PnP- Plug and Play
Plug and Play is a general computing term. A Plug and Play device is a device connected to a machine, which resolves its resources without user intervention or manual configuration.
UPnP- Universal Plug and Play
UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) is a networking protocol or a set of networking protocols which enables devices like personal computers, WiFi, Mobile devices, printers etc. to discover each other and establish connections for sharing data.
Difference between PnP and UPnP
| Sr No | PnP | UPnP |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PnP automatically detects and configures devices connected to a PC. | UPnP automatically detects and configures devices connected on a LAN or any Network. |
| 2 | Pnp requires drivers for devices. | UPnP devices do not require external drivers. |
| 3 | PnP devices generally exchanges data with the host through I/O ports. | UPnP devices exchanges data using IP (Internet Protocol) Addressing. |
| 4 | There is no industry standard protocol for PnP devices. | UPnP itself is a well established standard protocol for all home appliances. |