BIG IT Terms
Very strong security algorithm used by the WPA2 security standard.
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)
Technology developed by Apple to allow iPhones and iPads to print wirelessly to printers without the need to install a printer driver.
AirPrint
A mode on a mobile device that disables all wireless connections.
Airplane Mode
Mobile operating system created by Google; the most popular smartphone OS in the world.
Android
The IEEE specification that defines the family of wireless network communications. (Wireless Router - BONe. Fork)
802.11
A wireless standard that operates at 5GHz and provides wireless speeds of up to 54Mbps. (Wireless Router - BONe. Fork - Apple - )
802.11a
A wireless standard that operates at 5GHz and claims to provide wireless speeds of 1Gbps or higher.
802.11ac
A wireless standard that operates at 2.4GHz, is compatible with 802.11g, and provides wireless speeds of up to 11Mbps.
802.11b
A wireless standard that operates at 2.4GHz, is backward compatible with 802.11b, and provides data transmission of up to 54Mbps.
802.11g
A wireless standard that can operate at 5GHz or 2.4GHz is backward compatible with earlier standards and provides data transmission of up to 600Mbps.
802.11n
BitLocker
A company would like to protect the data on both a fixed and removable data drives for their laptops. Which of the following would they use to complete the task?
A core protocol in the TCP/IP suite it establishes connections and guarantees packet delivery.
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
A set of computer to computer communications protocols that encompasses media access packet transport session communications file transfer email and terminal emulation. TCP/IP is supported by a very large number of hardware and software vendors and it is available on many different computers from PCs to mainframes.
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite
A process used by the GPS receiver to calculate its position based on the time it takes signals from the GPS satellites to reach it.
Triangulation
A memory subsystem that allows the insertion of up to three banks of memory to communicate in unison with the memory controller.
Triple‐Channel Memory
A dedicated security coprocessor or cryptoprocessor that enables the BIOS to boot the system only after authenticating the boot device after the drive and TPM have been sealed. The sealed drive operates only with the system containing that specific TPM.
Trusted Platform Module
Also known as a bare metal hypervisor it is a software program that acts as an operating system and also provides the ability to perform virtualization of other operating systems using the same computer.
Type 1 Hypervisor
A software program that sits on top of an existing operating system and provides the ability to host multiple virtual operating systems on the same computer at the same time.
Type 2 Hypervisor
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface. The extensible successor to the BIOS that features support for a vast array of systems and platforms by allowing access to system resources to access additional software modules.
UEFI
An adapter that changes the function of the connector on a USB cable from an A interface to a B interface or vice versa.
USB A to USB B Converter
A device that uses a USB port to power an Ethernet NIC often on a stick that inserts directly into the USB port. Alternatively a device that allows USB signals to be extended over great distances across an Ethernet network.
USB‐to‐Ethernet Converter
ECC-based memory without special registers that act as buffers.
Unbuffered Memory
In IPv6 an address that identifies a single node on the network or a message sent from one node to another node on the network.
Unicast
Typically implemented as a hardware device UTM combines firewall IPS and antimalware protection into one central management point.
Unified Threat Management (UTM)
A UPS is designed to protect everything thats plugged into it from power surges power sags and even power outages. The device contains one or more batteries and fuses. Energy is stored in the batteries and if the power fails the batteries can power the computer for a period of time so that the administrator can safely power it down.
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Technology designed to allow wirelessaware devices to connect to a wireless network automatically declare themselves to other devices and discover other devices.
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP)
A highspeed hotpluggable serial interface used for connecting external peripherals to a PC. USB is available in three major versions at speeds up to 5Gbps.
Universal Serial Bus (USB)
Networking cable that has four twisted pairs of copper wire and a flexible outer coating.
Unshielded Twisted‐Pair (UTP)
The ability to run multiple operating systems or multiple instances of one operating system on one physical computer simultaneously. Requires the use of a hypervisor.
Virtualization
A feature of modern CPUs to support virtualization more efficiently in hardware. AMD's AMD-V and Intel's Virtualization Technology (VT) are examples.
Virtualization Support
A computer system that hosts guest operating systems and that must have maximized RAM and CPU enhancements in the form of multiple CPUs with multiple cores.
Virtualization Workstation
A network that expands LANs to include networks outside of the local environment and also to distribute resources across distances.
Wide Area Networks (WAN)
Microsoft's mobile operating system.
Windows Phone
An old security protocol developed for Wi-Fi. It has security flaws and is easily compromised.
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
A central hub that looks nearly identical to wireless routers and provides central connectivity like wireless routers but it doesn't have nearly as many features. The main one with which most people are concerned is Internet connection sharing.
Wireless Access Point (WAP)
A hardware device or software application that is used to detect wireless network signals.
Wireless Locator
Another name for a Bluetooth network.
Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN)
A central wireless access point that provides connectivity as well as routing features.
Wireless Router
A hardware device or software application that is used to detect or analyze wireless network signals.
Wi‐Fi Analyzer
The ability for a mobile device to make telephone calls by using the Wi-Fi network as opposed to the cellular network.
Wi‐Fi Calling
An enhancement of 802.11 encryption that secures Wi-Fi communications using TKIP encryption. The current standard is WPA2.
Wi‐Fi Protected Access (WPA)
The strongest wireless encryption method currently available for 802.11 networks. It uses AES encryption.
Wi‐Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2)
Short for wireless fidelity it is a collection of IEEE 802.11 standards.
Wi‐Fi/WiFi
A collection of peer to peer computers with no dedicated server or centralized security.
Workgroups
(1) In networking any personal computer (other than the file server) attached to the network. (2) A high performance computer optimized for graphics applications such as computer-aided design computer-aided engineering and scientific applications.
Workstation
A digital video interface standard created in 2008 by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA); it was designed to be an industry standard and replace VGA and DVI. Its also backward compatible with VGA and DVI by using adapters.
DisplayPort
A tool that attaches the connector ends onto a network cable. Crimpers also typically act as cable cutters and cable strippers.
Crimper
A twisted pair network cable used for connecting computers directly to each other. One end has pins 1 and 3 and 2 and 6 reversed hence the term crossover.
Crossover cable
The signaling channel of an ISDN circuit; also referred to as the Delta channel.
D channel
In PCIe the single lane or combined collection of lanes that the PCIe switch interconnects between devices. Two PCIe devices can only request links as wide as the narrowest lane rating between the two such as four lanes between an x4 component and an x16 component.
Link
The most common computer input device for entering text with buttons labeled with the characters that they represent.
Keyboard
The smallest class of cache memory which is built into the processor die (the CPUs silicon wafer) and separated into two parts each dedicated either to instructions or data.
L1 cache
The second smallest class of cache memory (larger than L1) which can be collocated with the CPU in the same packaging or placed on the motherboard external to the CPU packaging. Traditionally L2 cache is not built into the processor die. It is common for each core in a multicore CPU to have its own L2 cache. Modern processors tend to have all cache on die.
L2 cache
The largest class of cache memory traditionally found on the motherboard which is named as such only when L2 cache is in the CPU packaging. L3 cache is the new name in such a situation for what used to be termed L2 cache. L3 cache is commonly shared among all cores in a multicore processor. Modern CPUs tend to have all levels of cache built in.
L3 cache
Switch for changing the display state on a laptop. Its accessed by pressing the function key and another key often F8 or F4.
LCD cutoff switch
A video display unit that uses a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel to form the pixels corresponding to the image to be displayed.
LCD monitor
Land Grid Array. A chip interface standard that places the pins on the circuit board instead of on the chip packaging. The pins do not insert into sockets. The chip has an array of lands or flat conductive pads that interface with the pins by surface contact only.
LGA
In PCIe a switched point to point signal path between any two PCIe components. The designation x16 for example in PCIe represents a components ability to communicate over 16 lanes simultaneously.
Lane
A generic name for a printer that uses the electrophotographic (EP) print process.
Laser printer
The amount of delay between sending a network data request and receiving a response.
Latency
A computer system that is outdated by todays standards and uses old hardware or software or an old network protocol.
Legacy system
A category of dot-matrix printer that can print characters that look very close to the quality a laser printer might produce.
Letter Quality (LQ)
Apples power connector introduced with the iPhone 5.
Lightning
A protocol designed to speed up an administrators organization of and access to critical network directories.
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
A special class of IPv6 address that is usable only on the local network; replaces APIPA used in IPv4.
Link local
A solidstate or flash memory card format related to SD cards. MicroSD cards are smaller than miniSD cards which are smaller than SD cards.
MicroSD
An audio input device that transfers through the air sounds to a recording or playback device.
Microphone
The HDMI Type C interface with the same 19 pins as the standard Type A interface. This compact HDMI interface allows smaller devices to output HDMI quality audio and video.
Mini HDMI
ExpressCard devices without the cover used as laptop expansion cards.
Mini PCIe
A solid state or flash memory card format related to SD cards. MiniSD cards are smaller than SD cards but larger than microSD cards.
MiniSD
The one optimal or fixed resolution supported by a monitor most often used in reference to LCD based monitors.
Native Resolution
A short range communication technology that uses radio frequency (RF) communication. It has a functional range of 10 centimeters. It lets users hold their phone next to someone elses phone and transfer data or bump their phone to a receiver at a store to pay for a purchase.
Near Field Communication (NFC)
A category of dot matrix printers that can come close to the quality of a laser printer but still lacking somewhat in print quality.
Near Letter Quality (NLQ)
File format developed by Microsoft to be a competitor to the PDF file format. Not very popular in use.
Open XML Paper Specification (XPS)
The set of conductive pathways that converts 110V or 220V house current into the voltages an inkjet printer uses (usually 12V and 5V) and distributes those voltages to the other printer circuits and devices that need it.
Power Circuits
Often an LED that indicates the system is on when lit and off when not. The power light can also blink when in a lowpower state.
Power Light
) Technology that allows for the transmission of electrical power over Ethernet (twisted pair) cabling.
Power over Ethernet (PoE
A hardware device that sits between a switch and an access point that requires power to be provided over the Ethernet connection. The injector supplies the power on the Ethernet connection if the switch is not equipped to do so.
Power over Ethernet (PoE) injector
In todays computers a physical switch that can be configured to perform multiple functions such as power the computer on/off and put it into sleep mode based on the length of time it is held.
Power Button
Part of the boot process controlled by the BIOS that verifies the working condition of the hardware about which the BIOS is aware.
Power‐on Self‐Test (POST)
A form of ISDN that contains 23 64Kbps B channels and 1 64Kbps D channel.
Primary Rate Interface (PRI)
A small amount of memory located on the printer and used to hold print jobs.
Print Buffer
The part of a printer that creates the printed image. In a dotmatrix printer the print head contains the small pins that strike the ribbon to create the image and in an inkjet printer the print head contains the jets used to create the ink droplets as well as the ink reservoirs. A laser printer creates images using an electrophotographic method similar to that found in photocopiers and it does not have a print head.
Print Head
The process by which the print head is calibrated for use. A special utility that comes with the printer software is used to do this.
Print Head Alignment
The component of an inkjet printer that moves back and forth during printing. It contains the physical as well as electronic connections for the print head and (in some cases) the ink reservoir.
Print Head Carriage
The line of all print jobs waiting to be printed.
Print Queue
A computer responsible for managing printers making them available on the network and receiving and processing print jobs from clients.
Print Server
A service that formats print jobs in the language that the printer needs.
Print Spooler
The circuits that run a printers stepper motors loads paper and so on. Monitors the health of the printer and reports that information back to the computer.
Printer Control Circuits
A large circuit board in a laser printer that converts signals from the computer into signals for the various parts in a printer.
Printer Controller Assembly
A fabric strip that is impregnated with ink and wrapped around two spools encased in a cartridge. This cartridge is used in dot-matrix printers to provide the ink for the print process.
Printer Ribbon
Electromechanical output devices that are used to put information from the computer onto paper.
Printers
Fonts that are installed into the onboard memory of the printer.
Printer‐Resident Fonts
A display cover that when placed over a monitors screen prevents bystanders from being able to see the screens image clearly.
Privacy Filter
An Internetbased service owned and operated by an individual company.
Private Cloud
Handheld tool used to secure cable coming out of the walls to a patch panel.
Punch‐down Tool
A protocol that is designed to send only such as SMTP.
Push Protocol
The only type of RAID that is not fault tolerant RAID 0 provides striped volume sets on two or more drives that allow for larger volumes than one drive alone can provide. When one or more drives are lost all data is compromised.
RAID 0
A fault tolerant type of RAID that provides mirroring and Duplexing. Two and only two drives exist in a mirrored set. The loss of either drive does not compromise data.
RAID 1
A button on a computer system that allows it to be rebooted without removing power.
Reset Button
The number of rows and columns that a display unit is capable of representing.
Resolution
On a network any device that clients can access such as printers or shared drives.
Resource
The ability of a cloud provider to combine resources from multiple physical computers to appear to be one combined resource that is available to clients.
Resource pooling
The container that holds the printer ribbon.
Ribbon cartridge
A physical network topology that has computers connected in a ring shape. Uncommonly used.
Ring topology
An adapter card with expansion slots that inserts into a motherboard; used in low profile cases.
Riser Card
A protocol that gathers and manages network performance information. The current version is SNMPv3 and it runs on ports 161 and 162.
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
A computer term used to define one device or connection that if it fails brings down the entire system.
Single Point of Failure
A RAM implementation scheme in which the memory controller expects or allows standard memory modules to be installed one per bank.
Single‐Channel Memory
Fiber-optic cable that can transmit only one signal at a time. Its the longestdistance cable available for networking use today.
Single‐Mode Fiber (SMF)
A memory module that has chips and pin functions that match the specification for a single module.
Single‐Sided Memory
Network located in a home or in a small business usually with fewer than 10 computers.
Small Office Home Office (SOHO) network
A camera with built-in networking capabilities such as Bluetooth and WiFi.
Smart Camera
A device that attaches to the system internally or externally by USB or through a dedicated adapter to provide power for the chip that is embedded in the smart card.
Smart Card Reader
A class of monitors and televisions that have a builtin system for accessing network services to gain access to streaming online services and to allow users to browse the Web using remote controls or wireless keyboards and mice.
Smart TV
A mobile device worn on the wrist. Some are capable of making cellular calls while others are extensions of smartphones.
Smart Watch
A mobile phone with its own operating system processor and touchscreen.
Smartphone
A type of cloud service that handles the task of managing software and its deployment and it includes the platform and infrastructure as well.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Manually configuring a host with an IP address and information as opposed to obtaining the address dynamically through a DHCP server.
Static IP Addressing
The device in EP process printers that drains the static charge from the paper after the toner has been transferred to the paper.
Static‐Charge Eliminator Strip
Connecting to a shared printer using the TCP protocol. By default it uses the RAW protocol format and port 9100.
TCP printing
Twisted Nematic. A method of constructing LCD panels in which two electrodes on opposite sides of a liquid-crystal layer twist the crystal matrix to polarize light that attempts to pass through permitting it or blocking it. TN is traditionally cheaper and faster than IPS and uses less power. See IPS.
TN
A class of internal and external devices that allows you to connect a broadcast signal such as home cable television to your computer and display it.
TV Tuner card
A mobile device with a touchscreen typically between 73 and 12.23 in size.
Tablet
An unsecure terminal emulation protocol that runs on port 23.
Telnet
Wireless security standard that generates a dynamic 128 bit per packet security key used by WPA security.
Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP)
Connecting a noncellular device to a cellularenabled device for the purposes of getting on the Internet through the cellular connection.
Tethering
The newest cellular and mobile technology which is designed to provide broadband mobile Internet access. Its used by many mobile service providers.
4G LTE (Long‐Term Evolution)
Defrag
A technician notices that the response time on the hard drive has slowed down significantly. After analyzing the disk it reports 15 percent is not contiguous. What should the technician run now?
A type of hub that uses electronics to amplify and clean up the signal before it is broadcast to the other ports.
Active Hub
Power adapter that plugs into a standard wall outlet and provides direct current.
AC adapter
A motherboard form factor that followed the AT motherboard and that has given rise to many modern motherboard form factors such as micro ATX. The ATX motherboard was the first to feature the 20pin power supply connector that todays 24pin connector is based on.
ATX
A component in a mobile device that detects movement in straight lines forward backward left and right. Contrast to the function of a gyroscope.
Accelerometer
The set of rules that determines which traffic gets through a firewall and which traffic is blocked.
Access Control List (ACL)
The device that allows wireless devices to talk to each other and the network. It provides the functions of network access as well as security monitoring.
Access Point
A cover for a monitor that polarizes light to reduce glare from the screen.
Antiglare Filter
An IPv6 address that has been assigned to multiple nodes or a message sent from one host to any node in a group of nodes.
Anycast
Apples online store for iOScompatible apps. Compare to Google Play store.
Apple App Store
Protocol developed by Apple to facilitate file transfers between computers. It is no longer the default protocol used by Mac OS X.
Apple Filing Protocol (AFP)
A computer system optimized for editing the audio and video tracks of video files. These workstations must have video enhancements specialized audio and specialized drives.
Audio/Video Editing workstation
Computer that analyzes user credentials and then grants or denies access to resources on the network.
Authentication Server
IP addressing system that automatically configures a host with a nonroutable private IP address in the event that the host is unable to reach the DHCP server.
Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA)
The ISDN channel that carries 64Kbps of data; also known as a Bearer channel.
B channel
The basic input/output system of a computer. It is the firmware that allows the computer to boot.
BIOS
A type of connector used to attach stations to a thinnet network.
BNC connector
A small fluorescent lamp or LED light placed behind or below an LCD display to provide light.
Backlight
The optional communications pathway between the Northbridge and the cache controller. When the backside bus is absent the cache controller communicates with the Northbridge over the frontside bus.
Backside Bus (BSB)
An often handheld unit that scans barcodes into a computer replacing the need for a user to type the data on the keyboard by hand.
Barcode Reader
An update to a mobile phones baseband OS which manages all wireless communication.
Baseband Update
An ISDN line with two B channels and one D channel. Each B channel can be used separately for voice and/or data transmissions.
Basic Rate Interface (BRI)
A measurement of the heaviness of paper. The number is the weight in pounds of 500 17" x 22" sheets of the type of paper being measured.
Basis Weight
A software process in which a lithium ion battery is completely drained so that it can be fully recharged.
Battery Calibration
A cylindrical locking connector used in RF transmissions over RG coaxial cable.
Bayonet Neill Concelman (BNC)
A series of beeps from the computers speaker that indicate a problem. The number duration and pattern of the beeps can sometimes tell you what component is causing the problem.
Beep code
The 600VDC charge that the developing roller acquires from the high voltage power supply in a laser/EP printer.
Bias voltage
Authentication tools that use physical characteristics to identify the user. Biometric systems include hand scanners and retinal scanners.
Biometric Devices
A mobile operating system created by RIM and used on BlackBerry devices.
BlackBerry OS
Another term for a complete loss of power.
Blackout
Pieces of metal or plastic that come with the case and cover the expansion slot openings to help keep dust and other matter from the inside of the computer.
Blanks
A popular standard for wireless communication.
Bluetooth
A newer optical disc format that holds more information than a standard DVD.
Blu‐ray disc (BD)
When communications channels are combined to increase throughput.
Bonding
To render a mobile phone (or other device) non-operational hence giving it the usefulness of a brick.
Brick
A type of connectivity device that operates in the Data Link layer of the OSI model. It is used to join similar topologies (Ethernet to Ethernet Token Ring to Token Ring) and to divide traffic on network segments. This device passes information destined for one particular workstation to the segment on which it resides but it does not pass broadcast traffic.
Bridge
An adjustment on display devices that sets the amount of white that is displayed.
Brightness
A drop in the power supply but not a total loss of power.
Brownout
Modules that include specialized chips that act as buffers for signals from the memory controller reducing the electrical load placed on the controller.
Buffered Memory
An optical drive so named because it employs a laser capable of intensities stronger than what is used to read discs. It uses the laser to write or burn content to the disc.
Burner
A set of signal pathways that allows information and signals to travel between components inside or outside of a computer. A computer contains three types of buses: the external bus the address bus and the data bus.
Bus
A network topology in which all computers are connected in a serial fashion. A bus typically uses coaxial cables.
Bus topology
The set of controller chips that monitors and directs the traffic on the motherboard between the buses and components. See Northbridge and Southbridge.
Chipset
Movement of components such as integrated circuits RAM chips and expansion cards out of their sockets.
Chip Creep
A computer system used to design engineering documents that are then used to drive manufacturing equipment in the fabrication of the design. These workstations must have CPU enhancements video enhancements and maximized RAM.
CAD/CAM workstation
A digital optical disc medium commonly capable of holding from 650MB to 700MB of data corresponding to 74 to 80 minutes of CDquality audio which is of higher quality than MP3 files.
CD Compact disc
A non-writeable and inerasable CD permanently pressed with digital data.
CD‐ROM
Also known as CDR a CD that can be written to one time.
CD‐recordable
Also known as CDRW a CD that can be written to erased and rewritten to multiple times.
CD‐rewritable
The extremely small storage space that holds user settings and dynamically discovered parameters for the BIOS.
CMOS
A battery that provides power to the CMOS (or BIOS) chip that stores CMOS settings. A PC must retain certain settings when its turned off and its power cord is unplugged.
CMOS battery
The four standard colors used in printers. Some printers will have all colors on the same cartridge. Others will have separate black and CMY cartridges while higherend (mostly laser) printers will have separate cartridges for each color.
CMYK (cyan magenta yellow and black)
Device that provides broadband Internet access using cable television lines.
Cable Modem
Device used to identify problems with cables or to confirm their functionality.
Cable Tester
An area of extremely fast memory used to store data that is waiting to enter or exit the CPU.
Cache
A storage area for frequently used data and instructions.
Cache Memory
The process by which a device such as a printer (or a scanner) is brought within functional specifications.
Calibration
The thickness measurement of a given sheet of paper which can affect a printers feed mechanism.
Caliper
A device used to record video content captured through its lens to one or more media types such as tape hard drive optical disc flash memory and SSD.
Camcorder
Primary memory that does not add or check the veracity of an extra bit per byte of data.
Non‐Parity Memory
The printer motor that makes the print head carriage move on an inkjet printer.
Carriage Stepper Motor
The printer belt placed around two small wheels or pulleys and attached to the print head carriage. The carriage belt is driven by the carriage motor and moves the print head back and forth across the page during printing on an inkjet printer.
Carriage belt
A stepper motor used to move the print head back and forth on a dot matrix printer.
Carriage motor
The media access method used by IEEE 802.11 wireless networking.
Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA)
The main integrated circuit of a computer system consisting of an array of millions of integrated circuits that interfaces with almost all other components and runs application and system processes. Its purpose is to accept perform calculations on and eject numeric data. Its considered the brain of the computer because its the part that performs the mathematical operations required for all other activity. Intel and AMD are the most common CPU manufacturers for personal computers.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
A network processing scheme in which all intelligence is found in one computer and all other computers send requests to the central computer to be processed. Mainframe networks use centralized processing.
Centralized processing
A rating of how fast dot matrix printers can produce output.
Characters per second (cps)
The wire or roller that is used to put a uniform charge on the EP drum inside a toner cartridge.
Charging Corona
The second step in EP printing. A special wire or roller in the toner cartridge gets a high voltage from the HVPS. It uses this high voltage to apply a strong uniform negative charge (around 600VDC) to the surface of the photosensitive drum.
Charging Step
IP address spaces that do not correspond directly to Class A B or C networks. CIDR can be described as a slash x network. The x represents the number of bits in the network address.
Classless Inter‐Domain Routing (CIDR)
A set of steps the inkjet printer goes through in order to purge the print heads of any dried ink.
Cleaning Cycle
The seventh and last step in the EP print process. At this step excess toner is scraped from the EP drum with a rubber blade.
Cleaning step
A computer that requests resources from a network oftentimes referred to as a workstation.
Client Computer
Software that allows a device to request resources from a network.
Client software
A configuration where multiple OSs are managed on the client machine and can be run simultaneously with the use of a hypervisor or virtual machine manager (VMM).
Client‐side Virtualization
Describes software with code that is proprietary. Contrast with open source.
Closed Source
Using the Internet to provide computing resources such as hardware and other infrastructural elements development platforms and software applications.
Cloud Computing
A medium for connecting computer components that contains a center conductor made of copper surrounded by a plastic jacket and then covered with a braided shield and jacket.
Coaxial cable
A common type of backlight used in laptop computers.
Cold Cathode Fluorescent lamp (CCFL)
When two or more stations transmit onto a shared medium simultaneously invalidating the data sent from each station.
Collision
A cloud that is shared by several clients with similar interests or objectives.
Community Cloud
A larger solidstate memorycard format introduced in 1994 which measures 36mm x 43mm.
CompactFlash
A highquality video interface that is capable of 1080p video and features three RCA or BNC connectorsred green and bluethat carry the combination of signals known as YPbPr for analog signals and YCbCr for digital signals.
Component video
A compressed lower quality video interface that carries all signals on one coaxial cable to an often yellow RCA plug.
Composite video
A small handheld device designed for sucking up dust and other little particles without causing ESD problems.
Computer Vacuum
Ensuring that data expected to remain private is seen only by those who should see it.
Confidentiality
A type of transfer corona assembly. Also the wire in that assembly that is charged by the high voltage supply. It is narrow in diameter and located in a special notch under the EP print cartridge.
Corona wire
Any device that facilitates connections between network devices. Some examples are hubs routers switches and bridges.
Connectivity Device
A type of connection in which there is competition between two or more network devices for the same bandwidth.
Contention‐Based
The ratio between the darkest and lightest pixels able to be produced by a video display.
Contrast Ratio
An embedded CPU die in a processor package. More than one core is often found in a single package today.
Core
A type of transfer corona assembly that uses a charged roller to apply charge to the paper in a laser/EP printer.
Corona Roller
A power adapter that plugs into a car cigarette lighter or airplane power source and provides direct current.
DC adapter
Double data rate. A type of SDRAM that doubles the data rate of single data rate SDRAM by transmitting 8 bytes on both the rising edge and the falling edge of each FSB clock cycle.
DDR
Double data rate version 2. A type of SDRAM that doubles the data rate of DDR SDRAM by transmitting 16 bytes on both the rising edge and the falling edge of each FSB clock cycle.
DDR2
Double data rate version 3. A type of SDRAM that doubles the data rate of DDR2 SDRAM by transmitting 32 bytes on both the rising edge and the falling edge of each FSB clock cycle.
DDR3
Server that automatically assigns TCP/IP configuration information to client computers.
DHCP server
A memory module packaging style that features a circuit board with independent pins on both sides of the modules card edge.
DIMM
Server that resolves hostnames to IP addresses typically associated with Internet Name Resolution.
DNS Server
Digital videodisc. A digital optical disc medium commonly capable of holding from 4.7GB to 8.5GB of data per side corresponding to 2 to 4 hours of uncompressed DVD quality video.
DVD
A non-writeable and inerasable DVD permanently pressed with digital data.
DVD‐ROM
Digital Visual Interface. A digital video interface standard that includes support for analog monitor interfaces in the DVI-A standard or one or two links of digital transmission in the DVI-D standard. There is also a DVI-I (the I stands for integrated) that has the ability to support both standards.
DVI
A passive adapter or cable that allows a DVI monitor to be attached to an HDMI output port on a graphics adapter. Adapters of the opposite orientation also exist.
DVI‐to‐HDMI Converter
A passive adapter or cable that interconnects a DVIA interface with a VGA interface in order to allow interconnection of disparate graphics adapters and monitors.
DVI‐to‐VGA Converter
An impact printer that uses a plastic or metal print mechanism with a different character on the end of each spoke of the wheel. As the print mechanism rotates to the correct letter a small hammer strikes the character against the ribbon transferring the image onto the paper.
Daisy‐Wheel printer
A thin circuit board attached to the motherboard used to attach expansion cards.
Daughterboard
The server that is assigned to perform a specific application or service.
Dedicated Server
In TCP/IP terms the address of the router that takes you outside of the
Default Gateway
Removing an unwanted magnetic field. Used in CRT monitors to improve image quality.
Degaussing
A semi-public network segment located between a perimeter router and an internal router on your network. Used for web servers FTP servers and email relay servers.
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)
Water that has had minerals and impurities removed; it does not leave residue and it is recommended for cleaning keyboards and other nonmetal computer parts.
Demineralized water
Also known as electronics cleaner it is found in electronics stores and used to clean contacts.
Denatured Isopropyl Alcohol
A fourlayer networking model loosely corresponding to the OSI model which formed the basis for the development of the TCP/IP protocol suite.
Department of Defense (DOD) model
The roller inside a toner cartridge that presents a uniform line of toner to help apply the toner to the image written on the EP drum.
Developing Roller
The fourth step in the EP print process its the step at which the image written on the EP drum by the laser is developedthat is it has toner stuck to it.
Developing Step
Protocols used to encrypt a stream of content during its transmission between a source and output device in an effort to reduce or illuminate piracy.
Digital Rights Management (DRM)
A broadband Internet access technology that uses the existing phone line from your home to the phone company to carry digital signals at higher speeds.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
A camera that records photographs to memory instead of to film.
Digital camera
A device that takes input from a stylus pen such as drawings or writing and turns it into digital form on a computer.
Digitizer
A setting used by the operating system to signal to the CPU that the code placed in an area of memory should not be executed resulting in the prevention of malicious buffer overrun attacks.
Disable Execute Bit
A capacitor is an electronic device used to store electricity. A distended capacitor is one that has failed and has bulged from its normal size. Some also leak brownish red electrolyte residue.
Distended Capacitor
A computer system in which processing is performed by several separate computers linked by a communications network. The term often refers to any computer system supported by a network but it more properly refers to a system in which each computer is chosen to handle a specific workload and the network supports the system as a whole.
Distributed Processing
Provides a full range of ports and often a full sized keyboard and monitor for laptop computers.
Docking Station
Also referred to as a clientserver networking model a domain is a network in which security is managed by a centralized server often known as a domain controller.
Domain
A centralized server responsible for the security administration of a domain.
Domain Controller
A TCP/IP name resolution system that resolves hostnames to IP addresses.
Domain Name System (DNS)
An impact printer that has a print head containing a row of pins (short sturdy stalks of hard wire) that are used to strike the ink ribbon to create an image.
Dot‐Matrix printer
A memory module that comprises two modules in one.
Double‐sided Memory
The poorest quality standard of output from a dotmatrix printer suitable only for early document review.
Draft Quality
A light usually an LED which indicates when a storage device is
Drive Activity light
A software file that allows an operating system to communicate with a hardware device. Also called a device driver.
Driver
A RAM implementation scheme in which the memory controller requires two paired standard memory modules to read from or write to simultaneously. RIMM offers a single module that alone satisfies both channels on compatible motherboards.
Dual‐Channel Memory
A feature of modern power supplies that provides multiple 12V rails in an effort to supply more power overall to components that require 12VDC but with the possibility of undersupplying each individual rail.
Dual‐Rail Power
The description used for DVDs and BDs that have two media layers on one or both sides of the disc.
Dual‐layer
A feature of power supplies that allows the selection of the lower AC input voltages common in North America or the higher ones common in Europe.
Dual‐voltage Options
A printer hardware component that is responsible for turning the paper over so that it can be printed on both sides.
Duplexing Assembly
A protocol (and service) in the TCP/IP protocol suite. It automatically configures network clients with IP configuration information when they join the network.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
Network address translation that allows for a resource on a private computer to be available for consumption on a public network.
Dynamic Network Address Translation (DNAT)
A computer system that other computer systems depend upon to complete processes.
Embedded system
Government alerts that are sent to a mobile device. Common types are AMBER alerts for missing children or other emergency alerts.
Emergency notification
The process by which an EP laser printer forms images on paper.
EP Print Process
Any electromagnetic radiation that is released by an electronic device and disrupts the operation or performance of any other device.
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
A special electric motor in a printer that can accurately move in very small increments. It powers all of the paper transport rollers as well as the fuser rollers.
Electronic Stepper motor
Occurs when two objects of dissimilar electrical charge come in contact with each other; the charge can damage electronic components.
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
A contract between a software company and an end user that specifies the legal use of the companys application.
End‐User license agreement (EULA)
A special device for feeding envelopes into a printer.
Envelope Feeder
An error checking scheme that is able to discover 1 or 2 bits in a byte that contain errors and corrects singlebit errors.
Error‐Correcting Code
Technology that allows for network signals to be sent via electrical power outlets. Devices must be on the same electrical circuit for Ethernet over Power to work.
Ethernet over Power
An adapter card that is inserted into a bus slot in the motherboard to expand the native capabilities of a computer system.
Expansion Card
One of the arbitrary insertion points in an expansion bus based on a specific technologyPCI or PCIe for example.
Expansion Slot
Also known as the writing step its the third step in the EP print process during which the items being printed are written to the EP drum. In this step the laser is flashed on and off as it scans across the surface of the drum. The area on which the laser shines is discharged to almost ground (-100V).
Exposing Step
A standard for laptop expansion cards.
ExpressCard
A mobile device designed for reading books newspapers magazines and other periodicals. Uses electrophoretic ink (E Ink).
E‐reader
A series of passive and active cooling methods that do not employ fans. Examples include heat pipes Peltier phase change undervolting and liquid nitrogen and helium.
Fanless CPU cooling
The rubber roller in a laser printer that feeds the paper into the printer.
Feed Roller
A device that feeds paper or other media into a printer.
Feeder
Fiberoptic broadband service delivered directly to a residence.
Fiber‐to‐the‐Home (FTTH)
Fiberoptic broadband service delivered to the telco box in front of the house and not directly to the home.
Fiber‐to‐the‐Node (FTTN)
Parts that are designed to be able to be replaced by a technician working in the field. Examples include memory motherboards mice and printers.
Field‐Replaceable Units (FRUs)
A feature of many network operating systems that locks a file to prevent more than one person from updating the file at the same time.
File Locking
A computer used primarily for the storage and management of files on a network.
File Server
A protocol in the TCP/IP protocol suite that is optimized for file transfers. It uses ports 20 and 21.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
A device on a printer that performs such final functions as folding stapling hole punching sorting or collating the documents being printed.
Finisher
Apples original implementation of IEEE 1394 a high-speed serial I/O interface ideal for video applications between a computer and an external video source or destination. FireWire and USB are competing standards.
FireWire
Software or hardware used to limit traffic based on a set of rules usually called
Firewall
A mobile device worn on the wrist that tracks user movements such as steps taken and stairs climbed and possibly tracks heart rate and sleep patterns.
Fitness Monitor
The act of changing the system firmware in a computer often for the purpose of upgrading to a higher version to support new hardware that the older version does not support.
Flashing the BIOS
The typestyle used for printing a document. The font can be loaded onto the hard drive of the computer or the onboard memory of the printer.
Font
The size and shape of a component. For example ATX and Mini ITX are two form factors for motherboards.
Form Factor
The Data Link layer product that includes a portion of the original user data upper layer headers and the Data Link header and trailer.
Frame
The measure of how many unique screens of content were recorded per second.
Frame Rate
The high-speed bus controlled by the Northbridge on which RAM cache (in the absence of the backside bus [BSB]) PCIe slots used for highspeed graphics AGP slots and other local bus components are interconnected with the CPU and in some cases each other.
Frontside Bus
Communications in which both entities can send and receive simultaneously.
Full‐Duplex Communication
Key marked with the letters F1 F2 etc. that produces particular functions when pressed and held in conjunction with pressing one of the Fn keys at the top of the keyboard.
Function (Fn) Key
A device on an EP printer that uses two rollers to heat the toner particles and melt them to the paper. The fuser is made up of a halogen heating lamp a Teflon-coated aluminum fusing roller and a rubberized pressure roller. The lamp heats the aluminum roller. As the paper passes between the two rollers the rubber roller presses the paper against the heated roller. This causes the toner to melt and become a permanent image on the paper.
Fuser
The sixth step in the EP printing process when the toner image on the paper is fused to the paper using heat and pressure. The heat melts the toner and the pressure helps fuse the image permanently to the paper.
Fusing Step
The type of network cable connector that is found on the end of cable television cables.
F‐Connector
A two handed game controller that acts as an input device specially designed for the types of controls required by common video games.
Gamepad
A multimedia computer system exhibiting higher performance and responsiveness than standard machines making them ideal for fastpaced games of skill. These computers must have CPU enhancements video enhancements specialized audio and enhanced cooling.
Gaming PC
The ability to track devices that contain GPS transceivers allowing their position to be recorded at routine intervals.
Geotracking
Using a mobile device through a series of finger gestures and phone movements.
Gesture‐Based Interaction
On a laptop computer when the cursor apparently jumps around the screen by itself. Its usually caused by the users hand inadvertently touching the trackpad or touch stick.
Ghost Cursor
The geographical monitoring system that allows a transceiver to ascertain its position in the service zone to within a small area.
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Googles online store for Android compatible apps. Compare to Apples App Store.
Google Play
A computer system used in desktop publishing to create specialized documentation with high quality graphics and text. These workstations must have CPU enhancements video enhancements and maximized RAM.
Graphic Design Workstation
A component in a mobile device that detects changes in pitch rotation and yaw. Contrast to the function of an accelerometer.
Gyroscope
An active adapter that is powered by the HDMI interface of the graphics adapter and that converts the digital HDMI signal to an analog VGA signal.
HDMI‐to‐VGA
Communications that occur when only one entity can transmit or receive at any one instant.
Half‐duplex communication
A disk drive that contains magnetically coated platters in a sealed case and is often used as the main secondary storage medium.
Hard Disk Drive
Information attached to the beginning of a network data frame.
Header
A tool with a very large needle a gauge that indicates volts and a wire with an alligator clip used to discharge electricity from electronic devices.
High‐voltage Probe
A computer system used in the home for housing or accessing video content. These workstations must have video enhancements specialized audio an HTPC chassis and a TV tuner card.
Home Theater PC
A computer system used in the home for sharing resources and streaming video. The ideal home server has media streaming capabilities file sharing services print sharing services one or more gigabit NICs and a RAID array.
Home server PC
Any computer or device on a TCP/IP network that has an IP address.
Host
A software based firewall located on a computer.
Host‐based Firewall
A device that can be inserted and removed without removing power from the host component.
Hot‐Swappable
A basic connectivity device used to link several computers together into a physical star topology. A hub repeats any signal that comes in on one port and copies it to the other ports.
Hub
A cloud that combines the features of a public cloud with those of a private cloud.
Hybrid Cloud
A hard drive that has both conventional spinning platters and a small amount of flash memory.
Hybrid Hard drive
A physical network topology that is a combination of bus star and mesh.
Hybrid Topology
A secondary storage solution comprising a traditional magnetic hard drive and modern solid-state drive whether as a single device or as two separate ones.
Hybrid drive
A protocol in the TCP/IP protocol suite that is the backbone for Internet (Web) traffic. It uses port 80.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
A secure version of the HTTP protocol that uses TCP port 443.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)
A CPU feature that allows a single CPU core to be treated by an operating system that supports simultaneous multithreading (SMT) as if it were two CPUs.
Hyperthreading
Software that allows the creation of virtual machines on a computer; that is it gives the computer the ability to run multiple operating systems or multiple instances of the same OS simultaneously.
Hypervisor
See FireWire.
IEEE 1394
In plane switching. A method of constructing LCD panels in which electrodes are positioned parallel to one another on the same side of the liquid crystal panel. IPS panels produce colors more accurately than TN panels and they are better suited for touchscreens because they react less visually to being touched. See TN.
IPS
Also known as an ISDN modem its the device that allows you to connect to an ISDN service.
ISDN terminal adapter
A family of motherboard form factors used in smaller systems such as a home
ITX
Paper that is used to produce multipart forms without the use of carbon paper. Used in impact printers (such as dot-matrix) and not in inkjet or laser printers.
Impact paper
Any printer that forms an image on paper by forcing a character image against an inked ribbon. Dot-matrix daisy wheel and line printers are all impact printers whereas laser printers are not.
Impact printer
The approach used by a company or organization to address and manage situations involving security breaches or attacks or other improper activity on computers or a network.
Incident Response
A type of wireless transmission between devices that use radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Infrared (IR)
A type of cloud service that provides the client with extra network capacity including processing power storage and networking services (such as firewalls).
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
A reservoir of ink and a print head in a removable package.
Ink Cartridge
A type of sprayed ink printer. It uses an electric signal that energizes a heating element causing ink to vaporize and to be pushed out of the pinhole and onto the paper.
Inkjet printer
A device such as a keyboard or mouse that allows information outside the computer system to be read into the system.
Input Device
A graphics processing unit that is integrated into the CPU die.
Integrated GPU
Software installed on a printer that allows the device to receive and manage print jobs without the need for a separate computer host.
Integrated Print server
A worldwide digital communications network emerging from existing telephone services used primarily in Europe.
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
The point of connectivity between a port in the system unit and a cable with an opposite gender compatible connector. The port or connection through which a device attaches to an external component such as a printers parallel or USB port for connection to a computer as well as the software that enables the port to communicate with the external component such as a Windows driver for an HP LaserJet.
Interface
The operating systemspecific driver that enables communication between the computer and a peripheral.
Interface software
A video technology characterized by the scanning of odd or even rows of a screen image over alternate passes.
Interlaced
On mobile phones a 15 digit serial number which is unique to each device.
International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)
On mobile phones a unique 15 digit identifier that describes a specific mobile user and their network. Its composed of three elements: the Mobile Country Code (MCC) the Mobile Network Code (MNC) and the Mobile Station Identifier Number (MSIN) a sequential serial number.
International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)
A network device specifically designed to ease Internet access.
Internet Appliance
An element of the TCP/IP protocol suite that transmits error messages and network statistics.
Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)
A protocol used for downloading email. The most current version is IMAPv4.
Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)
The underlying communications protocol on which the Internet is based. IP provides addressing on a TCP/IP network and it allows a data packet to travel across many networks before reaching its final destination.
Internet Protocol (IP)
Company that provides others with Internet access.
Internet service provider (ISP)
A network device that monitors network traffic and looks for suspicious activity that might be the sign of a network-based attack. Its a passive device that logs the activity and can send an alert to the administrator.
Intrusion detection system (IDS)
A small circuit board installed behind the LCD panel that takes low-voltage DC power and converts (inverts) it into high-voltage AC power for the backlight.
Inverter
A game controller consisting of a central component with anywhere from a four direction to a 360' movement capability and one or more buttons.
Joystick
A device that switches a single keyboard/video/mouse set among multiple computer systems.
KVM switch
A cooling method used to keep CPUs and other hotrunning components from overheating by pumping a liquid from outside the system through tubing that leads to blocks that mount to the components like heat sinks.
Liquid Cooling
A group of computers and associated peripherals connected by a communications channel and capable of sharing files and other resources among several users.
Local Area Network (LAN)
Fiberoptic cable connector that corresponds to the mini form factor standard. Colloquially known as the little connector.
Local Connector (LC)
Plug used to loop a signal back into a port to test the functionality of the port.
Loopback Plug
A unit of measure for the total amount of visible light given off by a source and based solely on what the human eye can perceive not on both visible and invisible wavelengths.
Lumen
The unique physical address for each NIC.
MAC address
Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A system of musical devices that produce descriptive output that is rendered by software to reproduce the corresponding musical output. Devices can be daisychained or connected to a hub using 5pin DIN connectors.
MIDI
The use of magnetic domains to store data on the surface of a medium such as the platters of a conventional hard disk drive.
Magnetic storage
A computer that receives sends and manages electronic mail.
Mail Server
Provides a zero position for the an inkjet print head and keeps the print nozzles clear between print jobs.
Maintenance station
A document that contains safety information about a given product. Information provided includes safe handling procedures what to do in case of an accident and disposal information.
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
A service in which cloud providers meter clients usage and then charge them for services used.
Measured Service
A type of logical topology in which each device on a network is connected to every other device on the network. This topology uses routers to search multiple paths and determine the best path.
Mesh Topology
Network that is defined by its geographical nature such as spanning a metropolitan area or a college campus.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
A small 802.11 based network provided by a wireless hotspot.
MiFi
A motherboard form factor smaller than but based on the ATX form factor.
Micro ATX
A motherboard form factor, the largest of the ITX family, characterized by a 170mm x 170mm square format with a full size expansion slot such as PCI and a standard memory slot and common integrated interfaces features lost with smaller ITX form factors. Mini ITX motherboards are commonly used in home theater PCs.
Mini‐ITX
The use of a cellular connection to allow other noncellular devices to get on the Internet or an expansion card with cellular capabilities that allows laptop computers and other mobile devices to access cellular networks.
Mobile Hotspot
The technology used to support financial transactions by using a mobile device.
Mobile Payment Service
A device used to provide Internet access through the analog phone line. At the source it takes a digital signal and converts it to analog and then converts it from analog back to digital at the destination device.
Modem
The original larger system power connector that most often provides power to non SATA hard disk drives and other devices that require more current to power their motors than offered by antiquated smaller connectors.
Molex Connector
A circuit board to which all computer components are directly or indirectly attached.
Motherboard
A message sent to multiple hosts. The term is used in IPv4 and IPv6 to refer to a controlled small scale broadcast.
Multicast
Requiring multiple forms of identification to allow users access to network resources such as something they know something they have and something they are.
Multifactor Authentication
A testing device used to perform multiple tests such as determining the voltage provide by a wire.
Multimeter
Fiberoptic cable that can transmit multiple signals at the same time.
Multimode Fiber
RAID
Multiple physical hard drives combined into one logical unit is known as?
A capacitive touchscreen that allows input from multiple fingers at the same time.
Multi‐touch
When two devices that are going to communicate both validate the others identity prior to sending information.
Mutual Authentication
A group of computers and associated peripherals connected by a communications channel capable of sharing files and other resources between several users. A network can range from a peer to peer network (which connects a small number of users in an office or department) to a local area network (which connects many users over permanently installed cables and dial-up lines) or to a wide area network (which connects users on several different networks spread over a wide geographic area).
Network
A service that translates private nonroutable IP addresses into public addresses that can be used on the Internet.
Network Address Translation (NAT)
In networking the PC expansion board that plugs into a personal computer or server and works with the network operating system to control the flow of information over the network. The network interface card is connected to the network cabling (twisted pair coaxial or fiber optic cable) which in turn connects all of the network interface cards in the network.
Network Interface Card (NIC)
Operating system that runs on a computer and allows it to connect and operate on a computer network.
Network operating system (NOS)
A firewall generally hardware based that protects a network of computers as opposed to one computer.
Network‐based Firewall
A computer that can be both a server and a workstation. In practice by performing the functions of both server and workstation this type of server does neither function very well. Nondedicated servers are typically used in peer to peer networks.
Non-Dedicated server
The functional part of the chipset that controls localbus communication among components connected to the frontside bus such as the CPU memory and cache AGP slots and PCIe slots used for high end graphics. See also Southbridge and chipset.
Northbridge
Organic light emitting diode. A display technology that uses electroluminescence to light red green and blue subpixels that not only light the display like their LED counterparts but also produce the image like the cells in a plasma display.
OLED
A United States federal agency in charge of administering the Occupational Safety and Health Act. OSHA is responsible for ensuring that employees have a safe work environment.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
A grouping of 8 bits.
Octet
A cloud term referring to the ability of clients to obtain additional resources immediately without the intervention of a cloud provider.
On‐Demand Self‐Service
A wireless access point that employs no encryption or authentication allowing any device that receives the signal potential access to the connected network.
Open Access Point
Describes software with code that is nonproprietary. Contrast with closed source.
Open Source
A seven layer theoretical networking model developed by the International Organization of Standardization (ISO).
Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model
Peripheral Component Interconnect. A popular expansion slot architecture invented by Intel that succeeded the ISA slot and that is succeeded by PCIe.
PCI
PCI Express. A high performance serial local bus slot architecture that obviates the need for AGP and PCI slots. PCIe supports combining the resources of multiple adapters for higher performance.
PCIe
PCI Extended. A PCIcompatible server expansion slot architecture that supports transfer rates of 4.3Gbps roughly twice that of AGP.
PCI‐X
A circuit board that fits into an expansion slot in the motherboard or a USB port. It reports numeric codes as the boot process progresses. By looking up the number where the card stops you can identify the source of problems.
POST Card
On a mobile phone its an update to the Product Release Instruction (PRI) system which contains settings for network specific configuration items.
PRI Updates
An update to a mobile phones primary roaming list which determines which cell towers the phone connects to while roaming outside of its home area.
PRL Updates
A 6 pin mini DIN connector named after the second generation of IBM personal computers and still a choice today trailing behind USB in popularity for mouse and keyboard attachment.
PS/2 port
An adapter that allows a PS/2 keyboard to attach to a computers USB port.
PS/2‐to‐USB Converter
A group of bits ready for transmission over a network. It includes a header data and a trailer.
Packet
A printer that gets its instructions one page at a time such as a laser printer.
Page Printer
Describes the whole page being printed. The controller in the printer interprets these commands and turns them into laser pulses or firing print wires.
Page‐Description Language
The process of logically connecting two Bluetooth devices together to enable Communication.
Pairing
The portion of the printer that picks up paper from the paper drawer and feeds it into the printer.
Paper Feed Mechanism
The sensors on the paper feed mechanism that detect when the printer has paper or is out of paper.
Paper Feed Sensors
A D-shaped roller that rotates against the paper and pushes one sheet into a printer.
Paper Pickup Roller
The tray that holds paper until it is fed into a printer.
Paper tray
Storing an extra bit with and based on each byte in memory or during serial transmission. When a byte is accessed the validity of the parity bit is checked. If the check shows an error the byte is rejected or the system halted because there is no way to determine the nature of the error.
Parity Checking
When the print head is in the locked resting position.
Parked
A fanless cooling method that requires no power to operate.
Passive CPU Cooling
A type of hub that electrically connects all network ports together. This type of hub is not powered.
Passive Hub
Twisted pair networking cable also known as a straight‐through cable. Both ends of the cable have the same pin order. Used to attach computers to hubs.
Patch Cable
A small scale network of Bluetoothenabled devices.
Personal Area Network (PAN)
Anything that can be used to identify an individual person on its own or in context with other information.
Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
A term used for mobile devices with touchscreens between 53 and 73 in size
Phablet
The motor that turns the pickup roller in a printer.
Pickup Stepper Motor
A Bluetooth network. A Bluetooth enabled device can communicate with up to seven other devices in one piconet.
Piconet
A display technology that employs red green and blue cells containing clouds of charged particles that emit light as they stabilize.
Plasma
A type of cloud service that provides infrastructure and it also includes software development tools such as runtime environments.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
When referring to coaxial covering a designation that means the coating does not produce toxic gas when burned (as PVC does) and it is rated for use in air plenums that carry breathable air.
Plenum‐Rated
A feature in the center of a laptop keyboard. Users can use it to control the mouse movement.
Point Stick
Communication mode in which two systems are directly connected to
Point‐to‐Point
The type of plastic coating found on most network cables. Emits poisonous gasses when burned.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
The logical channel that TCP/IP based protocols use to communicate.
Port Number
An automated form of port forwarding. It allows traffic to enter the network on a specific port after a computer makes an outbound request on that specific port.
Port Triggering
Allowing packets that meet the criteria in the ACL to pass through the firewall to their destination.
Port forwarding
A computer designed to be carried around.
Portable Computer
A TCP/IP protocol optimized for receiving email. The current standard is POP3 which uses port 110.
Post Office Protocol (POP)
The most current version of the Post Office Protocol. It uses port 110.
Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3)
Unique code that comes with software and is used to activate the application indicating the ability to use the software.
Product Key
Material that is not allowed on a companys computers.
Prohibited Content
An output device that uses a light source to display an image input to one of its interfaces onto a screen.
Projector
In satellite Internet the delay caused by the length of time required to transmit data and receive a response via satellite.
Propagation Delay
In networking and communications the specification that defines the procedures to follow when transmitting and receiving data. Protocols define the format timing sequence and error checking systems used.
Protocol
A computer that makes requests for resources on behalf of a client. Typically used in an Internet setting where it can filter content.
Proxy Server
An Internet-based service owned by one company that provides cloud services to client companies and individuals.
Public Cloud
A faulttolerant type of RAID that combines the mirroring of RAID 1 in two or more independent mirrored sets that are striped together with RAID 0 to produce larger volumes than any single mirrored set could provide.
RAID 10
A fault tolerant type of RAID that combines striped sets with distributed parity across all drives in the set. A minimum of three drives is required and the loss of any one drive does not compromise data.
RAID 5
A type of coaxial connector used in composite video (yellow) S/PDIF over copper (orange) component video (red green and blue) and analog audio (red and white) to name a few.
RCA
A connector type for twisted pair cabling. Telephone cabling uses an RJ-11 connector and network cabling uses an RJ-45 connector.
RJ (registered jack)
The firmware on a mobile phone that manages all wireless communications.
Radio Firmware
Another term for electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)
The ability to quickly increase or decrease the amount of resources required from a cloud provider.
Rapid Elasticity
The process of converting signals from the computer into signals for the various assemblies in a laser printer.
Rasterizing
Secondary operating systems on mobile phones designed to be lightweight and fast and real-time refers to their ability to minimize lag in data transfers.
Real‐time Operating System (RTOS)
The number of times per second measured in hertz (Hz) that a screenful of image information is read from an input source and displayed by a monitor.
Refresh Rate
In a laser printer rollers that synchronize the paper movement with the image formation process in the EP cartridge.
Registration Roller
Protocol developed by Microsoft for users to be able to log into a computer remotely.
Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
In networking an intelligent connecting device that can send packets to the correct local area network segment to take them to their destination. Routers link LAN segments at the Network layer of the OSI model for computer to computer Communications.
Router
Tables on a router that determine where the router will send packets on the
Routing tables
Serial ATA. The latest version of the standard that specifies IDE (PATA) but that uses only a single serial pathway for communication instead of multiple parallel pathways as PATA uses.
SATA
A form of DRAM that is synchronized to the system clock. Varieties include
SDRAM
Small outline DIMM. A small form factor memory module based on DIMM principles and designed for the mobile computing sector.
SODIMM
A type of Internet connection that uses a satellite dish to receive data from a satellite and a relay station and that is connected to the Internet.
Satellite Internet
An input device that uses optical receptors to convert an object to an image file.
Scanner
A network of two or more piconets.
Scatternet
A technology dependent on UEFI that checks digital signatures for each boot file it uses to confirm that it is the approved version and that it has not been tampered with.
Secure Boot
A solid state or flash memory card format.
Secure Digital (SD)
A protocol that runs on port 22 setting up a secure Telnet session and is used for remote logins and remotely executing programs and transferring files.
Secure Shell (SSH)
A TCP/IP protocol optimized for sending email. It uses port 25.
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
Commonly used email encryption /decryptionstandard for email.
Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME)
Troubleshooting technology built into hard drives to provide self-diagnosis of potential failures.
Self‐Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.)
Rubber patches that help keep the paper in place so that only one sheet goes into a printer.
Separator Pads
A Microsoft developed protocol used to provide shared access to files printers and other network resources. It runs on port 445.
Server Message Block (SMB)
The identifier (name) of a wireless router or wireless access point. The unique name of a wireless network that differentiates it from other wireless networks that are also in range of a wireless client.
Service‐Set identifier (SSID)
Any of a variety of thin rectangular chassis that can sit or stack on classic CRT televisions but that most often reside today on shelves or furniture an example of which is a common cable box or DVR.
Set‐Top Box (STB)
Copper network cable that has two or four pairs of twisted wires shielded by a braided mesh and covered with an outside coating.
Shielded Twisted‐Pair (STP)
In daisywheel printers the small electromechanical hammer that strikes the back of the petal containing the character.
Solenoid
A newer style drive that has no moving parts but uses flash memory to emulate a conventional hard disk drive.
Solid‐State Drive (SSD)
An adapter or component that provides audio output from a device.
Sound Card
The functional part of the chipset that controls nonlocal bus communication among components connected to the various I/O buses including, PCI, IDE, USB, RS232 and parallel. See also Northbridge and chipset.
Southbridge
A term used as a measure of performance often in conjunction to a data bus or related component such as the CPU and RAM.
Speed
A hardware device that takes one input signal and sends it to several output devices.
Splitter
A small metal bar on a printer that holds the printer carriage as it crosses the page.
Stabilizer Bar
A physical network topology in which all computers are attached to a central connectivity point.
Star Topology
A very precise motor that can move in very small increments. Often used in printers.
Stepper Motor
One of the most common fiber optic connectors similar in style to the BNC connector used in 10Base2 Ethernet.
Straight Tip (ST)
A required part of any TCP/IP configuration used to define which addresses are local and which are on remote networks.
Subnet mask
A fiber-optic cable connector that snaps and locks into place.
Subscriber Connector (SC)
Surge protectors attempt to keep power surges at bay. They often look like a power strip but they have a fuse inside them which is designed to blow if it receives too much current and not transfer the current to the devices plugged into it. Surge protectors may have plugins for RJ-11 (phone) RJ-45 (Ethernet) and BNC (coaxial cable) connectors.
Surge Protectors
A Layer 2 device similar to a hub in its port count but more advanced with the ability to filter traffic based on the destination MAC address of each frame.
Switch
The mirroring of contents between a computer and mobile device. Commonly synchronized data includes contacts apps email photos music and videos.
Synchronization
Demarcation Point
The location that the local network connection ends and the ISP responsibility begins is known as the?
Planning method to evaluate a company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
The primary purpose of SWOT?
TPM (Trusted Platform Module)
The security hardware device on the system board that will hold computer generated keys for encryption is called
Domain Name System (DNS)
The technician can ping the IP address of a client but is unable to ping the client name, what is the first setting you should check?
A printer that uses heat and special heatsensitive paper to produce images; common among point-of-sale receipt printers.
Thermal Printer
A compound used to bridge the thermal gap between the surface of a chips packaging and the mating surface of a heatsink.
Thermal paste
A standard computer system that does not exhibit any special traits when compared to custom configurations.
Thick Client
Any machine that divests itself of all or most local storage and varying levels of RAM and processing power without necessarily giving up all ability to run programs locally.
Thin Client
IPSec (Internet Protocol Security)
This protocol is used to secure IP communication by authenticating and encrypting IP packets?
ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol)
This protocol is used to send error messages indicating if a host or router can be reached on a network?
The fifth step in the EP print process when the developed toner image on the EP drum is transferred to the print medium using the transfer corona.
Transferring Step
A device that takes one type of electrical current and turns it into a different type of electrical current.
Transformer
A high-performance digital interface created by Intel and Apple and based on the DisplayPort connector that provides external connectivity to the system's x4 PCIe 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.x internal buses.
Thunderbolt
A passive adapter that connects a Thunderbolt port on a graphics adapter to a DVI monitor but not the other way around.
Thunderbolt‐to‐DVI Converter
A carbon substance mixed with polyester resins and iron oxide particles. During the EP printing process toner is first attracted to areas that have been exposed to the laser in laser printers and is later deposited and melted onto the print medium.
Toner
A pair of devices used to determine which port on the patch panel goes with each wall outlet.
Toner Probe
A way of laying out a network. It can describe either the logical or physical layout.
Topology
A technology invented by HTC for its mobile devices. Similar technologies have since been based on HTC's technology. TouchFLO features multiple screens that the user can flip between using a stylus or their finger.
TouchFLO
Flat rectangular device built into palm rest of laptop keyboards and used as a pointing device to control the mouse cursor on the screen.
Touchpad
A type of display unit that uses Capacitive or Resistive touch as an input mechanism without requiring separate input methods.
Touchscreen
An older device that replaced a mouse on laptops. It was an exposed ball that functioned much like an inverted mouse.
Trackball
A paper feed mechanism used in impact printers; it uses paper that has holes along the edge.
Tractor Feed
The part of an EP process printer that is responsible for transferring the developed image from the EP drum to the paper.
Transfer Corona Assembly
The act of plugging a PCIe adapter into a slot that supports more lanes than the adapter supports.
Up‐Plugging
Part of the TCP/IP suite that performs a similar function to TCP with less overhead and more speed but with lower reliability. It is a connectionless protocol meaning it does not guarantee packet delivery.
User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
Another term for closedsource software which is created and owned by one specific vendor.
Vendor‐Specific
A standalone device or component of a TV tuner card that is often used to save a video stream to the computer for later viewing manipulation or sharing.
Video Capture Card
An adapter or component that provides the GPU its memory and an interface to connect to an output device usually a video display unit which includes projectors.
Video Card
On a mobile device its the voiceassisted search feature. Examples include Siri Google Now and Cortana.
Virtual Assistant
Printing output to a file as opposed to paper.
Virtual Printing
A private secure network connection created over a public medium such as the Internet.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
A computer designed to host web pages and provide access to clients.
Web Server
A videoonly camera that connects to a computer so that the video it captures can be sent across the Internet in real time.
Webcam
Last Known Good Configuration
What advanced option allows you to start Microsoft Windows successfully with the last registry and driver configuration that worked?
File Transfer Protocol
What does FTP stand for?
Sync Offline Files
What is the Sync Centers primary function?
Tunneling
What is the best way to describe how a VPN connection works?
c:\users\profile
What is the path to the user profile directory path for Windows 7?
This is a standard that allows for power to be passed along with data on Ethernet cable
What is the purpose of Power over Ethernet (POE)?
Bitlocker ToGo
Which of the following should be used to encrypt the full hard drive?
Install Log File
Which of the following utility should be checked after an install has failed?
Host is not turned on
Which of the following would be the cause of a tunnel issues connecting to a host computer?
Network Access Points (NAPs)
Which platform supports health validation, network restriction, and remediation to help maintain the overall integrity of the network?
NEMO
Which protocol allows for transition of its one attachment point to the internet to another attachment point on the internet without losing functionality?
Also known as the exposing step it's the third step in the EP print process during which the items being printed are written to the EP drum. In this step the laser is flashed on and off as it scans across the surface of the drum. The area on which the laser shines is discharged to almost ground (-100V).
Writing step
A configuration file on a DNS server. The DNS server is responsible for resolving the names (to IP addresses) of the computers listed in the zone file
Zone File
Embedded MultiMediaCard. Flash memory that can be permanently mounted on the primary circuit board of a smaller mobile device.
eMMC
Apples mobile operating system.
iOS
A network device that monitors network traffic and looks for suspicious activity that might be the sign of a network-based attack. Its an active device that can take actions to fend off the network attack.
intrusion prevention system (IPS)
The area on a mobile phone from which applications are opened.
launcher
A now-obsolete solid-state memory card format introduced in 2002 and measuring 20mm x 25mm.
xD‐Picture Card