Glossary

10 BaseT - The most common network cabling method for Ethernet, which handles traffic at a speed of 10mbps. 10 BaseT uses a pair of unshielded twisted conductors to connected between a network interface card (NIC) and an Ethernet hub. 10Base2 (thin Ethernet, or thinnet) uses coaxial cable connections between computers and doesn’t require a hub. 100BaseT is a newer medium that supports up to 100mbps.

Access Control List (ACL) - Part of Windows NT’s security description that controls access to a Windows NT object, such as a file. The owner of an object can change access control entities in the list to grant or revoke permissions (access rights) for the object.

Access Token - A Windows NT object that identifies a logged-on (authenticated) user. The access token contains the user’s security ID (SID), the group to which the user belongs, and other security information.

Asynchronous - A process that can occur at any time, regardless of the status of the operating systems or applications that are running. An example if Windows NT’s asynchronous procedure call (APC).

Asynchronous I/O - Input/output operations in which an application issues an I/O request to a device, and then continues operation while the device transfers data. Asynchronous I/O greatly speeds fixed-disk file operations.

ASPI - An acronym for "Advanced SCSI Peripheral Interface" designed by Adaptec as a software driver for most SCSI peripherals. Provides direct support for most CD-ROM drives, changers and jukeboxes.

ATAPI - An acronym for "Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface." A high-speed interface protocol that is considered a subset of the SCSI standard. On CD-ROM servers, ATAPI is primarily used to connect disc drives contained within a single server.

Attach - A Novell command similar to the Login command. The Attach command differs from the Login command in that it allows you to remain connected to the file server you originally logged into.

Autoplay - A feature of Windows 95’s and Window NT 4.0’s CD-ROM file system (CDFS) that automatically executes a program on the CD-ROM when inserted into the CD-ROM drive.

Bindery - A file kept on a NetWare 2.x or 3.x file server. This file contains all the information related to connections and security.

Bindery Emulation Mode - A mode provided on a NetWare 4.x file server which allows interoperability with NetWare 2.x and 3.x servers.

Cache - A reserved area of memory used in high-performance systems. Information recently accessed is kept in this memory area for faster access.

CD-R - An acronym for "Compact Disk Recordable". This is a CD drive with write once capability.

Client Station - A workstation on a network which is capable of accessing and retrieving information from a file server. Sometimes called a node on the network or network workstation. See also workstation. See also workstation.

Daisy Chain - A method of connecting several devices to a single I/O channel (such as used with SCSI).

Dedicated Server - A computer which is dedicated to act as a slave to other computers on the network.

Disc Changer - A device that holds multiple discs. Usually contains a single reader and from 2 to 20 disc platters (a small version of a Jukebox).

DVD - An acronym for "Digital Versatile Disc." A double-layed single-sided CD with a capacity of 4.7GB. Capacity is sufficient for a full-length movie, compatible with MPEG-2, and backward compatible.

DVD-5, -9, -10, -18 - nomenclature to describe the different members of the DVD family structure that have been defined to date. The numbers are meant to be a rounded-off indication of storage capacity, not a definitive specification. (For example, DVD-5 is defined as having a 4.7GB capacity.) Note that regardless of stated capacity, all DVDs are created by bonding multiple pieces together.

DVD-5 - a disc with only one data side and one layer. The other side contains no data , and can be used for artwork.

DVD-9 - a dual-layer, read-from-one-side disc. The laser pickup of the drive can be commanded to focus through the partially reflective first layer to read data from the second layer.

DVD-18 - a double-sided version of DVD-9, with a total of four information layers (two each readable from a given side).

Ethernet - A networking medium that was developed at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) in the 1970s; was improved by Xerox, Intel, and Digital; and is now the most popular cabling method for LANs. the IEEE specification for Ethernet is the most common implementation.

HFS - An acronym for "Hierarchical File Structure." This is the CD-ROM recording format used by Macintosh computers.

Hub - A concentrator that joins multiple clients by means of a single link to the rest of the LAN. A hub has several ports to which clients are connected directly, and one or more ports that can be used to connect the hub to the backbone, or to other active network components. A hub functions as a multiport repeater; signals received on any port are immediately retransmitted to all other parts of the hub. Hubs function at the physical layer of the OSI Reference Model.

High Sierra - The predecessor to the ISO 9660 CD-ROM recording standard. It was the original specification agreed to by a group of companies.

IDE / Enhanced IDE - An acronym for "Integrated Drive Electronics" or "Intelligent Device Electronics." It is an interface used to control disk drives.

Interface - A connection between two dissimilar devices or COM objects, such as Automation clients and servers. A common phrase is user interface, meaning the “connection” between the display-keyboard combination and the user.

I/O - Acronym for "Input/Output." It is used to describe any interface which allows the transfer of data into and out of a device.

I/O Manager - A component of the Windows NT executive that handles all Input/Output (IO) requests.

IPX/SBX - Abbreviation for Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange, the transport protocol of Novell NetWare, supported by Windows NT’s NWLink Service.

ISO 9660 - The current standard format for CD-ROM recording for use on PC and compatible machines.

Jukebox - A device which contains multiple discs and one or more readers. It may also contain recording devices. This term is sometimes used to describe a disc changer.

LAN - Acronym for "Local Area Network." Commonly used to describe a number of interconnected workstations and servers in a local area, such as a building. The workstations are physically interconnected through network adapter cards and cabling.

Login - A NetWare command used to provide a connection to a file server.

Map - A NetWare command used on client stations to convert Network volumes into workstation drive letters.

Mounting - A process for creating an index for information. Users say that mounting can be so resource intensive that at times it looks like the file server is crashing. Mounting can take anywhere from 1 to 30 minutes per disc platter. CD-ROM solutions that use NLMs require this function.

MSCDEX - An acronym for "Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions." This is a DOS program used to control and access CD-ROM drives and Disc Changers.

NDIS - An acronym for Microsoft’s Network Driver Interface Specification for writing device drivers for network interface cards (NICs) that work with Windows 3.x, Windows 95, and Windows NT.

NetBEUI - An acronym for NetBIOS Extended User Interface, the transport protocol of Microsoft Networking. NetBEUI isn’t a routable network, so its popularity is declining in comparison with TCP/IP.

NetBIOS - An acronym for Network Basic Input/Output System, the original network API for MS-DOS and the foundation for NetBEUI.

NDS - A NetWare acronym for "Network Directory Services". This is a structure used by NetWare 4.x servers to group information about servers and users. It replaces the Bindery used in earlier versions of NetWare.

NIC - An acronym for network interface card, a plug-in adapter card that provides the physical connection for the network. The most common NICs support 10BaseT network media; 100BaseT NICs, which are 10 times faster, are gaining acceptance in Windows NT networks.

NLM - An acronym for "NetWare Loadable Module". This is a software program which is written to operate on a NetWare file server.

Non-Dedicated Server - A type of server which can be used as both a client and a server at the same time. This outdated technique was replaced by "Dedicated Servers" because of contention problems between network requests and the client requirements.

OSI - Abbreviation for Open System Interconnection, the model for standard levels of networking functions and the services performed at each level. The seven-level OSI standard is defined by the International Standards Organization (ISO).

Packet Burst Protocol - a standard for transmission over a network that sends data in high-speed batches, rather than sending each unit of data individually. When used on a CD-Server, this protocol improves network performance.

Read-Ahead Blocks - A software feature which allows a server to read more information than was actually requested and to hold this information in a special memory area for faster access.

Record - In database applications, a single element of a relational database table that contains each field defined for the table. A record is the logical equivalent of the row of a spreadsheet.

Router - An active network component that connects one network to another network. Routers operate at the network layer of the OSI and work with packets that include logical address information.

Scalable - The property of multiprocessing computers that defines the extent to which addition of more processors increases aggregate computing capability. Windows NT Server 4.0 is generally considered to be scalable to eight Intel processors.

SCSI - An acronym for "Small Computer System Interface." It allows up to 7 devices to be connected per channel.

Server - A component on a LAN that provides services or resources to client computers by sharing its resources. Servers can also be used to run applications for users, in which case the server is called an application server. Peer-to-peer or workgroup servers, such as servers created by PCs running Windows NT Workstation to share disk folders, are another class of server.

Token Ring - A network medium developed by IBM in which each computer in the ring passes a token, carrying network messages, to an adjacent computer. Token Ring provides each computer on the ring with guaranteed capability to transmit at regular intervals; Ethernet doesn’t provide such a guarantee. Token Ring is specified by the IEEE-802.5 standard. See Ethernet.

TSR - An acronym for "Terminate and Stay Resident." This is a program which is loaded into workstation memory but doesn’t execute until certain conditions are present. The best known "TSR" is probably your screen saver, which activates after a certain amount of time.

UPS - An abbreviation for Uninterruptible Power Supply, a device used to power a computer in the event of a primary power outage.

UTP - An abbreviation for Unshielded Twisted Pair, the type of cabling used to implement 10BaseT and 100BaseT network media.

VAP - A NetWare acronym for "Value Added Processor." This was the predecessor to the "NLM." VAPs operate on NetWare 2.x servers only.

Volume - A term used to defined a unit of data storage. When used on a network, this unit can be as small as a single file or as large as several drives.

WAN - An acronym for Wide Area Network. A WAN is a system for connecting multiple computers in different geographical locations by switched telephone network or leased data lines, or by optical or other long distance-cabling, or by infrared, radio or satellite links.

Workstation - A client computer on a LAN or WAN that is used to run applications and is connected to a server from which it obtains data shared with other computers. Workstation is also used to describe a high-priced PC that uses a high-performance microprocessor and proprietary architecture to create what some call an "open" system.