dongle

3 definitions found

dongle - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  dongle
      n 1: (computer science) an electronic device that must be
           attached to a computer in order for it to use protected
           software

dongle - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  dongle
  
     <hardware> /dong'gl/ (From "dangle" - because it dangles off
     the computer?)
  
     1. <security> A security or copy protection device for
     commercial microcomputer programs that must be connected to
     an I/O port of the computer while the program is run.
     Programs that use a dongle query the port at start-up and at
     programmed intervals thereafter, and terminate if it does not
     respond with the expected validation code.
  
     One common form consisted of a serialised EPROM and some
     drivers in a D-25 connector shell.
  
     Dongles attempt to combat software theft by ensuring that,
     while users can still make copies of the program (e.g. for
     backup), they must buy one dongle for each simultaneous use
     of the program.
  
     The idea was clever, but initially unpopular with users who
     disliked tying up a port this way.  By 1993 almost all dongles
     passed data through transparently while monitoring for their
     particular magic codes (and combinations of status lines)
     with minimal if any interference with devices further down the
     line.  This innovation was necessary to allow daisy-chained
     dongles for multiple pieces of software.
  
     In 1998, dongles and other copy protection systems are fairly
     uncommon for Microsoft Windows software but one engineer in
     a print and CADD bureau reports that their Macintosh
     computers typically run seven dongles: After Effects, Electric
     Image, two for Media 100, Ultimatte, Elastic Reality and CADD.
     These dongles are made for the Mac's daisy-chainable ADB
     port.
  
     The term is used, by extension, for any physical electronic
     key or transferable ID required for a program to function.
     Common variations on this theme have used the parallel port
     or even the joystick port or a dongle-disk.
  
     An early 1992 advertisment from Rainbow Technologies (a
     manufacturer of dongles) claimed that the word derived from
     "Don Gall", the alleged inventor of the device.  The company's
     receptionist however said that the story was a myth invented
     for the ad.
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (1998-12-13)
  
     2. A small adaptor cable that connects, e.g. a PCMCIA
     modem to a telephone socket or a PCMCIA network card to an
     RJ45 network cable.
  
     (2002-09-29)
  

dongle - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  dongle
   /dong'gl/, n.
  
     1. [now obs.] A security or copy protection device for proprietary
     software consisting of a serialized EPROM and some drivers in a D-25
     connector shell, which must be connected to an I/O port of the
     computer while the program is run. Programs that use a dongle query
     the port at startup and at programmed intervals thereafter, and
     terminate if it does not respond with the dongle's programmed
     validation code. Thus, users can make as many copies of the program
  as
     they want but must pay for each dongle. The first sighting of a
  dongle
     was in 1984, associated with a software product called PaperClip. The
     idea was clever, but it was initially a failure, as users disliked
     tying up a serial port this way. By 1993, dongles would typically
  pass
     data through the port and monitor for magic codes (and combinations
     of status lines) with minimal if any interference with devices
  further
     down the line -- this innovation was necessary to allow daisy-chained
     dongles for multiple pieces of software. These devices have become
     rare as the industry has moved away from copy-protection schemes in
     general.
  
     2. By extension, any physical electronic key or transferable ID
     required for a program to function. Common variations on this theme
     have used parallel or even joystick ports. See dongle-disk.
  
     3. An adaptor cable mating a special edge-type connector on a PCMCIA
     or on-board Ethernet card to a standard 8p8c Ethernet jack. This
  usage
     seems to have surfaced in 1999 and is now dominant. Laptop owners
     curse these things because they're notoriously easy to lose and the
     vendors commonly charge extortionate prices for replacements.
  
     [Note: in early 1992, advertising copy from Rainbow Technologies (a
     manufacturer of dongles) included a claim that the word derived from
     "Don Gall", allegedly the inventor of the device. The company's
     receptionist will cheerfully tell you that the story is a myth
     invented for the ad copy. Nevertheless, I expect it to haunt my life
     as a lexicographer for at least the next ten years. :-( --ESR]