The Ethernet standard for local area networks using twisted-pair cable carrying data at 100 megabits per second (Mbps).

The Ethernet and IEEE 802.3 standard for baseband local area networks using a thin coaxial cable up to 200 meters long and carrying data at 10 megabits per second (Mbps). Cables connect to network adapters by a BNC connector.

The Ethernet standard for local area networks using twisted-pair cable carrying data at 10 megabits per second (Mbps).

A set of technologies that allows software components to interact with one another in a networked environment, regardless of the language in which the components were created.

For Windows XP Professional, a person responsible for setting up and managing domain controllers or local computers and their user and group accounts, assigning passwords and permissions, and helping users with networking problems. Administrators are members of the Administrators group and have full control over the domain or computer.

A standard single-byte character encoding scheme used for text-based data. ASCII uses designated 7-bit or 8-bit number combinations to represent either 128 or 256 possible characters. Standard ASCII uses 7 bits to represent all uppercase and lowercase letters, the numbers 0 through 9, punctuation marks, and special control characters used in U.S. English. Most current x86-based systems support the use of extended (or "high") ASCII. Extended ASCII allows the eighth bit of each character to identify an additional 128 special symbol characters, foreign-language letters, and graphic symbols.

An audio input device records music and voice input into your computer. Examples of audio input devices are CD-ROM players and microphones.

The process for verifying that an entity or object is who or what it claims to be. Examples include confirming the source and integrity of information, such as verifying a digital signature or verifying the identity of a user or computer.

The screen background image used on a graphical user interface such as Windows. Any pattern or picture that can be stored as a bitmap (.bmp) file can be set as a screen background.

In analog communications, the difference between the highest and lowest frequencies in a given range. For example, an analog telephone line accommodates a bandwidth of 3,000 hertz (Hz), the difference between the lowest (300 Hz) and highest (3,300 Hz) frequencies it can carry. In digital communications, bandwidth is expressed in bits per second (bps).

The speed at which a modem communicates. Baud rate refers to the number of times the condition of the line changes. This is equal to bits per second only if each signal corresponds to one bit of transmitted data.

Modems must operate at the same baud rate in order to communicate with each other. If the baud rate of one modem is set higher than that of the other, the faster modem usually alters its baud rate to match that of the slower modem.

A connector for coaxial cables that locks when one connector is inserted into another and rotated 90 degrees.

The process of starting or resetting a computer. When first turned on (cold boot) or reset (warm boot), the computer runs the software that loads and starts the computer's operating system, which prepares it for use.

A high-speed connection. Broadband connections are typically 256 kilobytes per second (KBps) or faster. Broadband includes DSL and cable modem service.

An address that is destined for all hosts on a particular network segment.

Software that interprets the markup of files in HTML, formats them into Web pages, and displays them to the end user. Some browsers also permit end users to send and receive e-mail, read newsgroups, and play sound or video files embedded in Web documents.

A communication line used for data transfer among the components of a computer system. A bus essentially allows different parts of the system to share data. For example, a bus connects the disk-drive controller, memory, and input/output ports to the microprocessor.

A unit of data that typically holds a single character, such as a letter, a digit, or a punctuation mark. Some single characters can take up more than one byte.

A device that enables a broadband connection to the Internet by using cable television infrastructure. Access speeds vary greatly, with a maximum throughput of 10 megabits per second (Mbps).

A string that specifies the called subscriber ID transmitted by the receiving fax machine when receiving an inbound fax. This string is usually a combination of the fax or telephone number and the name of the business. It is often the same as the transmitter subscriber ID.

To assign a port to a printer. Documents that you print are sent to the printer through the captured port.

For Network Monitor, the process by which frames are copied.

 

Recordable compact disc. Data can be copied to the CD on more than one occasion; however, data cannot be erased from the CD.

Rewritable compact disc. Data can be copied to the CD on more than one occasion and can be erased.

A digital document that is commonly used for authentication and secure exchange of information on open networks, such as the Internet, extranets, and intranets. A certificate securely binds a public key to the entity that holds the corresponding private key. Certificates are digitally signed by the issuing certification authority and can be issued for a user, a computer, or a service. The most widely accepted format for certificates is defined by the ITU-T X.509 version 3 international standard.

A unicast IP address that ranges from 1.0.0.1 through 126.255.255.254. The first octet indicates the network, and the last three octets indicate the host on the network.

A unicast IP address that ranges from 128.0.0.1 through 191.255.255.254. The first two octets indicate the network, and the last two octets indicate the host on the network.

A unicast IP address that ranges from 192.0.0.1 to 223.255.255.254. The first three octets indicate the network, and the last octet indicates the host on the network. Network Load Balancing provides optional session support for Class C IP addresses (in addition to support for single IP addresses) to accommodate clients that make use of multiple proxy servers at the client site.

To turn off an option by removing the X or check mark from a check box. You clear a check box by clicking it, or by selecting it and then pressing the SPACEBAR.

To position the mouse over an object, and then press and release the primary (left) mouse button.

Any computer or program connecting to, or requesting the services of, another computer or program. Client can also refer to the software that enables the computer or program to establish the connection.

For a local area network (LAN) or the Internet, a computer that uses shared network resources provided by another computer (called a server).

The number of colors per pixel your monitor and graphics adapter support.

The particular range of colors that a device is able to produce. A device such as a scanner, monitor, or printer can produce a unique range of colors, which is determined by the characteristics of the device itself.

A window displayed on the desktop used to interface with the MS-DOS operating system. MS-DOS commands are typed at an entry point identified by a blinking cursor.

A port on a computer that allows asynchronous communication of one byte at a time. A communication port is also called a serial port.

Operating parameters, such as bits per second (bps) and modem type, that apply to serial ports on a computer.

A user who manages a computer. The computer administrator makes system-wide changes to the computer, including installing programs and accessing all files on the computer, and can create, change and delete the accounts of other users.

A user's status when a telephone connection has been established and the user has entered a correct user name and password. If the user has callback permission and has requested callback, the connection is followed by the calling-back phase. If the calling-back phase is followed by a waiting-for-call phase, then the server was unable to reach the user at the specified number. The user may have supplied an inaccurate callback number (in the case of set-by-caller callback), or an unauthorized attempt to access the network may be under way (in the case of preset-to callback).

The profile that serves as a basis for all user profiles. Every user profile begins as a copy of the default user profile.

The process of rewriting parts of a file to contiguous sectors on a hard disk to increase the speed of access and retrieval. When files are updated, the computer tends to save these updates on the largest continuous space on the hard disk, which is often on a different sector than the other parts of the file. When files are thus fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk each time the file is opened to find all of the file's parts, which slows down response time.

The on-screen work area on which windows, icons, menus, and dialog boxes appear.

Any piece of equipment that can be attached to a network or computer; for example, a computer, printer, joystick, adapter, or modem card, or any other peripheral equipment. Devices normally require a device driver to function with Windows .

A program that allows a specific device, such as a modem, network adapter, or printer, to communicate with the operating system. Although a device might be installed on your system, Windows cannot use the device until you have installed and configured the appropriate driver.

If a device is listed in the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL), a driver is usually included with Windows. Device drivers load automatically (for all enabled devices) when a computer is started, and thereafter run invisibly.

An administrative tool that you can use to manage the devices on your computer. Using Device Manager, you can view and change device properties, update device drivers, configure device settings, and uninstall devices.

The connection to your network if you are using a device that uses the telephone network. This includes modems with a standard phone line, ISDN cards with high-speed ISDN lines, or X.25 networks.

If you are a typical user, you may have one or two dial-up connections, for example, to the Internet and to your corporate network. In a more complex server situation, multiple network modem connections might be used to implement advanced routing.

A secondary window that contains buttons and various kinds of options through which you can carry out a particular command or task.

A means for originators of a message, file, or other digitally encoded information to bind their identity to the information. The process of digitally signing information entails transforming the information, as well as some secret information held by the sender, into a tag called a signature. Digital signatures are used in public key environments, and they provide nonrepudiation and integrity services.

A type of high-speed Internet connection using standard telephone wires. This is also referred to as a broadband connection.

A type of optical disc storage technology. A digital video disc (DVD) looks like a CD-ROM disc, but it can store greater amounts of data. DVDs are often used to store full-length movies and other multimedia content that requires large amounts of storage space.

A link between the I/O ports of two computers created with a single cable rather than a modem or other interfacing devices. In most cases, a direct cable connection is made with a null modem cable.

An extension of the Microsoft Windows operating system. DirectX technology helps games and other programs use the advanced multimedia capabilities of your hardware.

A storage device that is attached to a computer.

A group of computers that are part of a network and share a common directory database. A domain is administered as a unit with common rules and procedures. Each domain has a unique name.

An Active Directory domain is a collection of computers defined by the administrator of a Windows network. These computers share a common directory database, security policies, and security relationships with other domains. An Active Directory domain provides access to the centralized user accounts and group accounts maintained by the domain administrator. An Active Directory forest is made up of one or more domains, each of which can span more than one physical location.

A DNS domain is any tree or subtree within the DNS namespace. Although the names for DNS domains often correspond to Active Directory domains, DNS domains should not be confused with Active Directory domains.

The name given by an administrator to a collection of networked computers that share a common directory. Part of the Domain Name System (DNS) naming structure, domain names consist of a sequence of name labels separated by periods.

A hierarchical, distributed database that contains mappings of DNS domain names to various types of data, such as IP addresses. DNS enables the location of computers and services by user-friendly names, and it also enables the discovery of other information stored in the database.

To transfer a copy of a file from a remote computer to the requesting computer by means of a modem or network.

To move an item on the screen by selecting the item and then pressing and holding down the mouse button while moving the mouse. For example, you can move a window to another location on the screen by dragging its title bar.

An area of storage that is formatted with a file system and has a drive letter. The storage can be a floppy disk, a CD, a hard disk, or another type of disk. You can view the contents of a drive by clicking its icon in Windows Explorer or My Computer.

The naming convention for disk drives on IBM and compatible computers. Drives are named by letter, beginning with A, followed by a colon.

A computer configuration that can start two different operating systems.

A physical disk that can be accessed only by Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Dynamic disks provide features that basic disks do not, such as support for volumes that span multiple disks. Dynamic disks use a hidden database to track information about dynamic volumes on the disk and other dynamic disks in the computer. You convert basic disks to dynamic by using the Disk Management snap-in or the DiskPart command line utility. When you convert a basic disk to dynamic, all existing basic volumes become dynamic volumes.

A TCP/IP service protocol that offers dynamic leased configuration of host IP addresses and distributes other configuration parameters to eligible network clients. DHCP provides safe, reliable, and simple TCP/IP network configuration, prevents address conflicts, and helps conserve the use of client IP addresses on the network.

DHCP uses a client/server model where the DHCP server maintains centralized management of IP addresses that are used on the network. DHCP-supporting clients can then request and obtain lease of an IP address from a DHCP server as part of their network boot process.

A storage method in Windows that allows disk and volume management without requiring operating system restart.

A volume that resides on a dynamic disk. Windows supports five types of dynamic volumes: simple, spanned, striped, mirrored, and RAID-5. A dynamic volume is formatted by using a file system, such as FAT or NTFS, and it has a drive letter assigned to it.

An operating system feature that allows executable routines (generally serving a specific function or set of functions) to be stored separately as files with .dll extensions. These routines are loaded only when needed by the program that calls them.

A derivative of the file allocation table (FAT) file system. FAT32 supports smaller cluster sizes and larger volumes than FAT, which results in more efficient space allocation on FAT32 volumes.

A system service that provides fax services to local and remote network clients. Fax services include receiving faxes and faxing documents, fax wizard messages, and e-mail messages.

A complete, named collection of information, such as a program, a set of data used by a program, or a user-created document. A file is the basic unit of storage that enables a computer to distinguish one set of information from another. It is a collection of data that a user can retrieve, change, delete, save, or send to an output device, such as a printer or e-mail program.

File name extensions follow the period in a file name and indicate the type of information stored in a file. For example, in the file name Example.txt, the file name extension is .txt, which indicates that the file is a text file.

In an operating system, the overall structure in which files are named, stored, and organized. NTFS, FAT, and FAT32 are types of file systems.

A member of the TCP/IP suite of protocols, used to copy files between two computers on the Internet. Both computers must support their respective FTP roles: one must be an FTP client and the other an FTP server.

A combination of hardware and software that provides a security system, usually to prevent unauthorized access from outside to an internal network or intranet. A firewall prevents direct communication between network and external computers by routing communication through a proxy server outside of the network. The proxy server determines whether it is safe to let a file pass through to the network. A firewall is also called a security-edge gateway.

A reusable magnetic storage medium. The floppy disk used today is the rigid 3.5-inch microfloppy that holds 1.44 MB. It is called a floppy because the first varieties were housed in bendable jackets.

A container for programs and files in graphical user interfaces, symbolized on the screen by a graphical image (icon) of a file folder. A folder is a means of organizing programs and documents on a disk and can hold both files and additional folders.

The scattering of parts of the same disk file over different areas of the disk. Fragmentation occurs as files on a disk are deleted and new files are added. It slows disk access and degrades the overall performance of disk operations, although usually not severely.

An input/output connector to which you attach a joy stick or other game device to your computer. It is typically a 15-pin socket on the back of a PC.

A device connected to multiple physical TCP/IP networks capable of routing or delivering IP packets between them. A gateway translates between different transport protocols or data formats (for example, IPX and IP) and is generally added to a network primarily for its translation ability.

In the context of interoperating with Novell NetWare networks, a gateway acts as a bridge between the server message block (SMB) protocol used by Windows networks and the NetWare core protocol (NCP) used by NetWare networks. A gateway is also called an IP router.

1,024 megabytes, though often interpreted as approximately one billion bytes.

A tool, such as a digital pen and tablet, used to enter text by writing instead of typing. Along with writing tablets, you can use 3-D drawing or Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) tablets, or a tablet-PC. You can also write by moving your mouse on the mouse pad.

A device, also called hard disk drive, that contains one or more inflexible platters coated with material in which data can be recorded magnetically with read/write heads. The hard disk exists in a sealed case that protects it and allows the head to fly 10 millionths to 25 millionths of an inch above the surface of a platter. Data can both be stored and accessed much more quickly than on a floppy disk.

The physical components of a computer system, including any peripheral equipment such as printers, modems, and mouse devices.

A state in which your computer shuts down after saving everything in memory on your hard disk. When you bring your computer out of hibernation, all programs and documents that were open are restored to your desktop.

A common connection point for devices in a network. Typically used to connect segments of a local area network (LAN), a hub contains multiple ports. When data arrives at one port, it is copied to the other ports so that all segments of the LAN can see the data.

A mode in which the ARP/MARS provides ATM addresses to requesting clients in the form of a multicast server (MCS) list value. In this mode, the ARP/MARS acts as a multicast server, providing active forwarding of all multicast and broadcast traffic destined for IP addresses contained within the ranges specified in the list.

Colored and underlined text or a graphic that you click to go to a file, a location in a file, an HTML page on the World Wide Web, or an HTML page on an intranet. Hyperlinks can also go to newsgroups and to Gopher, Telnet, and FTP sites.

In Windows folders, hyperlinks are text links that appear in the folder's left pane. You can click these links to perform tasks, such as moving or copying a file, or to go to other places on your computer, such as the My Documents folder or Control Panel.

A simple markup language used to create hypertext documents that are portable from one platform to another. HTML files are simple ASCII text files with codes embedded (indicated by markup tags) to denote formatting and hypertext links.

The protocol used to transfer information on the World Wide Web. An HTTP address (one kind of Uniform Resource Locator [URL]) takes the form: http://www.microsoft.com.

A small image displayed on the screen to represent an object that can be manipulated by the user. Icons serve as visual mnemonics and allow the user to control certain computer actions without having to remember commands or type them at the keyboard.

A standard for high-speed serial devices such as digital video and digital audio editing equipment.

A type of connector that enables you to connect and disconnect high-speed serial devices. An IEEE 1394 connector is usually on the back of your computer near the serial port or the parallel port.

If a device is IEEE 1394 compatible, you can connect the device to the IEEE 1394 connector while the computer is running and Windows will detect the device and inform you when it is ready for use. Similarly, you can unplug the device while the computer is running, but you should use the Add Hardware Wizard to inform Windows that you are unplugging the device. Windows will then inform you when the device can be unplugged from the computer.

The IEEE 1394 bus is used primarily to connect high-end digital video and digital audio devices to your computer; however, some hard disks, printers, scanners, and DVD drives can also be connected to your computer using the IEEE 1394 connector.

Ports that support either a 6-pin plug whose size is 11 mm by 5.4 mm or a 4-pin plug whose size is 5.35 mm by 3.45 mm.

When referring to software, to add program files and folders to your hard disk and related data to your registry so that the software runs properly. Installing contrasts with upgrading, where existing program files, folders, and registry entries are updated to a more recent version.

When referring to hardware, to physically connect the device to your computer, to load device drivers onto your computer, and to configure device properties and settings.

A type of disk-drive interface in which the controller electronics reside on the drive itself, eliminating the need for a separate adapter card. IDE offers advantages such as look-ahead caching to increase overall performance.

A digital phone line used to provide higher bandwidth. ISDN in North America is typically available in two forms: Basic Rate Interface (BRI) consists of 2 B-channels at 64 kilobits per second (Kbps) and a D-channel at 16 Kbps; Primary Rate Interface (PRI) consists of 23 B-channels at 64 Kbps and a D-channel at 64 Kbps. An ISDN line must be installed by the phone company at both the calling site and the called site.

A 4-byte hexadecimal number used for addressing and routing purposes. The internal network number identifies a virtual network inside a computer. The internal network number must be unique to the IPX internetwork. Internal network number is also called virtual network number.

internet. Two or more network segments connected by routers. Another term for internetwork.

Internet. A worldwide network of computers. If you have access to the Internet, you can retrieve information from millions of sources, including schools, governments, businesses, and individuals.

Software services that support Web site creation, configuration, and management, along with other Internet functions. Internet Information Services include Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).

A routable protocol in the TCP/IP protocol suite that is responsible for IP addressing, routing, and the fragmentation and reassembly of IP packets.

The extension of local area network multicasting technology to a TCP/IP network. Hosts send and receive multicast datagrams, the destination fields of which specify IP host group addresses rather than individual IP addresses. A host indicates that it is a member of a group by means of the Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP).

A company that provides individuals or companies access to the Internet and the World Wide Web. An ISP provides a telephone number, a user name, a password, and other connection information so users can connect their computers to the ISP's computers. An ISP typically charges a monthly or hourly connection fee.

A request for attention from the processor. When the processor receives an interrupt, it suspends its current operations, saves the status of its work, and transfers control to a special routine known as an interrupt handler, which contains the instructions for dealing with the particular situation that caused the interrupt.

A network within an organization that uses Internet technologies and protocols, but is available only to certain people, such as employees of a company. An intranet is also called a private network.

A 32-bit address used to identify a node on an IP internetwork. Each node on the IP internetwork must be assigned a unique IP address, which is made up of the network ID, plus a unique host ID. This address is typically represented with the decimal value of each octet separated by a period (for example, 192.168.7.27). In this version of Windows, you can configure the IP address statically or dynamically through DHCP.

Transport protocols used in Novell NetWare networks, which together correspond to the combination of TCP and IP in the TCP/IP protocol suite. Windows implements IPX through NWLink.

A connection socket for a peripheral designed to the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) on a computer motherboard.

A high-speed digital telephone service that can dramatically increase the speed at which you connect to the Internet or to your corporate LAN (local area network). ISDN can operate at 128 kilobytes per second (Kbps), which is five or more times faster than many analog modems.

In Registry Editor, a folder that appears in the left pane of the Registry Editor window. A key can contain subkeys and value entries. For example, Environment is a key of HKEY_CURRENT_USER.

In IP security (IPSec), a value used in combination with an algorithm to encrypt or decrypt data. Key settings for IP security are configurable to provide greater security.

1,024 bytes, though often interpreted as 1,000 bytes.

An industry-standard Internet tunneling protocol. Unlike Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), L2TP does not require IP connectivity between the client workstation and the server. L2TP requires only that the tunnel medium provide packet-oriented point-to-point connectivity. The protocol can be used over media such as ATM, Frame Relay, and X.25. L2TP provides the same functionality as PPTP. Based on Layer 2 Forwarding (L2F) and PPTP specifications, L2TP allows clients to set up tunnels across intervening networks.

A communications network connecting a group of computers, printers, and other devices located within a relatively limited area (for example, a building). A LAN allows any connected device to interact with any other on the network.

A file that stores messages generated by an application, service, or operating system. These messages are used to track the operations performed. For example, Web servers maintain log files listing every request made to the server. Log files are usually plain text (ASCII) files and often have a .log extension.

In Backup, a file that contains a record of the date the tapes were created and the names of files and directories successfully backed up and restored. The Performance Logs and Alerts service also creates log files.

A volume that you create within an extended partition on a basic master boot record (MBR) disk. Logical drives are similar to primary partitions, except that you are limited to four primary partitions per disk, whereas you can create an unlimited number of logical drives per disk. A logical drive can be formatted and assigned a drive letter.

Any fixed or removable objects that store computer data. Examples include hard disks, floppy disks, tapes, and compact discs.

1,048,576 bytes, though often interpreted as 1 million bytes.

Generally, the fast semiconductor storage (RAM) directly connected to the processor that depends on electrical power for activation. Memory is often differentiated from computer storage (for example, hard disks, floppy disks, and CD-ROM disks) that does not depend on electricity and is therefore a more permanent means for holding data.

A portion of computer memory that can be allocated to a device or used by a program or the operating system. Devices are usually allocated a range of memory addresses.

To reduce a window to a button on the taskbar by clicking the Minimize button (at the right of the title bar), or by pressing ALT+SPACEBAR and then pressing N.

A fault-tolerant volume that duplicates data on two physical disks. A mirrored volume provides data redundancy by using two identical volumes, which are called mirrors, to duplicate the information contained on the volume. A mirror is always located on a different disk. If one of the physical disks fails, the data on the failed disk becomes unavailable, but the system continues to operate in the mirror on the remaining disk. You can create mirrored volumes only on dynamic disks.

A device that allows computer information to be transmitted and received over a telephone line. The transmitting modem translates digital computer data into analog signals that can be carried over a phone line. The receiving modem translates the analog signals back to digital form.

A technique used to reduce the number of characters transmitted without losing data content. The transmitting modem compresses the data and the receiving computer or modem decompresses the data back to its original state.

Protocols that determine how modems convert digital data into analog signals that can be transmitted over telephone lines.

Initially, Bell created modulation standards used in the United States, and the CCITT created international recommendations. The ITU-T (formerly called the CCITT) now makes recommendations generally adopted by modem manufacturers both internationally and in the United States. The ITU-T V series recommendations (such as V.34 and V.90) define data communication over the telephone network. The suffixes -bis and -ter (for example, V.32bis) indicate later versions.

The main circuit board of a microcomputer. The motherboard contains the connectors for attaching additional boards.

A keyboard feature that enables you to use the numeric keypad to move the mouse pointer and to click, double-click, and drag.

An operating system used on all personal computers and compatibles. As with other operating systems, such as OS/2, it translates user keyboard input into operations the computer can perform. MS-DOS can be easily accessed by using the command prompt, while MS-DOS-based programs can be accessed through the use of shortcuts on the desktop.

A folder that provides you with a convenient place to store documents, graphics, or other files you want to access quickly. When you save a file in a program such as WordPad or Paint, the file is automatically saved in My Documents, unless you choose a different folder.

The process of having software translate between names that are easy for users to work with and numerical IP addresses, which are difficult for users but necessary for TCP/IP communications. Name resolution can be provided by software components such as DNS or WINS.

A network protocol native to Microsoft Networking. It is usually used in small, department-size local area networks (LANs) of 1 to 200 clients. It can use Token Ring source routing as its only method of routing. It is the Microsoft implementation of the NetBIOS standard.

A group of computers and other devices, such as printers and scanners, connected by a communications link, enabling all the devices to interact with each other. Networks can be small or large, permanently connected through wires or cables, or temporarily connected through phone lines or wireless transmissions. The largest network is the Internet, which is a worldwide group of networks.

A device that connects your computer to a network. This device is sometimes called an adapter card or network interface card.

A person responsible for planning, configuring, and managing the day-to-day operation of the network. Network administrator is also called a system administrator.

A device driver that works directly with the network card, acting as an intermediary between the card and the protocol driver. With AppleTalk network integration, the AppleTalk Protocol stack on the server is implemented as a protocol driver and is bound to one or more network card drivers.

A password that you use to log on to a network. You can make this the same as your Windows password, so you have only one password to remember.

The language a computer uses to communicate over a network. For a computer to communicate with another computer, they both must use the same protocol.

Services such as file and printer sharing on your computer or automatic backup to a network server.

A device, such as a printer, modem, or game controller, that requires manual configuration of hardware settings before it can be used. Non-Plug and Play devices are becoming increasingly rare as manufacturers stop producing them in favor of Plug and Play devices. Non-Plug and Play typically applies to older pieces of equipment.

An advanced file system that provides performance, security, reliability, and advanced features that are not found in any version of FAT. For example, NTFS guarantees volume consistency by using standard transaction logging and recovery techniques. If a system fails, NTFS uses its log file and checkpoint information to restore the consistency of the file system. In Windows 2000 and Windows XP , NTFS also provides advanced features such as file and folder permissions, encryption, disk quotas, and compression.

An entity, such as a file, folder, shared folder, printer, or Active Directory object, described by a distinct, named set of attributes. For example, the attributes of a File object include its name, location, and size; the attributes of an Active Directory User object might include the user's first name, last name, and e-mail address.

For OLE and ActiveX, an object can also be any piece of information that can be linked to, or embedded into, another object.

A state that marks a component in a cluster as unavailable. A node in an offline state is either inactive or not running. Resources and groups also have an offline state.

operator

A state that marks a component in a cluster as available. When a node is online, it is an active member of the cluster and can own and run groups as well as honor cluster database updates, contribute votes to the quorum algorithm, and maintain heartbeats. Resources and groups also have an online state.

An icon that represents embedded or linked information. That information may consist of a complete file, such as a Paint bitmap, or part of a file, such as a spreadsheet cell. When you choose the package, the application used to create the object either plays the object (for example, a sound file) or opens and displays the object. If you change the original information, linked information is automatically updated. However, you must manually update embedded information.

An Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) network layer transmission unit that consists of binary information representing both data and a header containing an identification number, source and destination addresses, and error-control data.

The interrupt that occurs when software attempts to read from or write to a virtual memory location that is marked not present.

In Task Manager, page fault is the number of times data has to be retrieved from disk for a process because it was not found in memory. The page fault value accumulates from the time the process started.

The input/output connector for a parallel interface device. Printers are generally plugged into a parallel port.

A calculated value that is used to reconstruct data after a failure. RAID-5 volumes stripe data and parity intermittently across a set of disks. When a disk fails, some server operating systems use the parity information together with the data on good disks to recreate the data on the failed disk.

A portion of a physical disk that functions as though it were a physically separate disk. After you create a partition, you must format it and assign it a drive letter before you can store data on it.

On basic disks, partitions are known as basic volumes, which include primary partitions and logical drives. On dynamic disks, partitions are known as dynamic volumes, which include simple, striped, spanned, mirrored, and RAID-5 volumes.

A security measure used to restrict logon names to user accounts and access to computer systems and resources. A password is a string of characters that must be provided before a logon name or an access is authorized. A password can be made up of letters, numbers, and symbols, and it is case sensitive.

A device, such as a disk drive, printer, modem, or joystick, that is connected to a computer and is controlled by the computer's microprocessor.

A set of specifications developed by Intel that allows a computer to automatically detect and configure a device and install the appropriate device drivers.

An industry standard suite of protocols for the use of point-to-point links to transport multiprotocol datagrams. PPP is documented in RFC 1661.

A specification for connecting users on an Ethernet network to the Internet through a broadband connection, such as a single DSL line, wireless device, or cable modem. Using PPPoE and a broadband modem, LAN users can gain individual authenticated access to high-speed data networks. By combining Ethernet and Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), PPPoE provides an efficient way to create a separate connection for each user to a remote server.

Networking technology that supports multi-protocol virtual private networks (VPNs), enabling remote users to access corporate networks securely across the Internet or other networks by dialing into an Internet service provider (ISP) or by connecting directly to the Internet. The Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) tunnels, or encapsulates, IP, IPX, or NetBEUI traffic inside of IP packets. This means that users can remotely run applications that are dependent upon particular network protocols.

A connection point on your computer where you can connect devices that pass data into and out of a computer. For example, a printer is typically connected to a parallel port (also called an LPT port), and a modem is typically connected to a serial port (also called a COM port).

A group of preset power-management options. For example, you can set elapsed times for putting your computer on standby and for turning off your monitor and hard disk. You save these settings as a named power scheme.

The hard disk drive that contains the system and boot partitions used to start Windows.

The button you use most often for clicking and double-clicking. The primary mouse button is the left button on most mice and trackball devices, and the lower button on some trackball devices, but you can switch the function of the buttons by using the Mouse Properties dialog box in Control Panel.

A type of partition that you can create on basic disks. A primary partition is a portion of a physical disk that functions as though it were a physically separate disk. On basic master boot record (MBR) disks, you can create up to four primary partitions on a basic disk, or three primary partitions and an extended partition with multiple logical drives. On basic GPT disks, you can create up to 128 primary partitions. Primary partitions are also known as volumes.

A complete, self-contained set of computer instructions that you use to perform a specific task, such as word processing, accounting, or data management. Program is also called application.

A set of rules and conventions for sending information over a network. These rules govern the content, format, timing, sequencing, and error control of messages exchanged among network devices.

A list of programs or tasks waiting for execution. In Windows printing terminology, a queue refers to a group of documents waiting to be printed. In NetWare and OS/2 environments, queues are the primary software interface between the application and print device; users submit documents to a queue. With Windows, however, the printer is that interface; the document is sent to a printer, not a queue.

A customizable toolbar that lets you display the Windows desktop or start a program (for example, Internet Explorer) with a single click. You can add buttons to start your favorite programs from the Quick Launch location on the taskbar.

A fault-tolerant volume with data and parity striped intermittently across three or more physical disks. Parity is a calculated value that is used to reconstruct data after a failure. If a portion of a physical disk fails, Windows recreates the data that was on the failed portion from the remaining data and parity. You can create RAID-5 volumes only on dynamic disks, and you cannot mirror or extend RAID-5 volumes.

Memory that can be read from or written to by a computer or other devices. Information stored in RAM is lost when the computer is turned off.

To restart a computer by reloading the operating system. This can be done by performing either a cold boot, such as turning the computer off and then back on, or a warm boot, such as turning the computer off by typically pressing CTRL + ALT + DEL, clicking Shut Down, and then clicking Restart.

The place in which Windows stores deleted files. You can retrieve files you deleted in error, or you can empty the Recycle Bin to create more disk space.

File types that are tracked by the system registry and are recognized by the programs you have installed on your computer.

A service used for managing removable media (such as tapes and discs) and storage devices (libraries). Removable Storage allows applications to access and share the same media resources.

A specific IP address within a scope permanently reserved for leased use to a specific DHCP client. Client reservations are made in the DHCP database using DHCP Manager and based on a unique client device identifier for each reserved entry.

In Admission Control Service, an allocation of network resources, contained in a Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) reservation request administered by the Admission Control Service.

DNS client programs used to look up DNS name information. Resolvers can be either a small stub (a limited set of programming routines that provide basic query functionality) or larger programs that provide additional lookup DNS client functions, such as caching.

Generally, any part of a computer system or network, such as a disk drive, printer, or memory, that can be allotted to a running program or a process.

For Device Manager, any of four system components that control how the devices on a computer work. These four system resources are interrupt request (IRQ) lines, direct memory access (DMA) channels, input/output (I/O) ports, and memory addresses.

For server clusters, a physical or logical entity that is capable of being managed by a cluster, brought online and taken offline, and moved between nodes. A resource

A dynamic-link library (DLL) containing an implementation of the Resource application programming interface (API) for a specific type of resource. The Resource DLL is loaded into the address space of its Resource Monitor.

A representation of a stored state of your computer. Restore point is created by System Restore at specific intervals and when System Restore detects the beginning of a change to your computer. Also, restore point can be created by you manually at any time.

To position the mouse over an object, and then press and release the secondary (right) mouse button. Right-clicking opens a shortcut menu that contains useful commands, which change depending on where you click.

The highest or uppermost level in a hierarchically organized set of information. The root is the point from which further subsets are branched in a logical sequence that moves from a broad or general focus to narrower perspectives.

The certification authority (CA) at the top of a certification hierarchy. The root CA has a self-signed certificate. Also called the root certification authority.

A self-signed certification authority certificate. It is called a root certificate because it is the certificate for the root authority. The root authority must sign its own certificate because by definition there is no higher certifying authority in the certification hierarchy.

In a Windows environment, hardware that helps LANs and WANs achieve interoperability and connectivity, and can link LANs that have different network topologies (such as Ethernet and Token Ring). Routers match packet headers to a LAN segment and choose the best path for the packet, optimizing network performance.

In the Macintosh environment, routers are necessary for computers on different physical networks to communicate with each other. Routers maintain a map of the physical networks on a Macintosh internet (network) and forward data received from one physical network to other physical networks. Computers running the Server version of Windows with AppleTalk network integration can act as routers, and you can also use other routing hardware on a network with AppleTalk network integration.

The process of forwarding a packet through an internetwork from a source host to a destination host.

In color management, the purity of a color's hue, moving from gray to the pure color.

The setting that determines the amount of information that appears on your screen, measured in pixels. Low resolution, such as 640 x 480, makes items on the screen appear large, although the screen area is small. High resolution, such as 1024 x 768, makes the overall screen area large, although individual items appear small.

A proposed open standard for establishing a secure communications channel to prevent the interception of critical information, such as credit card numbers. Primarily, it enables secure electronic financial transactions on the World Wide Web, although it is designed to work on other Internet services as well.

An extension of MIME to support secure mail. It enables message originators to digitally sign e-mail messages to provide proof of message origin and data integrity. It also enables messages to be transmitted in encrypted format to provide confidential communications.

A data structure of variable length that identifies user, group, and computer accounts. Every account on a network is issued a unique SID when the account is first created. Internal processes in Windows refer to an account's SID rather than the account's user or group name.

To specify a block of data or text on screen by highlighting it or otherwise marking it, with the intent of performing some operation on it.

An interface on the computer that allows asynchronous transmission of data characters one bit at a time. Also called a communication or COM port.

In general, a computer that provides shared resources to network users.

A program, routine, or process that performs a specific system function to support other programs, particularly at a low (close to the hardware) level. When services are provided over a network, they can be published in Active Directory, facilitating service-centric administration and usage. Some examples of services are the Security Accounts Manager service, File Replication service, and Routing and Remote Access service.

To make resources, such as folders and printers, available to others.

A folder on another computer that has been made available for other people to use on the network.

Permissions that restrict a shared resource's availability over the network to only certain users.

A printer that receives input from more than one computer. For example, a printer attached to another computer on the network can be shared so that it is available for you to use. Shared printer is also called a network printer.

Any device, data, or program that is used by more than one other device or program. For Windows, shared resources refer to any resource that is made available to network users, such as folders, files, printers, and named pipes. A shared resource can also refer to a resource on a server that is available to network users.

A link to any item accessible on your computer or on a network, such as a program, file, folder, disk drive, Web page, printer, or another computer. You can put shortcuts in various areas, such as on the desktop, on the Start menu, or in specific folders.

Four TCP/IP services: Character Generator, Daytime Discard, Echo, and Quote of the Day.

A dynamic volume made up of disk space from a single dynamic disk. A simple volume can consist of a single region on a disk or multiple regions of the same disk that are linked together. You can extend a simple volume within the same disk or onto additional disks. If you extend a simple volume across multiple disks, it becomes a spanned volume. You can create simple volumes only on dynamic disks. Simple volumes are not fault tolerant, but you can mirror them to create mirrored volumes.

A standard high-speed parallel interface defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). A SCSI interface is used for connecting microcomputers to peripheral devices such as hard disks and printers, and to other computers and local area networks (LANs).

Accessory expansion board for personal computers that permits recording and playing back sound.

A dynamic volume consisting of disk space on more than one physical disk. You can increase the size of a spanned volume by extending it onto additional dynamic disks. You can create spanned volumes only on dynamic disks. Spanned volumes are not fault tolerant and cannot be mirrored.

On NTFS volumes, a custom set of permissions. You can customize permissions on files and directories by selecting the individual components of the standard sets of permissions.

A 32-bit value that enables the recipient of IP packets to distinguish the network ID and host ID portions of the IP address. Typically, subnet masks use the format 255.x.x.x.

A central network device (multiport hub) that forwards packets to specific ports rather than, as in conventional hubs, broadcasting every packet to every port. In this way, the connections between ports deliver the full bandwidth available.

An encryption algorithm that requires the same secret key to be used for both encryption and decryption. Because of its speed, symmetric encryption is typically used when a message sender needs to encrypt large amounts of data. Symmetric encryption is also called secret key encryption.

To reconcile the differences between files stored on one computer and versions of the same files on another computer. Once the differences are determined, both sets of files are updated.

A disk that contains the MS-DOS system files necessary to start MS-DOS.

The partition that contains the hardware-specific files needed to load Windows (for example, Ntldr, Osloader, Boot.ini, Ntdetect.com). The system partition can be, but does not have to be, the same as the boot partition.

For Message Queuing, a queue that stores various types of administrative messages. Message Queuing uses up to five system queues, all of which are private queues. System queues cannot be deleted.

A tool that tracks changes to your computer and creates a restore point when it detects the beginning of a change. You can use the System Restore Wizard to select a restore point to restore your computer to an earlier state when your computer was functioning the way you like.

The volume that contains the hardware-specific files that are needed to load Windows on x86-based computers with a BIOS. The system volume can be, but does not have to be, the same volume as the boot volume.

The path and folder name where the Windows system files are located. Typically, this is C:\Windows, although you can designate a different drive or folder when you install Windows. You can use the value %systemroot% to replace the actual location of the folder that contains the Window system files. To identify your systemroot folder, click Start, click Run, type %systemroot%, and then click OK.

Part of a dialog box that resembles a notebook or file divider and provides navigation between different sections of information in the dialog box.

A utility that provides information about programs and processes running on the computer. Using Task Manager, you can end or run programs and end processes, and display a dynamic overview of your computer's performance.

The bar that contains the Start button and appears by default at the bottom of the desktop. You can click the taskbar buttons to switch between programs. You can also hide the taskbar, move it to the sides or top of the desktop, and customize it in other ways.

A button that appears on the taskbar and corresponds to a running application.

An application programming interface (API) used by communications programs to work with telephony and network services. Communications programs like HyperTerminal and Phone Dialer use TAPI to dial, answer, and route telephone calls on conventional telephony devices, including PBXs, modems, and fax machines. TAPI 3.0 also provides Internet Protocol (IP) telephony support, which Phone Dialer and other programs use to transmit, route, and control real-time audio and video signals over IP-based networks such as the Internet.

A terminal-emulation protocol that is widely used on the Internet to log on to network computers. Telnet also refers to the application that uses the Telnet protocol for users who log on from remote locations.

A miniature version of an image that is often used for quick browsing through multiple images.

A computer that periodically synchronizes the time on all computers within a network. This ensures that the time used by network services and local functions remains accurate.

A certification by a trusted third party specifying that a particular message existed at a specific time and date. In a digital context, trusted third parties generate a trusted time stamp for a given message by having a time stamping service append a time value to a message and then digitally signing the result.

The horizontal bar at the top of a window that contains the name of the window. On many windows, the title bar also contains the program icon, the Maximize, Minimize, and Close buttons, and the optional ? button for context-sensitive Help. To display a menu with commands such as Restore and Move, right-click the title bar.

In a program in a graphical user interface, a row, column, or block of on-screen buttons or icons. When clicked, these buttons or icons activate certain functions, or tasks, of the program. For example, the toolbar in Microsoft Word contains buttons for, among other actions, changing text to italic or boldface, and for saving or opening a document. Users can often customize toolbars and move them around on the screen.

A set of networking protocols widely used on the Internet that provides communications across interconnected networks of computers with diverse hardware architectures and various operating systems. TCP/IP includes standards for how computers communicate and conventions for connecting networks and routing traffic.

In Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), a message sent by an agent to a management system indicating that an event has occurred on the host running the agent.

A logical connection over which data is encapsulated. Typically, both encapsulation and encryption are performed and the tunnel is a private, secure link between a remote user or host and a private network.

A server or router that terminates tunnels and forwards traffic to the hosts on the target network.

Available disk space that is not allocated to any volume. The type of volume that you can create on unallocated space depends on the disk type. On basic disks, you can use unallocated space to create primary or extended partitions. On dynamic disks, you can use unallocated space to create dynamic volumes.

In data communications networks, to transmit data from one terminal to another, such as from client to server, or from server to server.

A character encoding standard developed by the Unicode Consortium that represents almost all of the written languages of the world. The Unicode character repertoire has multiple representation forms, including UTF-8, UTF-16, and UTF-32. Most Windows interfaces use the UTF-16 form.

When referring to software, the act of removing program files and folders from your hard disk and removing related data from your registry so the software is no longer available.

When referring to a device, the act of removing the corresponding device drivers from your hard disk and physically removing the device from your computer.

A device connected between a computer and a power source to ensure that electrical flow is not interrupted. UPS devices use batteries to keep the computer running for a period of time after a power failure. UPS devices usually provide protection against power surges and brownouts as well.

An external bus that supports Plug and Play installation. Using USB, you can connect and disconnect devices without shutting down or restarting your computer. You can use a single USB port to connect up to 127 peripheral devices, including speakers, telephones, CD-ROM drives, joysticks, tape drives, keyboards, scanners, and cameras. A USB port is usually located on the back of your computer near the serial port or parallel port.

A service that manages an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to a computer.

An interface on the computer that enables you to connect a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device. USB is an external bus standard that enables data transfer rates of 12 Mbps (12 million bits per second). USB ports support a plug that is approximately 7 mm x 1 mm.

A person who uses a computer. If the computer is connected to a network, a user can access the programs and files on the computer, as well as programs and files located on the network (depending on account restrictions determined by the network administrator).

A record that consists of all the information that defines a user to Windows. This includes the user name and password required for the user to log on, the groups in which the user account has membership, and the rights and permissions the user has for using the computer and network, and accessing their resources. For Windows XP Professional and member servers, user accounts are managed with Local Users and Groups. For Windows Server domain controllers, user accounts are managed with Microsoft Active Directory Users and Computers.

A unique name identifying a user account to Windows. An account's user name must be unique among the other group names and user names within its own domain or workgroup.

The password stored in each user's account. Each user generally has a unique user password and must type that password when logging on or accessing a server.

A user account name (sometimes referred to as the user logon name) and a domain name identifying the domain in which the user account is located. This is the standard usage for logging on to a Windows domain. The format is: user@domain.com (as for an e-mail address).

The UPN suffix is the part of the user principal name to the right of the @ character. The default UPN suffix for a user account is the DNS domain name of the domain that contains the user account. Alternative UPN suffixes may be added to simplify administration and user logon processes by providing a single UPN suffix for all users. The UPN suffix is only used within the Active Directory forest and is not required to be a valid DNS domain name.

A file that contains configuration information for a specific user, such as desktop settings, persistent network connections, and application settings. Each user's preferences are saved to a user profile that Windows uses to configure the desktop each time a user logs on.

Tasks that a user is permitted to perform on a computer system or domain. There are two types of user rights: privileges and logon rights. An example of a privilege is the right to shut down the system. An example of a logon right is the right to log on to a computer locally. Both types are assigned by administrators to individual users or groups as part of the security settings for the computer.

A special group that contains all users who have user permissions on the server. When a Macintosh user assigns permissions to everyone, those permissions are given to the group's users and guests.

Data transmission standard that provides for up to 33,600 bits per second (bps) communications over telephone lines. It defines a full-duplex (two-way) modulation technique and includes error-correcting and negotiation.

Data transmission standard that provides for up to 56,000 bits per second (bps) communications over telephone lines. The transmission speed from the client-side modem is 33,600 bps, the same as V.34. The transmission speed from the host-side modem, such as an Internet service provider (ISP) or corporate network, is up to 56,000 bps, with an average speed of 40,000 to 50,000 bps. When the host-side modem does not support this standard, the alternative is V.34.

An expansion board that plugs into a personal computer to give it display capabilities. A computer's display capabilities depend on both the logical circuitry (provided in the video adapter) and the monitor. Each adapter offers several different video modes. The two basic categories of video modes are text and graphics. Within the text and graphics modes, some monitors also offer a choice of resolutions. At lower resolutions a monitor can display more colors.

Modern adapters contain memory, so that the computer's RAM is not used for storing displays. In addition, most adapters have their own graphics coprocessor for performing graphics calculations. These adapters are often called graphics accelerators.

An IP address that is shared among the hosts of a Network Load Balancing cluster. A Network Load Balancing cluster might also use multiple virtual IP addresses, for example, in a cluster of multihomed Web servers.

A logical grouping of hosts on one or more LANs that allows communication to occur between hosts as if they were on the same physical LAN.

Temporary storage used by a computer to run programs that need more memory than it has. For example, programs could have access to 4 gigabytes of virtual memory on a computer's hard drive, even if the computer has only 32 megabytes of RAM. The program data that does not currently fit in the computer's memory is saved into paging files.

The extension of a private network that encompasses encapsulated, encrypted, and authenticated links across shared or public networks. VPN connections can provide remote access and routed connections to private networks over the Internet.

A method for sending voice over a LAN, a WAN, or the Internet using TCP/IP packets.

An area of storage on a hard disk. A volume is formatted by using a file system, such as FAT or NTFS, and has a drive letter assigned to it. You can view the contents of a volume by clicking its icon in Windows Explorer or in My Computer. A single hard disk can have multiple volumes, and volumes can also span multiple disks.

A telephony signal that Network Connections has put the modem in Listen mode and is waiting for incoming calls.

A computer that is maintained by a system administrator or Internet service provider (ISP) and that responds to requests from a user's browser.

A communications network connecting geographically separated computers, printers, and other devices. A WAN allows any connected device to interact with any other on the network.

A portion of the screen where programs and processes can be run. You can open several windows at the same time. For example, you can open your e-mail in one window, work on a budget in a spreadsheet in another, download pictures from your digital camera in another window, and order your weekly groceries on the Web in another window. Windows can be closed, resized, moved, minimized to a button on the taskbar, or maximized to take up the whole screen.

A password you use to log on to Windows. You can also change your settings so that you can log on to Windows without a password.

Communication between a computer and another computer or device without wires. The form of wireless communication provided as part of the Windows operating system uses infrared light to transmit files. Radio frequencies, as used by cellular and cordless telephones, are another form of wireless communication.

A tool that guides a user through the steps of a process or task by asking a series of questions or presenting options. For example, wizards might help you to start up a word processing document, install software, or create a database file for the first time.

A simple grouping of computers, intended only to help users find such things as printers and shared folders within that group. Workgroups in Windows do not offer the centralized user accounts and authentication offered by domains.

A system for exploring the Internet by using hyperlinks. When you use a Web browser, the Web appears as a collection of text, pictures, sounds, and digital movies.

Recordable compact disc (CD-R) or Rewritable compact disc (CD-RW). Data can be copied to the CD on more than one occasion. Rewritable compact discs can also be erased.