which it was introduced in 1987. The PS/2 mouse connector generally replaced the older DE-9 RS-232 " serial mouse " connector, while the keyboard connector replaced the larger 5-pin DIN used in the IBM PC/AT design. The keyboard and mouse interfaces are eletrically similar with the main difference being that open collector outputs are required on both ends of the keyboard interface to allow bidirectional communication. If a PS/2 mouse is connected to a PS/2 keyboard port ( or if a PS/2 keyboard is connected to a PS/2 mouse port ),the mouse (or keyboard) may not be recognized by the computer depending on configuration, although most modern compuyers will recognize the hardware eigher way.