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Accelerated
Graphics Port (AGP)
A high-performance, component-level interconnect for 3D-graphics applications.
Accessibility
The extent to which computers are easy to use and available to a wide range of
users, including people with one or more physical disabilities.
Active
Channel
A Web site that automatically delivers content to a user’s computer on a
regular schedule.
Active
Desktop
An interface that integrates the Windows desktop with the Internet Explorer
browsing software to provide a single metaphor for accessing content or
applications.
Active
Setup
An application that collects information about the user’s computer before
download of Internet Explorer begins, and then uses this information to manage
the download intelligently.
ActiveX
An umbrella term for Microsoft technologies that enable developers to create
interactive content for the World Wide Web. A set of language-independent
interoperability technologies that enable software components written in
different languages to work together in networked environments. The core
technology elements of ActiveX are COM and DCOM.
Address
class
A basis for differentiating networks of various sizes. The network class can be
determined from the first octet of its IP address.
Address
Resolution Protocol (ARP)
A protocol for determining a host's Ethernet address from its Internet address.
Advanced
Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)
A system interface that provides a standard way to control power management and
Plug and Play functions of the computer hardware. ACPI allows the computer
motherboard to describe its device configuration and power control hardware
interface to Windows 98. This allows the operating system to automatically turn
on and off standard devices, such as CD-ROMs, network cards, hard disk drives,
and printers, as well as consumer devices connected to the computer, such as
VCRs, TVs, phones, and stereos.
Advanced
Power Management (APM)
A software interface (defined by Microsoft and Intel) between hardware-specific
power management software (such as that located in a system BIOS) and an
operating system power management driver.
ANSI
American National Standards Institute.
API
See application programming interface.
Applet
An HTML-based program built with Java that a browser temporarily downloads to a
user's hard disk, from which location it runs when the Web page is open.
Application
programming interface (API)
A set of routines that an application program uses to request and carry out
lower-level services performed by the operating system.
Architecture
The structure of all or part of a computer system. Also refers to the design of
system software.
ASPI
Advanced SCSI Programming Interface.
Asynchronous
Transfer Mode (ATM)
A communications protocol defined for high-speed data communications.
Authenticode
A technology that makes it possible to identify who published a piece of
software and verify that it has not been tampered with.
BIOS
Basic I/O system. A set of routines that works closely with the hardware to
support the transfer of information between elements of the system, such as
memory, disks, and the monitor.
BIOS
Parameter Block (BPB)
Information located inside the boot sector specific to the logical drive
information.
Block
device
A device such as a disk drive that moves information in groups of bytes (blocks)
rather than one byte at a time.
Boot
sector
First sector on a logical drive that includes code to boot that drive, specific
logical drive information, and error messages.
Broadcast
In general terms, a transmission sent simultaneously to more than one recipient.
In Internet terminology, a transmission sent to a single address to be forwarded
to many recipients. In practice, Internet broadcasts function only on local
networks, because routers do not forward them.
Broadcast
client
A versatile personal computer that can receive and display broadband digital and
analog broadcasts, blending television with new forms of information and
entertainment. Broadcast client programming can include television, audio, World
Wide Web pages, and computer data content.
Broadcast
server
A computer that sends broadcast programming across a broadcast channel to
broadcast clients. The programming sent can include television, audio, World
Wide Web pages, and digital data such as stock prices, multimedia magazines, and
computer software.
Browser
A client tool for navigating and accessing information on the Internet or an
intranet. A browser interprets hypertext markup language (HTML) and displays
information on a computer screen. A popular example is Microsoft Internet
Explorer.
Bus
A set of hardwire lines used for data transfer among the components of a
computer system.
Bus
class driver
In Windows 98, a driver that provides an interface between the hardware layer
and bus minidrivers.
Cabinet
A file that contains one or more files, usually compressed.
Call
manager
The component that implements the media-specific signaling protocol for virtual
circuit (connection) management on connection-oriented networks.
CardBus
A 32-bit PC Card.
CD-ROM
Compact disc read-only memory. A laser-encoded optical memory storage medium.
CDFS
CD-ROM file system, which controls access to the contents of CD-ROM drives.
Channel
A push technology that allows users to subscribe to a Web site to browse
offline, automatically display updated pages on their screen savers, and
download or receive notifications when pages in the Web site are modified.
Channel
bar
An area on the user’s Active Desktop that displays all the subscribed
channels.
Channel
Definition Format (CDF) file
A file that specifies the content of an Active Channel and when and how that
content should be delivered to the user.
CHAP
Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol.
Checksum
A calculated value used to test data for the presence of errors that can occur
when data is transmitted or when it is written to disk.
Chip
set
A collection of integrated circuits designed to be used together for a specific
purpose.
Clean
boot
Booting or starting a computer using the minimum system files in the operating
system.
Clean
installation
Installation of an operating system on a new computer or a computer with a
reformatted hard disk.
Client
A process that requests a service provided by another program (called a server).
See server.
Client
for Microsoft Networks
A 32-bit, protected-mode file system driver to support all Microsoft networking
products that use the SMB file-sharing protocol.
Cluster
A specified number of sectors grouped together by the FORMAT command. The number
is determined by the size of the logical drive. A cluster is the smallest
storage unit for storing files.
Code
page
An internal table that the operating system uses to relate the keys on the
keyboard to the characters displayed on the screen.
Codec
Compression/decompression technology for digital video and stereo audio.
Cold
docking
Insertion or removal of a device in the system before which the device must be
powered off or restarted.
Compatibility
mode
A mode protocol defined in IEEE P1284 that provides a byte-wide channel from a
computer to a peripheral.
Component
Object Model (COM)
The object-oriented programming model that defines how objects interact within a
single application or between applications. In COM, client software accesses an
object through a pointer to an interface—a related set of functions called
methods—on the object.
Compressed
volume file (CVF)
A file with read-only, hidden, and system attributes, and that contains a
compressed drive.
Container
applications
Applications that maintain compound documents.
Cookies
A means by which, under the HTTP protocol, a server or a script can maintain
state or status information on the client workstation. In other words, a cookie
is bits of information about a person's visit to a Web page. A cookie can
include such information as the way a Web page was customized or how a visitor
shopped on a Web site, or it can be used to track repeat visits.
Data
Link Control (DLC)
An error-correction protocol in the Systems Network Architecture (SNA)
responsible for transmission of data between two nodes over a physical link.
Datagram
A packet of data and other delivery information that is routed through a
packet-switched network or transmitted on a local area network.
DDE
Dynamic Data Exchange. An interprocess communication method that allows two or
more programs running simultaneously to exchange data and commands.
DDI
Device driver interface.
DDK
Driver development kit.
Default
emulated LAN
A virtual network that acts like a traditional LAN.
Default
gateway
The gateway used to connect to the rest of the network.
Demand
paging
A method by which code and data are moved in pages from physical memory to a
temporary paging file on disk.
Device
class driver
In Windows 98, a driver that provides an interface between different layers of
the WDM architecture.
Device
node
The basic data structure for a given device, built by Configuration Manager;
sometimes called devnode. Device nodes are built into memory at system startup
for each device and enumerator with information about the device, such as
currently assigned resources. The complete representation of all device nodes is
referred to as the hardware tree.
Dial-Up
Networking
A component of Windows NT and Windows 98 that makes it possible for users to
connect to remote networks such as the Internet or a private network.
Digital
ID
An electronic key, obtained from a certificate authority, that provides a means
for proving your identity on the Internet. Also called digital certificate or
authentication certificate.
DirectShow
A multimedia technology designed to play video, audio, and other multimedia
streams in a variety of formats that are stored locally or acquired from
Internet servers. DirectShow relies on a modular system of pluggable components
called filters arranged in a configuration called a filter graph.
DirectX
A low-level API that provides user- mode media interfaces for games and other
high-performance multimedia applications. DirectX is a thin layer, providing
direct access to hardware services, and takes advantage of available hardware
accelerators and emulates accelerator services when accelerators are not
present.
Distributed
Component Object Model (Distributed COM) Additions to the Component Object Model
(COM) that facilitate the transparent distribution of objects over networks and
over the Internet.
Distributed
computing
Information processing in which computing tasks are divided into two parts, one
running on the client computer, the other on the server.
Distribution
media format (DMF)
A special read-only format for 3.5-inch floppy disks that permits storage of 1.7
MB of data.
DIX
Digital/Intel/Xerox.
DLL
See dynamic-link library.
DNS
See Domain Name System.
Dock
To insert or remove a device in a computer system.
Docking station
A base
unit into which you can insert portable hardware and that includes drive bays,
expansion slots, and additional ports.
Domain
Name System (DNS)
The naming service used on the Internet to provide standard naming conventions
for IP computers.
Dotted
decimal notation
A method of signifying IP addresses in which each set of eight bits is separated
from the next eight bits by a period.
Drive
Parameter Block (DPB)
Identical to the BIOS Parameter Block, except that it is in memory. Applications
should access the DPB instead of the boot sector for logical drive information.
Proper programming guidelines have always stated that applications should go
through the operating system for information instead of going to the hardware
itself.
DVD
Digital Versatile Disk. Optical disk storage that encompasses audio, video, and computer data.
Dynamic
Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
An industry-standard (TCP/IP) protocol that assigns Internet Protocol (IP)
configurations to computers. The DHCP-server computer makes the assignments, and
the client computer calls the server computer to obtain the address.
Dynamic
HTML
A collection of features that extends the capabilities of traditional HTML,
giving Web authors more flexibility, design options, and creative control over
the appearance and behaviour of Web pages.
Dynamic-link
library (DLL)
An API routine that user-mode applications access through ordinary procedure
calls. The code for the API routine is not included in the user’s executable
image. Instead, the operating system automatically modifies the executable image
to point to DLL procedures at run time.
Emulated
LAN
A virtual network that acts like a traditional LAN.
Encapsulated
PostScript (EPS) file
A file that prints at the highest possible resolution for your printer. An EPS
file may print faster than other graphical representations.
Encryption
A way of making data indecipherable to protect it from unauthorized viewing or
use.
Enhanced
metafile (EMF)
A device-independent rendering of a print job that is much faster to produce
than a device-specific rendering.
Enumeration
The process by which, during startup, the operating system identifies Plug and
Play devices by creating unique device IDs and reporting those IDs to Device
Manager.
Exception
handling
An event that occurs as a program runs and that requires software outside the
normal flow of control to be run.
Explorer
(Explorer) bar
In Internet Explorer, a way to browse through a list of links while displaying
the pages those links open in the right side of the window.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions. A document containing basic questions and answers.
FAT
file system
A file system based on a file allocation table, maintained by the operating
system, to keep track of the status of various segments of disk space used for
file storage.
FAT32
An enhancement of the File Allocation Table file system that supports large
drives with improved disk space efficiency.
Fiber
distributed data interface (FDDI)
A standard for high-speed fiber-optic LANs.
File
Allocation Table (FAT)
An area on the disk (floppy or logical drive) set aside to reference file
locations on that disk. The table is a chain identifying where each part of a
file is located. It acts similarly to a table of contents for a book.
File
Control Block (FCB)
A small block of memory temporarily assigned by a computer’s operating system
to hold information about an opened file.
Firewall
A system or combination of systems that enforces a boundary between two or more
networks and keeps hackers out of private networks. Firewalls serve as virtual
barriers to passing packets from one network to another.
Font
mapping
Matching screen fonts to printer fonts.
Frame
In broadcast television, a single screen-sized image that can be displayed in
sequence with other slightly different images to animate drawings. For NTSC
video, a video frame consists of two interlaced fields of 525 lines; NTSC video
runs at 30 frames per second. For PAL or SECAM video, a video frame consists of
two interlaced fields of 625 lines; PAL and SECAM video runs at 25 frames per
second.
FTP
File Transfer Protocol. The Internet standard high-speed
protocol for downloading, or transferring, files from one computer
to another.
Gateway
A computer connected to multiple physical networks, capable of routing or
delivering packets between them.
GIF
See Graphics Interchange Format.
Gopher
An early Internet protocol and software program designed to search for,
retrieve, and display documents from remote computers or sites. Gopher clients
are used to connect to remote Gopher servers Interaction is typically carried
out through a menu hierarchy.
Graphics
Device Interface (GDI)
The graphical system that manages what appears on the screen and provides
graphics support for printers and other output devices. One of three core
components in Windows 98.
Graphics
Interchange Format (GIF)
A computer graphics file format developed in the mid-1980s by CompuServe for use
in photo-quality graphic image display on computer screens. Now commonly used on
the Internet.
GUI
Graphical User Interface
Hardware
tree
The hierarchical representation of all the buses and devices on a computer.
HDLC
High-level Data Link Control. A protocol for information transfer in which
messages are transmitted in frames.
High
Performance File System (HPFS)
An OS/2 file system that allows long file names.
HiPack
A file and folder compression format.
Home
page
The central document of a Web site, usually designated as the default document.
The starting point for a Web site or section of a Web site is often referred to
as the home page.
Host
ID
The portion of the IP address that identifies a particular computer within a
particular network ID.
Host
table
The HOSTS or LMHOST file that contains lists of known IP addresses mapped to
host names or NetBIOS computer names. Windows 98 uses this for local name
resolution if other methods are not available.
Hot
docking
Insertion of a device in the system while the device is running at full power
HTML
See Hypertext Markup Language.
HTTP
See Hypertext Transfer Protocol.
Human
Interface Device (HID) specification
The device class definition developed by the USB standards group for HIDs.
Serves as the basis for the WDM input device support, and unifies input devices
by providing flexible data reporting, typeless data, and arrayed and variable
input and output.
Hyperlink
Also called simply a link. A way of jumping to another place on the Internet.
Hyperlinks usually appear in a different format from regular text. You initiate
the jump by clicking the link.
Hypertext
Documents with links to other documents. Click a link to display the other
document. A hypertext document is a document structured in chunks of text and
marked up, usually using HTML, which is connected by links.
Hypertext
Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
The underlying protocol by which Web clients and servers communicate. HTTP is an
application-level protocol for distributed, collaborative, hypermedia
information systems. It is a generic, stateless, object-oriented protocol. A
feature of HTTP is the typing and negotiation of data representation, allowing
systems to be built independently of the data being transferred.
Hypertext
Markup Language (HTML)
A simple markup language used to create hypertext documents that are portable
from one platform to another. HTML files are simple ASCII text files with codes
embedded (indicated by markup tags) to indicate formatting and hypertext links.
The formatting language used for documents on the World Wide Web.
ICC
International Colour Consortium.
ICM
Image Colour Matching.
IDE
Integrated Device Electronics. A type of disk-drive interface where the
controller electronics reside on the drive itself, eliminating the need for a
separate adapter card.
IE
See Microsoft Internet Explorer.
IEAK
Internet Explorer Administration Kit. A set of tools that make possible the
fine-tuning of Internet Explorer browsing software installations.
IEAK
Profile Manager
A tool that network or workgroup administrators can use to create custom Active
Desktop and Active Channel configurations and deploy them to users.
IEEE
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
Impersonation
A technique by which one process can take on the security attributes of another
process, as when a server process impersonates a client process to complete a
task involving objects to which the server does not normally have access.
INF
file
A file that provides Windows 98 Setup with the information required to set up a
device, such as a list of valid logical configurations for the device, the names
of driver files associated with the device, and so on. An INF file is typically
provided by the device manufacturer on a disk.
Infrared
Data Association (IrDA)
Publisher of a wireless connectivity standard, which makes it possible to
connect computers and hardware devices without using cables.
INI
files
Initialisation files used by Windows-based applications to store per-user
information that controls application startup. In Windows 98, such information
is stored in the registry, and INI files are supported for backward
compatibility.
Interactive
television
Television combined with interactive content and enhancements.
Interlacing
A video display technique in which the electron beam refreshes (updates) all
odd-numbered scan lines in one sweep of the screen and all even-numbered scan
lines in the next. Interlacing takes advantage of both the screen phosphor's
ability to maintain an image for a short time before fading and the human eye's
tendency to average subtle differences in light intensity. By refreshing
alternate lines, interlacing halves the number of lines to update in one screen
sweep.
International
Organization for Standardization (ISO)
An international association of member countries, each represented by its
leading standard-setting organization—for example, ANSI (American National
Standards Institute) for the United States. The ISO works to establish global
standards for communications and information exchange.
Internet
A set of dissimilar computer networks joined together by means of gateways that
handle data transfer and the conversion of messages from the sending network to
the protocols used by the receiving networks. These networks and gateways use
the TCP/IP suite of protocols.
Internet
Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA)
The Internet group that assigns groups of IP addresses to organizations.
Internet
Control Message Protocol (ICMP)
A network-level Internet protocol that provides error correction and other
information relevant to IP packet processing.
Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF)
A consortium that introduces procedures for new technology on the Internet. IETF
specifications are released in Requests for Comments.
Internet
Protocol (IP)
The part of TCP/IP that is responsible for addressing and sending TCP packets
over the network.
Internet
Protocol Control Protocol (IPCP)
A protocol used to configure, enable, and disable IP Protocol modules at both
ends of the link.
Internet
Service Provider (ISP)
A public provider of remote connections to the Internet.
Interrupt
An asynchronous operating condition that disrupts normal execution and transfers
control to an interrupt handler. Interrupts are usually initiated by I/O devices
requiring service from the processor.
Interrupt
request (IRQ)
A method by which a device can request to be serviced by the device’s software
driver. The system board uses a programmable interrupt controller to monitor the
priority of the requests from all devices.
Intranet
Use of Internet standards, technologies, and products within an enterprise to
function as a collaborative processing infrastructure. The term is generally
used to describe the application of Internet technologies on internal corporate
networks.
IP
Internet Protocol.
IP
address
Internet Protocol address. A unique address that identifies a host on a network.
It identifies a computer as a 32-bit address that is unique across a TCP/IP
network.
IPX/SPX
Internetwork Packet Exchange /Sequenced Packet Exchange. On Novell NetWare
systems, IPX is a network layer protocol used in the file server operating
system; SPX is a transport layer protocol built on top of IPX and used in
client/server applications.
IRQ
See interrupt request.
ISA
Industry Standard Architecture. An 8-bit (and later, a 16-bit) expansion bus
that provides a buffered interface from devices on expansion cards to the PC
internal bus.
ISDN
(Integrated Services Digital Network)
A completely digital telephone /telecommunications network that carries voice,
data, and video information over the existing telephone network infrastructure.
It is designed to provide a single interface for hooking up a telephone, fax
machine, computer, and so on.
Java
A derivative of the C++ language, SunSoft's distributed programming language,
offered as an open standard.
JavaScript
A scripting language developed by Netscape Communications and Sun Microsystems,
Inc.
Joint
Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)
A widely accepted international standard for compression of colour image files,
sometimes used on the Internet.
Kernel
One of
three core components in Windows 98. It provides base operating system
functionality, including file I/O services, virtual memory management, and task
scheduling.
LAN
Local area network. A group of computers and other devices dispersed over a
relatively limited area and connected by a communications link that enables any
device to interact with any other device on the network.
Layered
architecture
An architecture in which each layer isolates portions of the services.
Legacy
Any feature in the computer system based on older technology for which
compatibility continues to be maintained in other system components. In the
context of Windows 98, a non–Plug and Play feature.
Link
Control Protocol (LCP)
A protocol that establishes, configures, and tests the integrity of a data-link
connection.
Location
A set of dialing rules defining a place from which a user makes Dial-Up
Networking connection.
Logical
block addressing (LBA)
A method of accessing hard disk drives based on the extensions of INT 13.
Logon
script
A batch file that runs automatically every time the user logs on. It can be used
to configure a user’s working environment at every logon, and it allows an
administrator to control a user’s environment without managing all aspects of
it.
Maillot
A mechanism for one-to-one or one-to-many interprocess communications (IPC).
Master
browse server
The computer that maintains the list of servers in a workgroup. Also called
browse master.
Messaging
application program interface (MAPI)
An open and comprehensive messaging interface used by programmers to create
messaging and workgroup applications—such as electronic mail, scheduling,
calendaring, and document management.
Microsoft
Internet Explorer browsing software
A suite of Internet software that includes several communication and
collaboration tools in addition to the Internet client.
Microsoft
Management Console (MMC)
A general-purpose management display framework for hosting administration tools.
Microsoft
Service for NetWare Directory Services
A service that enables Microsoft Client for NetWare Networks to log into a
Novell Directory Services (NDS) tree.
Microsoft
Systems Management Server
An application used to install and maintain Microsoft Windows 98 on networked
computers.
MIDI
Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A serial interface standard that allows
for the connection of music synthesizers, musical instruments, and computers.
The MIDI standard is based partly on hardware and partly on a description of the
way in which music and sounds are encoded and communicated between MIDI devices.
MIDI
stream
A technology used in advanced sound cards to play very complex MIDI sequences
with less CPU use.
MIME
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions. A standard that extends SMTP to allow the
transmission of such data as video, sound, and binary files via Internet e-mail
without translating them into ASCII format.
Minidriver
A hardware-specific DLL that uses a Microsoft-provided class driver to
accomplish most actions through function calls and provides only device-specific
controls. Under WDM, the minidriver uses the class driver's device object to
make system calls.
Mobile
computing
Computing done by intermittently-connected users who access network resources.
Model
computer
A computer on which all the components needed for other similar computers in
your organization have been installed.
MPEG
A standard designed by the Motion Pictures Experts Group for video playback of
NTSC quality from CD-ROM.
MS-CHAP
Microsoft Challenge Handshake Authentication.
Mt.
Fuji specification
A specific command set used in DVD-ROM drives.
Multicasting
Transmitting a message to multiple recipients at the same time. A point-to-many
networking model in which a packet is sent to a specific address, and only those
computers that are set to receive information from this address receive the
packet.
Multihued
system
A computer that is configured with more than one IP address.
Multilane
A protocol that enables a computer to establish a dial-up connection using two
modems or ISDN devices.
Multipoint
data conferencing
A technology that allows two or more people to share information in real time
over the Internet or an intranet.
Name
resolution
The process used on the network for resolving a computer address as a computer
name, to support the process of finding and connecting to other computers on the
network.
Named
pipe(s)
An interprocess communication (IPC) mechanism that allows one process to
communicate with another local or remote process.
NDISWAN
Network driver interface specification wide area network.
NetBEUI
NetBIOS Extended User Interface. A local area network transport protocol
provided with Windows 98.
NetBIOS
Network basic input/output system. A software interface for network
communication.
NetBIOS
Frames Control Protocol (NBFCP)
A protocol used to configure, enable, and disable the NetBEUI protocol modules
on both ends of a data link.
Net
mask
A binary value that defines which portion of the network address must match in
order for that route to be used.
Network
adapter
A hardware card installed in a computer that so it can communicate on a network.
Network
Address Translation (NAT)
A process that lets an entire network connect to a PPP server and appear as a
single IP address, thus helping to conceal IP addresses from external hackers
and to alleviate address space shortage.
Network
Device Interface Specification (NDIS)
The interface for network drivers used in Windows and Windows NT operating
systems. All transport drivers call the NDIS interface to access network
adapters.
Network
ID
The portion of the IP address that identifies a group of computers and other
devices that are all located on the same logical network.
Nibble
mode
A mode protocol defined in IEEE P1284 that provides a channel from the
peripheral to the host through which data is sent as 4-bit nibbles.
NLS
National language support. Services that ensure globally-aware information
handling.
NTFS
Windows NT file system.
Object
application
An application that acts as a server to provide various data objects to be
included in a compound document.
OnNow
A design initiative that seeks to create all the components required for a
comprehensive, system-wide approach to system and device power control. OnNow is
a term for a PC that is always on but appears off and that responds immediately
to user or other requests.
Open
Datalink Interface (ODI)
A specification defined by Novell and Apple Computer to provide a protocol and
API for communicating with network adapter drivers, and to support the use of
multiple protocols by a network adapter driver.
Open
Group, The
Parent company of a number of standards organizations including The Active
Group—now managing the core ActiveX technology, X/Open, and OSF.
OpenType
A font specification for Windows 98 that extends the TrueType font standard by
adding tables containing information for advanced multilingual typesetting and
typographic control.
Option
ROM
Optional read-only memory found on PC bus expansion cards. This ROM usually
contains additional firmware required to properly boot the peripheral connected
to the expansion card, for instance, a hard drive. Also referred to as an
expansion ROM.
OSI
Open Systems Interconnection (Reference Model).
Packet
A transmission unit of fixed maximum size that consists of binary information
representing both data and a header containing an ID number, source and
destination addresses, and error-control data.
PANOSE
A font matching system based on a numeric classification of fonts according to
visual characteristics.
Parse
To analyse or separate (for example, input) into more easily processed
components.
Password
A unique string of characters that must be provided before logon or access to a
resource or service is authorized.
Password
Authentication Protocol (PAP)
A security protocol that uses a two-way handshake for the peer to establish its
identity.
Password
caching
Automatically storing a password in a password list (PWL) file so that whenever
the user logs on again, the logon password unlocks the PWL file and the resource
passwords it contains.
PC
Card
A trademark of PCMCIA. A removable device that is designed to be plugged into a
PC Card slot and used as a memory-related peripheral.
PCI
Peripheral Component Interconnect. A high-performance, 32-bit or 64-bit bus
designed to be used with devices that have high bandwidth requirements, such as
display subsystems.
PCMCIA
The Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, which standardizes
credit card-sized interface cards used in portables and other small computers.
Permission
scoping
Preventing permissions granted to a trusted component from being misused, either
intentionally or inadvertently, by a less trusted component.
Permission
signing
Allowing a signed cabinet file to specify securely not only the identity of the
signer but also the set of permissions being requested for the signed classes.
Personal
Information Exchange (PFX)
A set of public key-based security technologies that is part of the Microsoft
Internet security framework.
Platform
for Internet Content Selection (PICS)
A system providing for the voluntary rating of World Wide Web site content by
either the publisher of the page or a third-party rating group.
Plug
and Play
A design philosophy and set of specifications that describe hardware and
software changes to the PC and its peripherals, making it possible to add new
components without having to perform technical procedures.
Point-to-Point
Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)
Protocol that enables a computer to securely connect to the Internet or an
intranet by tunneling through an Internet or LAN connection.
PPP
Point-to-Point Protocol. An industry standard, a part of Windows 98 Dial-Up
Networking, designed to ensure interoperability with remote access software from
other vendors. It is used in making point-to-point links, especially with
dial-up modem servers.
PPTP
See Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol.
Pre-emptive
multitasking
A method by which the operating system takes control away from or gives control
to another running task, depending on the needs of the system.
Private
Communication Technology (PCT)
A protocol used to create a secure Internet or intranet channel.
Protected
mode
An operating mode supporting more advanced features than real mode, including
multitasking, data security, and virtual memory.
Protocol
A set of rules and conventions by which two computers pass messages across a
network. Networking software usually implements multiple levels of protocols
layered one on top of another. Windows 98 includes NetBEUI, TCP/IP, and
IPX/SPX-compatible protocols.
Protocol
rollover
Sending ASF files over a default protocol and then trying to send them via an
alternative server or protocol if the original attempt fails.
Proxy
server
A server that acts as a go-between, converting information from Web servers into
HTML to be delivered to a client computer. It also provides a way to deliver
network services to computers on a secure subnet without those computers needing
to have direct access to the World Wide Web.
Pull
model
A broadcast model in which information is downloaded as it is requested.
Push
model
A broadcast model in which a server sends information to a large number of
clients on its own schedule, without waiting for requests. The clients scan the
incoming information, save the parts they have been instructed to save, and
discard the rest.
Quality of service (QoS)
Network characteristics such as desired bandwidth and maximum acceptable delay
that an application can request from a network.
Raster
fonts
Fonts stored in files as bitmaps and rendered as an array of dots for displaying
on the screen and printing on paper. Raster fonts cannot be cleanly scaled or
rotated.
Real
mode
The backward-compatible mode of the Intel 80386 family. In real mode, all of the
CPU’s protection features are disabled, paging is not supported, and program
addresses correspond to physical memory addresses. The address space is limited
to 1 MB of physical memory and uses a memory segmentation scheme. Real mode is
compatible with 8086, the 8088, the 80186, and the real mode of the 80286.
Real Tones
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Redirector
Networking software that accepts I/O requests for remote files, named pipes, or
mailslots and then sends (redirects) them to a network service on another
computer. Redirectors (also called network clients) are implemented as file
system drivers in Windows 98.
Registry
The database repository for information about a computer’s configuration. The
registry supersedes use of separate INI files for all system components and
applications that know how to store values in the registry.
Registry
Checker
A system maintenance program that finds and fixes registry problems and backs up
the registry.
Registry
Editor
An application that is used to view and edit entries in the registry.
Registry
key
An identifier for a record or group of records in the registry.
Remote
Access Service (RAS)
A service that provides remote networking for telecommuters, mobile workers, and
system administrators who monitor and manage servers at multiple branch offices.
Remote
administration
Administration of one computer by an administrator located at another computer
and connected to the first computer across the network.
Remote
procedure call (RPC)
A message-passing facility that allows a distributed program to call services
available on various computers in a network. Used during remote administration
of computers, RPC provides a procedural view, rather than a transport-centered
view, of networked operations.
Request
for Comments (RFC)
An official document of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) that
specifies the details for protocols included in the TCP/IP family.
Resolve
Under DNS, a client that queries the name server across the network to gain
information about the domain name space.
Resource
reservation protocol (RSVP)
A signaling protocol that is used to establish connections with the QoS
requested by an application
RFC
See Request for Comments.
RIP
See Routing Information Protocol.
RIP
listening
A process in which a computer listens in on RIP packets and adds information
gleaned from those packets to add entries to the route table. Also called silent
RIP.
Robot
A fast, automated program, such as a search engine, indexing program, or
cataloging software, that requests Web pages much faster than humans can.
Root
directory
A specific area set aside to store boot files and directories.
Route
table
A table that is used to determine where a computer routes packets.
Sand
boxing
The Java security model, which provides control over how Java applets can
interact with a computer system.
Script
A program consisting of a set of instructions to an application or utility
program.
Script
let
A reusable Web page in which Dynamic HTML script has been written according to
certain conventions.
SCSI
Small computer standard interface. An I/O bus designed as a method for
connecting several classes of peripherals to a host system without requiring
modifications to generic hardware and software.
SDK
Software Development Kit. A kit that programmers can use to create new
applications.
Secure
password authentication (SPA)
Any authentication in which the actual password is not sent over the network.
Secure
Sockets Layer (SSL)
A protocol that supplies secure data communication through data encryption and
decryption. SSL enables communications privacy over networks through a
combination of public key cryptography and bulk data encryption.
Security
zone
In Internet Explorer, a segment of the Internet or intranet assigned a
particular level of security.
Serial
Line Internet Protocol (SLIP)
A data link protocol that allows transmission of IP data packets over dial-up
telephone connections, typically used by UNIX remote access servers.
Server
For a LAN, a computer running administrative software that controls access to
all or part of the network and its resources. A computer acting as a server
makes resources available to computers acting as workstations on the network.
See client.
Server
message block (SMB)
The protocol developed by Microsoft, Intel, and IBM that defines a series of
commands used to pass information between network computers. The redirector
packages SMB requests into a network control block (NCB) structure that can be
sent over the network to a remote device. The network provider listens for SMB
messages destined for it and removes the data portion of the SMB request so that
it can be processed by a local device.
Service
Advertising Protocol (SAP)
The Novell NetWare broadcasting protocol.
Set-up
script
A text file that contains predefined settings for all the options specified
during setup.
Share-level
security
A security methodology in which passwords are used to restrict access to shared
resources on a peer server. The only security level available on peer-to-peer
networks.
Simple
Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
A protocol used for exchanging mail on the Internet.
Simple
Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
The Internet’s standard for remote monitoring and management of hosts,
routers, and other nodes and devices on a network. A TCP/IP-derived protocol
governing network management and monitoring network devices.
Smart
card
A small electronic device, approximately the size of a credit card, that
contains an embedded integrated circuit. Used for such tasks as storing medical
records, storing digital cash, and generating network IDs.
SNMP
See Simple Network Management Protocol.
Socket
A software object used by a client to connect to a server; basic components
include the port number and the network address of the local host.
SOCKS
A protocol for traversing firewalls in a secure and controlled manner, made
publicly available by the Internet Engineering Task Force.
Source
routing
A method of routing data across bridges.
SPI
Service provider interface, a single, well-defined set of functions used by
Windows 98 to request network services.
Step
captures
A process in which a user captures digital-video data one frame at a time.
Still
Image Architecture (STI)
A WDM architecture for still image devices. A still image minidriver provides
support for still image devices, such as scanners and cameras.
Stream
A continuous series of bits, bytes, or other small, structurally uniform units.
Streaming
architecture
A model for interconnection of stream-processing components, in which
applications dynamically load data as they output it. Dynamic loading means data
can be broadcast continuously. See WDM streaming.
Streaming
data
Data continuously broadcast to an application. For example, a broadcast client's
user might subscribe to continuously broadcast sports scores.
Subnet
mask
A 32-bit value that allows the recipient of IP packets to distinguish the
network ID portion of the IP address from the host ID.
Subscription
Stored information describing how a user will have access to an Active Channel
Web site, including frequency and method of access.
Swap
file
A hidden file on the hard drive that Windows uses to hold parts of programs and
data files that do not fit in memory.
System
policies
Settings that allow an administrator to override local registry values for user
or computer settings.
System
Policy Editor
A tool with which one can change many common registry settings for an individual
computer.
TAPI
See telephony application program interface.
TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. A networking protocol that
allows computers to communicate across interconnected networks and the Internet.
Every computer on the Internet supports TCP/IP.
Telephony
application program interface (TAPI)
A set of calls that allows applications to control modems and telephones, by
routing application function calls to the appropriate “service provider” DLL
for a modem.
Telnet
A protocol used for interactive logon to a remote computer.
Thunking
A translation process that converts a 16-bit value to its 32-bit equivalent.
TrueType
A font specification by which fonts are stored as mathematical models that
define the outline of each character.
Trust-based
security
A cross-platform security model that adds intermediate levels of trust to the
Java security model.
Tunnelling
The process of sending packets to a computer on a private network by routing
them over some other network, such as the Internet.
TWAIN
An industry-standard software protocol and API that provides easy integration of
image data between input devices, such as scanners and still image digital
cameras, and software applications.
TWUNKER
A virtual device that allows communications between 32-bit and 16-bit
applications.
U
Interface
A 2-wire ISDN circuit, essentially today's standard 1-pair telephone company
local loop made of twisted-wire. The U interface is the most common ISDN
interface and extends from the central office.
UDF
Universal Disk Format. A file system developed by the Optical Storage Technology
Association for storage of data on optical media.
UltraPack
A file and folder compression format that offers better compression than
standard or HiPack compression.
Uniform
Resource Locator (URL)
A naming convention that uniquely identifies the location of a computer,
directory, or file on the Internet. The URL also specifies the appropriate
Internet protocol, such as HTTP or FTP.
Universal
naming convention (UNC)
A way to specify a directory on a file server. UNC names are file names or other
resource names that begin with the string \\, indicating that they exist on a
remote computer.
USB
Universal Serial Bus. A bidirectional, isochronous, dynamically attachable
serial interface for adding peripheral devices such as game controllers, serial
and parallel ports, and input devices on a single bus.
User
One of three core components in Windows 98. It manages input from input devices,
output to the user interface, and interaction with the sound driver, timer, and
communications ports.
User
profile
User-specific information contained in the file User.dat, which is one of the
two files in the Windows 98 registry
VCACHE
A 32-bit, protected-mode cache driver, which replaces the 16-bit, real-mode
SMARTDrive disk cache software.
VCOMM
In Windows, a 32-bit protected-mode communications driver.
Vector
fonts
Fonts rendered from a mathematical model, in which each character is defined as
a set of lines drawn between points. Vector fonts can be scaled to any size or
aspect ratio.
Version
table
A file that contains a list of executable files, followed by the version number
of MS-DOS with which the applications were designed to run.
Vertical
Blanking Interval (VBI)
The time period in which a television signal is not visible on the screen
because of the vertical retrace (the repositioning to top of screen to start a
new scan). Data services can be transmitted using a portion of this signal.
VFAT
32-Bit File Access using protected-mode code to write to the disk. In Windows 98
the 32-bit virtual File Allocation Table (VFAT) file system is the primary file
system.
Video
Electronic Standards Association (VESA)
An industry standards organization focusing on IBM-compatible personal
computers.
Video
Graphics Array (VGA)
A display standard for personal computers.
Virtual
memory
Memory that appears to an application to be larger and more uniform than it is.
Virtual
private networking (VPN)
A technology by which one can securely connect to a remote server by tunneling
through an intermediary network.
Virtualisation
The act of managing a system resource so that more than one application can use
it at the same time.
VRML
Virtual Reality Modeling Language. A language for coding three-dimensional HTML
applications.
VxD
Virtual device driver. The x represents the type of device—for example, a
virtual device driver for a display is a VDD and a virtual device driver for a
printer is a VPD.
WDM
Win32 Driver Model. A 32-bit driver model based on the Windows NT driver model
that is designed to provide a common architecture of I/O services for both
Windows NT and Windows operating systems for specific classes of drivers.
WDM
Streaming (streaming)
An extension of the Microsoft DirectShow application programming interface (API)
based on the Windows Driver Model (WDM). WDM streaming provides the kernel
connection and streaming services used by the WDM streaming class driver and by
components of the next major versions of Microsoft Windows NT and Microsoft
Windows 98. In these operating systems, WDM streaming provides low-level
services in Ring 0 for the lowest latency streaming. DirectShow provides
higher-level features and control.
Webcasting
The automated delivery of personalized and up-to-date information via the
Internet or a corporate intranet.
Win32
Driver Model
See WDM.
Windows
Internet Name Service (WINS)
A name resolution service that resolves Windows networking computer names to IP
addresses in a routed environment. A WINS server, which is a Windows NT Server
computer, handles name registrations, queries, and releases.
Windows
NT
The portable and secure, 32-bit, preemptive-multitasking member of the Microsoft
Windows operating system family. Windows NT Server provides centralized
management and security, advanced fault tolerance, and additional connectivity.
Windows
NT file system (NTFS)
The file system designed for use specifically with the Windows NT operating
system. NTFS supports file system recovery and extremely large storage media, in
addition to other advantages. It also supports object-oriented applications by
treating all files as objects with user-defined and system-defined attributes.
Wizard
An interactive Help utility within an application that guides the user through
each step of a particular task.
Workgroup
Advertising
A method of implementing browsing for large NetWare networks that include
computers running Windows 98 or Windows 95.
World
Wide Web (WWW)
Also called the Web. The graphical Internet hypertext service that uses the HTTP
protocol to retrieve Web pages and other resources from Web servers. Pages on
the Web usually contain hyperlinks to other pages, documents, and files.
Write-behind
caching
Temporarily storing data in memory before it is written on disk for permanent
storage.
Zero
Administration Initiative for Windows
An initiative to establish a management infrastructure in Microsoft Windows that
will allow managers to automate processes and more effectively exercise
centralized management
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