Isolinear rod
Isolinear rods were long, thin, and cylindrical in shape, having a translucent dark  tint. These small rods interfaced with information storage and processing devices which were employed by the Cardassian Union aboard their starships and other facilities. They were also used aboard the Bajoran, formerly Cardassian, facility of Deep Space 9. The rods were similar in principle to the Starfleet-issued isolinear chips used aboard Federation starships. ()

In 2369, Quark used two isolinear rods to pass security clearance five to get access to a station layout of Deep Space 9's command level. ()

The same year, the senior staff of Deep Space 9 tried to download all the data from "Pup" onto six isolinear rods. ()

In late 2369 or early 2370, a freighter operated by Subytts was involved in smuggling defective isolinear rods to Bajor. () 

In 2371, when Elim Garak was preparing to leave Deep Space 9 on a mission, Doctor Julian Bashir asked if there was anything he could do for him. Garak replied that he had hidden an isolinear rod behind a false panel and that if he did not return within 78 hours, Bashir should take that rod and eat it. Bashir replied that he was joking and Garak admitted that he was. ()

Isolinear rods were color-coded with labels that corresponded with the particular information to which they pertained. For instance, white-labeled rods contained data relating to engineering system controls, while red-labeled contained library and information storage. ()

In times of heightened security aboard Cardassian ships, isolinear rod banks could be protected by an anti-personnel force field. ()

See also 
 Optolythic data rod

External link
 

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Computer technology