A switch with two AC power inputs that provides AC power redundancy by
failing over to a standby AC input in the event of a failure to the primary AC
input.
access
Refers to the actions a user can take on a variable value. Examples include
read-only and read-write.
ACL
Abbreviation for access control list. ACL files are text files that contain
lists that define who can access resources stored on a Novell® Web server.
adapter card
An expansion card that plugs into an expansion-card connector on the systems
system board. An adapter card adds some specialized function to the system by
providing an interface between the expansion bus and a peripheral device.
Examples of adapter cards include network cards, sound cards, and SCSI adapters.
Acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A text file
containing only characters from the ASCII character set (usually created with a
text editor, such as Notepad in Microsoft® Windows®), is called an ASCII file.
ASIC
Acronym for application-specific integrated circuit.
An individual code assigned to a system, usually by a system administrator,
for security or tracking purposes.
attribute
As it relates to an attribute is a piece of information related to a
component. Attributes can be combined to form groups. If an attribute is defined
as read-write, it may be defined by a management application.
autoexec.bat file
The autoexec.bat file is executed when you boot your system (after
executing any commands in the config.sys file). This start-up file contains
commands that define the characteristics of each device connected to your system, and it finds and executes programs stored in locations other than the
active directory.
A copy of a program or data file. As a precaution, you should back up your systems hard drive on a regular basis. Before making a change to the
configuration of your system, you should back up important start-up files from
your operating system.
baud rate
A measurement of data transmission speed. For example, modems are designed to
transmit data at one or more specified baud rate(s) through the COM (serial)
port of a system.
beep code
A diagnostic message in the form of a pattern of beeps from your systems
speaker. For example, one beep, followed by a second beep, and then a burst of
three beeps is beep code 1-1-3.
BGA
Abbreviation for ball grid array, an integrated circuit (IC) package that uses an array of solder
balls, instead of pins, to connect to a system board.
binary
A base-2 numbering system that uses 0 and 1 to represent information. The system
performs operations based on the ordering and calculation of these
numbers.
Acronym for basic input/output system. Your systems BIOS contains
programs stored on a flash memory chip. The BIOS controls the following:
Communications between the microprocessor and peripheral devices, such as
the keyboard and the video adapter
Miscellaneous functions, such as system messages
bit
The smallest unit of information interpreted by your system.
boot routine
When you start your system, it clears all memory, initializes devices, and
loads the operating system. Unless the operating system fails to respond, you
can reboot (also called warm boot) your system by pressing
<Ctrl><Alt><Del>; otherwise, you must perform a cold boot by
pressing the reset button or by turning the system off and then back on.
bootable diskette
You can start your system from a diskette. To make a bootable diskette,
insert a diskette in the diskette drive, type sys a: at the command line prompt,
and press <Enter>. Use this bootable diskette if your system will not
boot from the hard drive.
bpi
Abbreviation for bits per inch.
bps
Abbreviation for bits per second.
BTU
Abbreviation for British thermal unit.
bus
An information pathway between the components of a system. Your system contains an expansion bus that allows the microprocessor to communicate with
controllers for all the various peripheral devices connected to the system.
Your system also contains an address bus and a data bus for communications
between the microprocessor and RAM.
byte
Eight contiguous bits of information, the basic data unit used by your system.
A fast storage area that keeps a copy of data or instructions for quicker data
retrieval. For example, your systems BIOS may cache ROM code in faster RAM.
Or, a disk-cache utility may reserve RAM in which to store frequently accessed
information from your systems disk drives; when a program makes a request
to a disk drive for data that is in the cache, the disk-cache utility can
retrieve the data from RAM faster than from the disk drive.
capability
Refers to the actions that an object can perform, or actions that can be taken
on a managed object. For example, if a card is hot-pluggable, it is capable of
being replaced while the system power is on.
CDRAM
Abbreviation for cached DRAM, which is a high-speed DRAM memory chip developed
by Mitsubishi that includes a small SRAM cache.
CD-ROM
Abbreviation for compact disc read-only memory. CD drives use optical technology
to read data from CDs. CDs are read-only storage devices; you cannot write new
data to a CD with standard CD drives.
CHAP
Acronym for Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol,
an authentication scheme used by PPP servers to validate the identity of the
originator of the connection upon connection or any time later.
chip
A set of microminiaturized, electronic circuits that are designed for use as
processors and memory in systems. Small chips can hold from a handful to tens
of thousands of transistors. They look like tiny chips of aluminum, no more than
1/16 inch square by 1/30 inch thick, which is where the term "chip"
came from. Large chips, which can be more than a half inch square, hold millions
of transistors. It is actually only the top one thousandth of an inch of a
chip's surface that holds the circuits. The rest of it is just a base.
Acronym for Common Information Model, which is a model for describing management
information from the DMTF. CIM is implementation independent, allowing different
management applications to collect the required data from a variety of sources.
CIM includes schemas for systems, networks, applications and devices, and new
schemas will be added. It provides mapping techniques for interchange of CIM
data with MIB data from SNMP agents.
CIMOM
Acronym for common information model object manager.
CI/O
Abbreviation for comprehensive input/output.
CLI
Abbreviation for command line interface.
cm
Abbreviation for centimeter(s).
CMOS
Acronym for complementary metal-oxide semiconductor. In systems, CMOS memory
chips are often used for NVRAM storage.
COMn
The device names for the first through fourth serial ports on your system are
COM1, COM2, COM3, and COM4. The default interrupt for COM1 and COM3 is IRQ4, and
the default interrupt for COM2 and COM4 is IRQ3. Therefore, you must be careful
when configuring software that runs a serial device so that you dont create
an interrupt conflict.
config.sys file
The config.sys file is executed when you boot your system (before running any
commands in the autoexec.bat file). This start-up file contains commands that
specify which devices to install and which drivers to use. This file also
contains commands that determine how the operating system uses memory and
controls files.
ConsoleOne
Novell® ConsoleOne is a Java-based foundation for graphical utilities that
manage and administer network resources from different locations and platforms.
ConsoleOne provides a single point of control for all Novell and external
products.
controller
A chip that controls the transfer of data between the microprocessor and memory
or between the microprocessor and a peripheral device such as a disk drive or
the keyboard.
control panel
The part of the system that contains indicators and controls, such as the
power switch, hard drive access indicator, and power indicator.
conventional memory
The first 640 KB of RAM. Conventional memory is found in all systems. Unless
they are specially designed, MS-DOS® programs are limited to running in
conventional memory.
COO
Abbreviation for cost of ownership.
cooling unit
Sets of fans or other cooling devices in a system chassis.
A chip that relieves the systems microprocessor of specific processing
tasks. A math coprocessor, for example, handles numeric processing. A graphics
coprocessor handles video rendering. The Intel® Pentium® microprocessor, for
example, includes a built-in math coprocessor.
cpi
Abbreviation for characters per inch.
CPU
Abbreviation for central processing unit. See also microprocessor.
CRC
Abbreviation for cyclic redundancy code, which is a number derived from, and
stored or transmitted with, a block of data in order to detect corruption. By
recalculating the CRC and comparing it to the value originally transmitted, the
receiver can detect some types of transmission errors.
CSR
Abbreviation for certificate signing request.
cursor
A marker, such as a block, underscore, or pointer that represents the position
at which the next keyboard or mouse action will occur.
A program that allows the operating system or some other program to interface
correctly with a peripheral device, such as a printer. Some device driverssuch
as network driversmust be loaded from the config.sys file (with a device=
statement) or as memory-resident programs (usually, from the autoexec.bat file).
Otherssuch as video driversmust load when you start the program for which
they were designed.
Acronym for dual in-line memory module. A small circuit board containing DRAM
chips that connects to the system board.
DIN
Acronym for Deutsche Industrie Norm which is the standards-setting organization
for Germany. A DIN connector is a connector that conforms to one of the many standards
defined by DIN. DIN connectors are used widely in personal computers. For
example, the keyboard connector for personal computers is a DIN connector.
Acronym for dual in-line package. A circuit board, such as a system board or
expansion card, may contain DIP switches for configuring the circuit board. DIP
switches are always toggle switches, with an on position and an off position.
directory
Directories help keep related files organized on a disk in a hierarchical, inverted
tree structure. Each disk has a root directory; for example, a C:\>
prompt normally indicates that you are at the root directory of hard drive C.
Additional directories that branch off of the root directory are called
subdirectories. Subdirectories may contain additional directories branching off
of them.
display adapter
See video adapter.
DKS
Abbreviation for dynamic kernel support.
DMA
Abbreviation for direct memory access. A DMA channel allows certain types of
data transfer between RAM and a device to bypass the microprocessor.
Abbreviation for Distributed Management Task Force, a consortium of companies
representing hardware and software providers.
dpi
Abbreviation for dots per inch.
DPMS
Abbreviation for Display Power Management Signaling. A standard developed by the
Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA®) that defines the hardware
signals sent by a video controller to activate power management states in a
monitor. A monitor is said to be DPMS-compliant when it is designed to enter a
power management state after receiving the appropriate signal from a systems
video controller.
Acronym for dynamic random-access memory. A systems RAM is usually made up
entirely of DRAM chips. Because DRAM chips cannot store an electrical charge
indefinitely, your system continually refreshes each DRAM chip in the system.
drive-type number
Your system can recognize a number of specific hard drives. Each is assigned a
drive-type number that is stored in NVRAM. The hard drive(s) specified in your systems System Setup program must match the actual drive(s) installed in
the system. The System Setup program also allows you to specify physical
parameters (logical cylinders, logical heads, cylinder number, and logical
sectors per pack) for drives not included in the table of drive types stored in
NVRAM.
DTE
Abbreviation for data terminal equipment. Any device, such as a computer system,
that can send data in digital form by means of a cable or communications line.
The DTE is connected to the cable or communications line through a data
communications equipment (DCE) device, such as a modem.
Acronym for extended data output dynamic random access memory which is a type of
DRAM that is faster than conventional DRAM. EDO RAM can start fetching the next
block of memory at the same time that it sends the previous block to the microprocessor.
Abbreviation for enhanced integrated drive electronics. EIDE devices add one or
more of the following enhancements to the traditional IDE standard:
Data transfer rates of up to 16 MB/sec
Support for drives other than just hard drives, such as CD and tape drives
Support for hard drives with capacities greater than 528 MB
Support for up to two controllers, each with up to two devices attached
EISA
Acronym for Extended Industry-Standard Architecture, a 32-bit expansion-bus
design. The expansion-card connectors in an EISA system are also compatible
with 8- or 16-bit ISA expansion cards.
To avoid a configuration conflict when installing an EISA expansion card, you
must use the EISA Configuration Utility. This utility allows you to specify
which expansion slot contains the card and obtains information about the cards
required system resources from a corresponding EISA configuration file.
Abbreviation for expanded memory manager. A utility that uses extended memory to
emulate expanded memory on systems with an Intel386 or higher
microprocessor.
EMS
Abbreviation for Expanded Memory Specification.
EPP
Abbreviation for Enhanced Parallel Port which provides improved bidirectional
data transmission. Many devices are designed to take advantage of the EPP
standard, especially devices, such as network or SCSI adapters that connect to
the parallel port of a portable computer.
Acronym for erasable programmable read-only memory.
ERA
Abbreviation for embedded remote access.
ERA/O
Abbreviation for embedded remote access option.
ESD
Abbreviation for electrostatic discharge.
ESM
Abbreviation for embedded systems management.
expanded memory
A technique for accessing RAM above 1 MB. To enable expanded memory on your system, you must use an EMM. You should configure your system to support
expanded memory only if you run application programs that can use (or require)
expanded memory.
expansion bus
Your system contains an expansion bus that allows the microprocessor to
communicate with controllers for peripheral devices, such as a network card or
an internal modem.
expansion-card connector
A connector on the systems system board or riser board for plugging in an
expansion card.
extended memory
RAM above 1 MB. Most software that can use it, such as the Windows operating
system, requires that extended memory be under the control of an XMM.
external cache memory
A RAM cache using SRAM chips. Because SRAM chips operate at several times the
speed of DRAM chips, the microprocessor can retrieve data and instructions
faster from external cache memory than from RAM.
Acronym for file allocation table. FAT and FAT32 are file systems that are defined as follows:
FAT — A file system used by MS-DOS, Windows
3.x, Windows 95, and Windows 98. Windows NT® and Windows 2000 also can use the FAT file system. The operating system maintains a table to keep track of the status of various segments of disk space used for file storage.
FAT32 — A derivative of the FAT file system. FAT32 supports smaller cluster sizes than FAT, thus providing more efficient space allocation on FAT32 drives.
FCC
Abbreviation for Federal Communications Commission.
FEPROM
Acronym for flash erasable programmable read-only memory. Flash memory is a kind
of nonvolatile storage device similar to EEPROM, but the erasing is done only
in blocks or the entire chip.
A data transfer interface technology that allows for high-speed I/O and
networking functionality in a single connectivity technology. The Fibre Channel
Standard supports several topologies, including Fibre Channel Point-to-Point,
Fibre Channel Fabric (generic switching topology), and Fibre Channel Arbitrated
Loop (FC_AL).
firmware
Software (programs or data) that has been written onto read-only memory
(ROM). Firmware can boot and operate a device. Each controller contains firmware
which helps provide the controller's functionality.
flash bios
A BIOS that is stored in flash memory rather than in ROM. A flash BIOS chip
can be updated in place, whereas a ROM BIOS must be replaced with a newer chip.
A type of EEPROM chip that can be reprogrammed from a utility on diskette while
still installed in a system; most EEPROM chips can only be rewritten with
special programming equipment.
format
To prepare a hard drive or diskette for storing files. An unconditional format
deletes all data stored on the disk.
FPBGA
Abbreviation for field programmable gate array, a programmable logic chip (PLD) with
a high density of gates.
Abbreviation for hexadecimal. A base-16 numbering system, often used in
programming to identify addresses in the systems RAM and I/O memory
addresses for devices. The sequence of decimal numbers from 0 through 16, for
example, is expressed in hexadecimal notation as: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
A, B, C, D, E, F, 10. In text, hexadecimal numbers are often followed by h.
HBA
Abbreviation for host bus adapter. A PCI adapter card that resides in the system
whose only function is to convert data commands from PCI-bus format to storage interconnect format (examples: SCSI, Fiber Channel) and communicate directly with
hard drives, tape drives, CD drives, or other storage devices.
heat sink
A metal plate with metal pegs or ribs that help dissipate heat. Most
microprocessors include a heat sink.
HMA
Abbreviation for high memory area. The first 64 KB of extended memory above 1
MB. A memory manager that conforms to the XMS can make the HMA a direct
extension of conventional memory. Also see XMM.
host adapter
A host adapter implements communication between the systems bus and the
controller for a peripheral device. (hard drive controller subsystems include
integrated host adapter circuitry.) To add a SCSI expansion bus to your system,
you must install or connect the appropriate host adapter.
hot plug
The ability to remove and replace a redundant part while the system is still running. Also
called a "hot spare."
HPFS
Abbreviation for the High Performance File System option in the Windows NT
operating systems.
Abbreviation for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. HTTP is the client-server TCP/IP protocol
used on the World Wide Web for the exchange of HTML documents.
HTTPS
Abbreviation for HyperText Transmission Protocol, Secure. HTTPS is a variant
of HTTP
used by Web browsers for handling secure transactions. HTTPS is a unique
protocol that is simply SSL
underneath HTTP.
You need to use "https://" for HTTP URLs
with SSL,
whereas you continue to use "http://" for HTTP URLs without SSL.
Abbreviation for Integrated Drive Electronics. IDE is a computer system
interface, used primarily for hard drives and CDs.
I/O
Abbreviation for input/output. The keyboard is an input device, and a printer is
an output device. In general, I/O activity can be differentiated from
computational activity. For example, when a program sends a document to the
printer, it is engaging in output activity; when the program sorts a list of
terms, it is engaging in computational activity.
ID
Abbreviation for identification.
IHV
Abbreviation for independent hardware vendor. IHVs often develop their own MIBs for
components that they manufacture.
interlacing
A technique for increasing video resolution by only updating alternate
horizontal lines on the screen. Because interlacing can result in noticeable
screen flicker, most users prefer noninterlaced video adapter resolutions.
internal microprocessor cache
An instruction and data cache built in to the microprocessor. The Intel Pentium
microprocessor includes a 16-KB internal cache, which is set up as an 8-KB
read-only instruction cache and an 8-KB read/write data cache.
Abbreviation for Internet Protocol address. See TCP/IP.
IPX
Abbreviation for internetwork packet exchange.
IRQ
Abbreviation for interrupt request. A signal that data is about to be sent to or
received by a peripheral device travels by an IRQ line to the microprocessor.
Each peripheral connection must be assigned an IRQ number. For example, the
first serial port in your system (COM1) is assigned to IRQ4 by default. Two
devices can share the same IRQ assignment, but you cannot operate both devices
simultaneously.
Acronym for Industry-Standard Architecture. A 16-bit expansion bus design. The
expansion-card connectors in an ISA system are also compatible with 8-bit ISA
expansion cards.
ISV
Abbreviation for independent software vendor.
ITE
Abbreviation for information technology equipment.
A cross-platform programming language developed by Sun Microsystems.
JSSE
Abbreviation for Java Secure Socket Extension.
jumper
Jumpers are small blocks on a circuit board with two or more pins emerging from
them. Plastic plugs containing a wire fit down over the pins. The wire connects
the pins and creates a circuit. Jumpers provide a simple and reversible method
of changing the circuitry in a printed circuit board.
A command requiring you to press multiple keys at the same time. For example,
you can reboot your system by pressing the <Ctrl><Alt><Del>
key combination.
Acronym for local area network. A LAN system is usually confined to the same
building or a few nearby buildings, with all equipment linked by wiring
dedicated specifically to the LAN.
lb
Abbreviation for pound(s).
LCC
Abbreviation for leaded or leadless chip carrier.
LIF
Acronym for low insertion force. Some systems use LIF sockets and connectors
to allow devices, such as the microprocessor chip, to be installed or removed
with minimal stress to the device.
LED
Abbreviation for light-emitting diode. An electronic device that lights up when
a current is passed through it.
local bus
On a system with local-bus expansion capability, certain peripheral devices
(such as the video adapter circuitry) can be designed to run much faster than
they would with a traditional expansion bus. Some local-bus designs allow
peripherals to run at the same speed and with the same width data path as the systems microprocessor.
LPTn
The device names for the first through third parallel printer ports on your system
are LPT1, LPT2, and LPT3.
A managed system is any system that is monitored and managed using Server
Administrator. Systems running Server Administrator can be managed locally or
remotely through a supported Web browser. See remote management system.
Abbreviation for megabyte(s). The term megabyte means 1,048,576 bytes; however,
when referring to hard drive storage, the term is often rounded to mean
1,000,000 bytes.
MB/sec
Abbreviation for megabytes per second.
Mbps
Abbreviation for megabits per second.
MBR
Abbreviation for master boot record.
MCA
Abbreviation for Micro Channel Architecture, which is designed for
multiprocessing. MCA eliminates potential conflicts that arise when installing
new peripheral devices. MCA is not compatible with either EISA or XT bus
architecture, so older cards cannot be used with it.
memory
A system can contain several different forms of memory, such as RAM, ROM, and
video memory. Frequently, the word memory is used as a synonym for RAM; for
example, an unqualified statement such as a system with 16 MB of memory
refers to a system with 16 MB of RAM.
memory address
A specific location, usually expressed as a hexadecimal number, in the systems
RAM.
memory manager
A utility that controls the implementation of memory in addition to conventional
memory, such as extended or expanded memory.
memory module
A small circuit board containing DRAM chips that connects to the system board.
The primary computational chip inside the system that controls the
interpretation and execution of arithmetic and logic functions. Software written
for one microprocessor must usually be revised to run on another microprocessor.
CPU is a synonym for microprocessor.
MIDI
Acronym for musical instrument digital interface.
mm
Abbreviation for millimeter(s).
modem
A device that allows your system to communicate with other systems over
telephone lines.
Acronym for managed object format, which is an ASCII file that contains the
formal definition of a CIM schema.
mouse
A pointing device that controls the movement of the cursor on a screen.
Mouse-aware software allows you to activate commands by clicking a mouse button
while pointing at objects displayed on the screen.
MPEG
Acronym for Motion Picture Experts Group. MPEG is a digital video file format.
ms
Abbreviation for millisecond(s).
MS-DOS
Acronym for Microsoft Disk Operating System.
MTBF
Abbreviation for mean time between failures.
multifrequency monitor
A monitor that supports several video standards. A multifrequency monitor can
adjust to the frequency range of the signal from a variety of video adapters.
The name of an object or variable is the exact string that identifies it in an
SNMP Management Information Base (MIB) file or in a CIM Management Object File (MOF).
NDIS
Abbreviation for Network Driver Interface Specification.
Abbreviation for NetWare International Cryptographic Infrastructure.
NIF
Acronym for network interface function. This term is equivalent to NIC.
NLM
Abbreviation for NetWare Loadable Module.
NMI
Abbreviation for nonmaskable interrupt. A device sends an NMI to signal the
microprocessor about hardware errors, such as a parity error.
noninterlaced
A technique for decreasing screen flicker by sequentially refreshing each
horizontal line on the screen.
ns
Abbreviation for nanosecond(s), one billionth of a second.
NTFS
Abbreviation for the Windows NT File System option in the Windows NT operating
system. NTFS is an advanced file system designed for use specifically within the Windows NT operating system. It supports file system recovery, extremely large storage media,
and long file names. It also supports object-oriented applications by treating all files as objects with user-defined and system-defined attributes.
See also FAT and FAT32.
NTLM
Abbreviation for Windows NT LAN Manager. NTLM is the security protocol for the Windows NT operating
system.
NuBus
Proprietary expansion bus used on Apple Macintosh personal computers.
Acronym for nonvolatile random-access memory. Memory that does not lose its
contents when you turn off your system. NVRAM is used for maintaining the
date, time, and system configuration information.
Acronym for Pluggable Authentication Modules. PAM allows system
administrators to set an authentication policy without having to recompile
authentication programs.
parallel port
An I/O port used most often to connect a parallel printer to your system. You
can usually identify a parallel port on your system by its 25-hole connector.
parameter
A value or option that you specify to a program. A parameter is sometimes called
a switch or an argument.
partition
You can divide a hard drive into multiple physical sections called partitions
with the fdisk command. Each partition can contain multiple logical drives.
After partitioning the hard drive, you must format each logical drive with
the format command.
PC card
A credit-card sized, removable module for portable computers standardized by
PCMCIA. PC Cards are also known as "PCMCIA cards." PC Cards are 16-bit
devices that are used to attach modems, network adapters, sound cards, radio
transceivers, solid state disks and hard disks to a portable computer. The PC
Card is a "plug and play" device, which is configured automatically by
the Card Services software.
Abbreviation for Peripheral Component Interconnect. The predominant 32-bit or
64-bit local-bus standard developed by Intel Corporation.
PCMCIA
Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. An international trade
association that has developed standards for devices, such as modems and
external hard drives, that can be plugged into portable computers.
An internal or external devicesuch as a printer, a disk drive, or a keyboardconnected
to a system.
PGA
Abbreviation for pin grid array, a type of microprocessor socket that allows you
to remove the microprocessor chip.
physical memory array
The physical memory array is the entire physical memory of a system. Variables
for physical memory array include maximum size, total number of memory slots on
the motherboard, and total number of slots in use.
physical memory array mapped
The physical memory array mapped refers to the way physical memory is divided.
For example, one mapped area may have 640 KB and the other mapped area may have
between 1 MB and 127 MB.
PIC
Acronym for programmable interrupt controller.
PIP
Acronym for peripheral interchange program.
pixel
A single point on a video display. Pixels are arranged in rows and columns to
create an image. A video resolution, such as 640 x 480, is expressed as the
number of pixels across by the number of pixels up and down.
PKCS #7
Abbreviation for Public Key Cryptography Standard #7. PKCS #7 is an RSA Data
Security, Inc., standard for encapsulating signed data such as a certificate
chain.
PKIS
Abbreviation for Novell Public Key Infrastructure Services.
PLCC
Abbreviation for plastic leaded chip carrier.
Plug and Play
An industry-standard specification that makes it easier to add hardware devices
to personal computers. Plug and Play provides automatic installation and
configuration, compatibility with existing hardware, and dynamic support of
mobile computing environments.
PME
Abbreviation for Power Management Event. A PME is a pin on a peripheral
component interconnect that allows a PCI device to assert a wake event.
Acronym for power-on self-test. Before the operating system loads when you turn
on your system, the POST tests various system components such as RAM, the disk
drives, and the keyboard.
power supply
An electrical system that converts AC current from the wall outlet into the DC
currents required by the system circuitry. The power supply in a personal
computer typically generates multiple voltages.
power unit
A set of power supplies in a system chassis.
ppm
Abbreviation for pages per minute.
PPP
Abbreviation for Point-to-Point Protocol.
PQFP
Abbreviation for plastic quad flat pack, a type of microprocessor socket in
which the microprocessor chip is permanently mounted.
program diskette set
The set of diskettes from which you can perform a complete installation of an
operating system or application program. When you reconfigure a program, you
often need its program diskette set.
protected mode
An operating mode supported by 80286 or higher microprocessors, protected mode
allows operating systems to implement:
A memory address space of 16 MB (80286 microprocessor) to 4 GB (Intel386 or
higher microprocessor)
Multitasking
Virtual memory, a method for increasing addressable memory by using the hard
drive
The Windows NT, OS/2, and UNIX® 32-bit operating systems run in protected mode.
MS-DOS cannot run in protected mode; however, some programs that you can start
from MS-DOS, such as the Windows operating system, are able to put the system into protected mode.
provider
A provider is an extension of a CIM schema that communicates with managed
objects and accesses data and event notifications from a variety of sources.
Providers forward this information to the CIM Object Manager for integration and
interpretation.
Acronym for random-access memory. A systems primary temporary storage
area for program instructions and data. Each location in RAM is identified by a
number called a memory address. Any information stored in RAM is lost when you
turn off your system.
RAMDAC
Acronym for random-access memory digital-to-analog converter.
RAW
Unprocessed. The term refers to data that is passed along to an I/O device
without being interpreted. In contrast, cooked refers to data that is processed
before being passed to the I/O device. It often refers to uncompressed text that is not stored in any proprietary
format. The term comes from UNIX, which supports cooked and raw modes for data
output to a terminal.
Acronym for Rambus DRAM. A dynamic RAM chip technology from Rambus, Inc. Direct
RDRAMs are used in systems. Direct RDRAM chips are housed in RIMM modules,
which are similar to DIMMs but have different pin settings. The chips can be
built with dual channels, doubling the transfer rate to 3.2 GB/sec.
read-only file
A read-only file is one that you are prohibited from editing or deleting. A file
can have read-only status if:
Its read-only attribute is enabled.
It resides on a physically write-protected diskette or on a diskette in a
write-protected drive.
It is located on a network in a directory to which the system administrator has
assigned read-only rights to you.
readme file
A text file included with a software package or hardware product that contains
information supplementing or updating the documentation for the software or
hardware. Typically, readme files provide installation information, describe new
product enhancements or corrections that have not yet been documented, and list
known problems or other things you need to be aware of as you use the software
or hardware.
real mode
An operating mode supported by 80286 or higher microprocessors, real mode
imitates the architecture of an 8086 microprocessor.
refresh rate
The rate at which the monitor redraws the video image on the monitor screen.
More precisely, the refresh rate is the frequency, measured in Hz, at which the
screens horizontal lines are recharged (sometimes also referred to as its
vertical frequency). The higher the refresh rate, the less video flicker can be
seen by the human eye. The higher refresh rates are also noninterlaced.
A remote management system is any system that accesses the Server
Administrator home page on a managed system from a remote location using a
supported Web browser. See managed system.
Acronym for read-only memory. Your system contains some programs essential to
its operation in ROM code. Unlike RAM, a ROM chip retains its contents even
after you turn off your system. Examples of code in ROM include the program
that initiates your systems boot routine and the POST.
rpm
Abbreviation for revolutions per minute.
RPM
Abbreviation for Red Hat Package Manager.
RTC
Abbreviation for real-time clock. Battery-powered clock circuitry inside the system
that keeps the date and time after you turn off the system.
A collection of class definitions that describes managed objects in a particular
environment. A CIM schema is a collection of class definitions used to represent
managed objects that are common to every management environment, which is why
CIM is called the Common Information Model.
Acronym for small computer system interface. An I/O bus interface with faster
data transmission rates than standard ports. You can connect up to seven devices
(15 for some newer SCSI types) to one SCSI interface.
SEL
Acronym for system event log.
SDMS
Abbreviation for SCSI device management system.
sec
Abbreviation for second(s).
SEC
Abbreviation for single-edge contact.
serial port
An I/O port used most often to connect a modem to your system. You can usually
identify a serial port on your system by its 9-pin connector.
settings
Settings are conditions of a manageable object help to determine what happens
when a certain value is detected in a component. For example, a user can set the
upper critical threshold of a temperature probe to 75 degrees Celsius. If the
probe reaches that temperature, the setting results in an alert being sent to
the management console so that user intervention can be taken. Some settings,
when reached, can trigger a system shutdown or other response that can prevent
damage to the system.
service tag number
A bar code label that identifies each system in the event that you need to call for
customer or technical support.
A computers system and video BIOS code is usually stored on ROM chips.
Shadowing refers to the performance-enhancement technique that copies BIOS code
to faster RAM chips in the upper memory area (above 640 KB) during the boot
routine.
SIMD
Abbreviation for Single Instruction Multiple Data.
Acronym for single in-line memory module. A small circuit board containing DRAM chips that connects to the system board.
SIP
Acronym for single in-line package, which is a type of housing for electronic
components in which the connecting pins protrude from one side. A SIP is also
called a Single In-line Pin Package (SIPP).
SKU
Acronym for stock keeping unit.
SMART
Acronym for Self-Monitoring Analysis Reporting Technology. A technology that
allows hard drives to report errors and failures to the system BIOS, which then
displays an error message on the screen. To take advantage of this technology,
you must have a SMART-compliant hard drive and the proper support in the system
BIOS.
Abbreviation for Simple Network Management Protocol. SNMP, a popular network control and
monitoring protocol, is part of the original TCP/IP protocol suite.
SNMP provides the format in which vital information about different network devices, such
as network servers or routers, can be sent to a management application.
SODIMM
Acronym for small outline-DIMM. A DIMM module with a thinner profile due to the
use of TSOP chip packages. SODIMMs are commonly used in portable computers.
SOIC
Abbreviation for Small Outline IC, a small-dimension, plastic, rectangular, surface
mount chip package that uses gull-wing pins extending outward.
Abbreviation for small outline package J-lead, a small-dimension, plastic,
rectangular surface mount chip package with j-shaped pins on its two long sides.
Refers to the condition of an object that can have more than one condition. For
example, an object may be in the not ready state.
status
Refers to the health or functioning of an object. For example, a temperature
probe can have the status normal if the probe is measuring acceptable
temperatures. When the probe begins reading temperatures that exceed limits set
by the user, it reports a critical status.
Abbreviation for super video graphics array. VGA and SVGA are video standards
for video adapters with greater resolution and color display capabilities than
previous standards.
To display a program at a specific resolution, you must install the appropriate
video drivers and your monitor must support the resolution. Similarly, the
number of colors that a program can display depends on the capabilities of the
monitor, the video driver, and the amount of video memory installed in the system.
On a system board, switches control various circuits or functions in
your computer system. These switches are known as DIP switches; they are
normally packaged in groups of two or more switches in a plastic case. Two
common DIP switches are used on system boards: slide switches and rocker
switches. The names of the switches are based on how the settings (on and off)
of the switches are changed.
syntax
The rules that dictate how you must type a command or instruction so that the system
understands it. A variables syntax indicates its data type.
system board
As the main circuit board, the system board usually contains most of your systems integral components, such as the following:
A BIOS-based program that allows you to configure your systems hardware and
customize the systems operation by setting such features as password
protection and energy management. Some options in the System Setup program
require that you reboot the system (or the system may reboot automatically)
in order to make a hardware configuration change. Because the System Setup
program is stored in NVRAM, any settings remain in effect until you change them
again.
system.ini file
A start-up file for the Windows operating system. When you start Windows, it
consults the system.ini file to determine a variety of options for the Windows
operating environment. Among other things, the system.ini file records which
video, mouse, and keyboard drivers are installed for Windows.
Running the Control Panel or Windows Setup program may change options in the
system.ini file. On other occasions, you may need to change or add options to
the system.ini file manually with a text editor, such as Notepad.
Abbreviation for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. A system for transferring information over a computer network containing dissimilar systems, such as
systems running Windows and UNIX.
termination
Some devices (such as the last device at each end of a SCSI cable) must be
terminated to prevent reflections and spurious signals in the cable. When such
devices are connected in a series, you may need to enable or disable the
termination on these devices by changing jumper or switch settings on the
devices or by changing settings in the configuration software for the devices.
text editor
An application program for editing text files consisting exclusively of ASCII
characters. Windows Notepad is a text editor, for example. Most word processors
use proprietary file formats containing binary characters, although some can
read and write text files.
TFTP
Abbreviation for Trivial File Transfer Protocol. TFTP is a version of the TCP/IP
FTP protocol that has no directory or password capability.
text mode
A video mode that can be defined as x columns by y rows of characters.
threshold values
Systems are normally equipped with various sensors that monitor temperature,
voltage, current, and fan speed. The sensors threshold values specify the
ranges (min and max values) for determining whether the sensor is operating
under normal, noncritical, critical or fatal conditions. Server
Administrator-supported
threshold values are
UpperThresholdFatal
UpperThresholdCritical
UpperThresholdNon-critical
Normal
LowerThresholdNon-critical
LowerThresholdCritical
LowerThresholdFatal
time-out
A specified period of system inactivity that must occur before an energy
conservation feature is activated.
tpi
Abbreviation for tracks per inch.
TQFP
Abbreviation for thin quad flat pack.
TSR
Abbreviation for terminate-and-stay-resident. A TSR program runs "in the
background." Most TSR programs implement a predefined key combination
(sometimes referred to as a hot key) that allows you to activate the TSR programs
interface while running another program. When you finish using the TSR program,
you can return to the other application program and leave the TSR program
resident in memory for later use. TSR programs can sometimes cause memory conflicts. When troubleshooting, rule
out the possibility of such a conflict by rebooting your system without
starting any TSR programs.
Acronym for universal asynchronous receiver transmitter, the electronic circuit
that makes up the serial port.
UDP
Abbreviation for user datagram protocol.
UL
Abbreviation for Underwriters Laboratories.
UMB
Abbreviation for upper memory blocks.
unicode
A fixed width, 16-bit world wide character encoding, developed and maintained by
the Unicode Consortium.
upper memory area
The 384 KB of RAM located between 640 KB and 1 MB. If the system has an
Intel386 or higher microprocessor, a utility called a memory manager can create
UMBs in the upper memory area, in which you can load device drivers and
memory-resident programs.
UPS
Abbreviation for uninterruptible power supply. A battery-powered unit that
automatically supplies power to your system in the event of an electrical
failure.
Abbreviation for Uniform Resource Locator (formerly Universal Resource
Locator).
USB
Abbreviation for Universal Serial Bus. A USB connector provides a single
connection point for multiple USB-compliant devices, such as mice, keyboards,
printers, and computer speakers. USB devices can also be connected and
disconnected while the system is running.
utility
A program used to manage system resourcesmemory, disk drives, or printers,
for example.
A bootable partition on the hard drive that provides utilities and diagnostics for your hardware and software. When activated, the partition boots and provides an executable environment for the partition's utilities.
An algorithm used to assign an object identifier (OID). The varbind gives
rules for arriving at the decimal prefix that uniquely identifies an enterprise,
as well as the formula for specifying a unique identifier for the objects
defined in that enterprises MIB.
variable
A component of a managed object. A temperature probe, for example, has a
variable to describe its capabilities, its health or status, and certain indexes
that you can use to help you in locating the right temperature probe.
VCCI
Abbreviation for Voluntary Control Council for Interference.
VDC
Abbreviation for volt(s) direct current.
VESA
Acronym for Video Electronics Standards Association.
Abbreviation for video graphics array. VGA and SVGA are video standards for
video adapters with greater resolution and color display capabilities than
previous standards. To display a program at a specific resolution, you must
install the appropriate video drivers and your monitor must support the
resolution. Similarly, the number of colors that a program can display depends
on the capabilities of the monitor, the video driver, and the amount of video
memory installed for the video adapter.
VGA feature connector
On some systems with a built-in VGA video adapter, a VGA feature connector
allows you to add an enhancement adapter, such as a video accelerator, to your system. A VGA feature connector can also be called a VGA pass-through
connector.
video adapter
The logical circuitry that providesin combination with the monitoryour systems video capabilities. A video adapter may support more or fewer
features than a specific monitor offers. Typically, a video adapter comes with
video drivers for displaying popular application programs and operating systems
in a variety of video modes.
On some systems, a video adapter is integrated into the system board.
Also available are many video adapter cards that plug into an expansion-card
connector.
Video adapters often include memory separate from RAM on the system board. The
amount of video memory, along with the adapters video drivers, may affect the
number of colors that can be simultaneously displayed. Video adapters can also
include their own coprocessor for faster graphics rendering.
video driver
A program that allows graphics-mode application programs and operating systems
to display at a chosen resolution with the desired number of colors. A software
package may include some generic video drivers. Any additional video
drivers may need to match the video adapter installed in the system.
video memory
Most VGA and SVGA video adapters include memory chips in addition to your systems RAM. The amount of video memory installed primarily influences the
number of colors that a program can display (with the appropriate video drivers
and monitor capabilities).
video mode
Video adapters normally support multiple text and graphics display modes.
Character-based software displays in text modes that can be defined as x columns
by y rows of characters. Graphics-based software displays in graphics modes that
can be defined as x horizontal by y vertical pixels by z colors.
video resolution
Video resolution800 x 600, for exampleis expressed as the number of pixels
across by the number of pixels up and down. To display a program at a specific
graphics resolution, you must install the appropriate video drivers and your
monitor must support the resolution.
virtual memory
A method for increasing addressable RAM by using the hard drive. For example, in
a system with 16 MB of RAM and 16 MB of virtual memory set up on the hard
drive, the operating system would manage the system as though it had 32 MB of
physical RAM.
virus
A self-starting program designed to inconvenience you. Virus programs have been
known to corrupt the files stored on a hard drive or to replicate themselves
until a computer system or network runs out of memory.
The most common way that virus programs move from one system to another is via
infected diskettes, from which they copy themselves to the hard drive. To
guard against virus programs, you should do the following:
Periodically run a virus-checking utility on your systems hard drive
Always run a virus-checking utility on any diskettes (including commercially
sold software) before using them
VLSI
Abbreviation for very-large-scale integration.
VLVESA
Acronym for very low voltage enterprise system architecture.
Acronym for video random-access memory. Some video adapters use VRAM chips (or a
combination of VRAM and DRAM) to improve video performance. VRAM is dual-ported,
allowing the video adapter to update the screen and receive new image data at
the same time.
The ability for the power in a client station to be turned on by the network.
Remote wake-up enables software upgrading and other management tasks to be
performed on users' machines after the work day is over. It also enables remote
users to gain access to machines that have been turned off. Intel calls remote
wake-up "Wake-on-LAN."
WH
Abbreviation for watt-hour(s).
win.ini file
A start-up file for the Windows operating system. When you start Windows, it
consults the win.ini file to determine a variety of options for the Windows
operating environment. Among other things, the win.ini file records what
printer(s) and fonts are installed for Windows. The win.ini file also usually
includes sections that contain optional settings for Windows application
programs that are installed on the hard drive.
Running the Control Panel or Windows Setup program may change options in the
win.ini file. On other occasions, you may need to change or add options to the
win.ini file manually with a text editor such as Notepad.
Windows 95
An integrated and complete Microsoft Windows operating system that does not
require MS-DOS and that provides advanced operating system performance, improved
ease of use, enhanced workgroup functionality, and simplified file management
and browsing.
Windows NT
High-performance server and workstation operating system software developed by
Microsoft that is intended for technical, engineering, and financial
applications.
write-protected
Read-only files are said to be write-protected. You can write-protect a 3.5-inch
diskette by sliding its write-protect tab to the open position or by setting the
write-protect feature in the System Setup program.
An X.509 certificate binds a public encryption key to the identity or other
attribute of its principal. Principals can be people, application code (such as
a signed applet) or any other uniquely identified entity (such as a Web server).
Abbreviation for extended memory manager, a utility that allows application
programs and operating systems to use extended memory in accordance with the XMS.
Acronym for zero insertion force. Some systems use ZIF sockets and connectors
to allow devices such as the microprocessor chip to be installed or removed with
no stress applied to the device.
ZIP
A 3.5-inch removable disk drive from Iomega. Originally, it provided 100-MB
removable cartridges. The drive is bundled with software that can catalog the
disks and lock the files for security. A 250-MB version of the Zip drive also reads and writes the 100-MB Zip
cartridges.
