Vampire tap
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A vampire tap is a device for physically connecting a station, typically a computer, to a network that used 10BASE5 cabling. This device clamped onto and "bit" into the cable, inserting a probe throug
10BASE5 vampire tap with a Medium Attachment Unit (Transceiver) to the left of the tap
Dismantled vampire tap. Central metal-tipped insulated spike contacted cable core; smaller spikes contacted cable shield. Note black mark on cable sheath indicating suitable location for transceiver
Attachment Unit Interface
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The Attachment Unit Interface is a physical and logical interface defined in the IEEE 802.3 standard for 10BASE5 Ethernet and the earlier DIX standard. The physical interface consists of a 15-pin D-su
Vampire tap
…the outer shielding to contact the inner conductor, while other spikes bit into the outer conductor. The vampire tap usually had an integrated AUI (Attachment Unit Interface) in the form of a DA-15 connector, from which a short multicore cable connected to the network card in the station (host computer). Vampire taps allowed…
AUI Connectors. The male connector (left) is on the MAU, and the female connector (right) is on the DTE device (typically either a computer or an Ethernet hub). Note the sliding clip.
AUI Connector with numbered pins on the DEC EtherWorks LC (DE100) Ethernet controller. Note the jackposts (as opposed to a sliding clip).