Glossary
ADSL
Stands for Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line. ADSL is another name for high speed or broadband Internet connections.
ATM
Asynchronous Transfer Mode
Attachment
If you want to send a Word document, image or some other type of file to someone by email, you include it with your email message as an attachment.
Bandwidth
The measurement of the size of your Internet connection - for example, 256Kbps or 1MB. Think of it as a pipe, but one through which you can send data. Bigger bandwidth means you can send more stuff at once.
Blade Server
Self-contained computer servers, designed for high density. Whereas a standard rack-mount server can exist with (at least) a power cord and network cable, blade servers have many components removed for space, power and other considerations while still having all the functional components to be considered a computer. A blade enclosure provides services such as power, cooling, networking, various interconnects and management -- though different blade providers have differing principles around what should and should not be included in the blade itself (and sometimes in the enclosure altogether). Together these form the blade system.
Bookmarks
Bookmarks or Favourites are addresses of websites you want to keep for visiting later. They are usually saved together in a folder; if using Internet Explorer the folder will be called 'Favourites', accessible via the menu at the top of the screen.
Bounce
When your email gets returned because of a problem with the address you have sent it to (you have made a spelling error or the machine at the other end is malfunctioning), or a problem with the person's email mailbox.
Broadband
High-speed data transmission. Often associated with high-speed Internet access. Generally fast enough to support applications such as streaming video
Byte
1 byte is the size of 1 numeric or alphabetic character. 1 byte is made up of 8 bits. 1 bit is a single unit of data.
Cache
A temporary storage in your computer.
CD-R
A CD which you can save files on. You can only save files on the CD once - you can't keep overwriting content like you would on a floppy disk.
Cookies
A cookie is a small text file that is stored on your hard drive by a web page to be used in a subsequent page. An example of where a cookie is used is to remember a login name and password entered on a previous page.
Data
Data is another word for information. Data could be words/text, sound/audio or pictures/images.
Database System
A program that enables you or a site to store and manage large amounts of information, like a long list of email addresses.
Download
To download means to transfer a file or something like a piece of software from a web site to your computer.
Domain Name
A web address on the internet. For example, www.cnn.com, www.you.net, www.iconz.co.nz. Domain names are unique, and you need one to be able to have your own website. You can find out more about domain names and register one here.
DNS
Stands for Domain Name System. The system of Internet names and addresses.
Encryption
A way of making data unreadable to everyone except the person who is supposed to receive it - kind of like a secret code.
Ethernet
A very common method of networking computers in a LAN using copper cabling. Ethernet will handle about 10,000,000 bits-per-second and can be used with almost any kind of computer.
Fibre Optic
A medium of transmission alternative to copper. The way it works is by pulsing laser light down a strand of glass. These pulses represent binary code. The advantage over copper wire is that a single strand of fibre optic cable can carry thousands and thousands of different frequencies at once without data loss.
File
One collection of data stored in the computer. Each file has a name and is followed by another name or file extension which tells your computer what sort of data it is. For example, invite.doc or my_budget.xls
Firewall
A specially programmed computer system that stands between an organization's network and the Internet. It is a security measure used by many companies to prevent hackers and other unauthorized users from accessing internal networks. The firewall computer is set up to monitor traffic and to keep unauthorized crackers from tampering with the system, thereby protecting a private network from a public network. Firewalls are also set up to protect the security of servers.
Floppy Disk
A small black plastic disk people use to save files on. Most people now use CD-R's to save their files to, as they have a much higher storage capacity.
Folder
Files are saved inside folders. Sub-folders within these folders can be used to help you to find things easily.
Format
This is when you do adjust the text to make it how you want it. For example, you can make text bold, a different color, capatilize it, add an underline - these are all ways of formatting text.
Gateway
A gateway is a network point that acts as an entrance to another network. On the Internet, a node or stopping point can be either a gateway node or a host (end-point) node. Both the computers of Internet users and the computers that serve pages to users are host nodes. The computers that control traffic within your company's network or at your local Internet service provider (ISP) are gateway nodes.
Hacker
Refers to someone who gains unauthorised access to a computer system. They are usually the ones who write computer viruses.
Homepage
The first page you come to on a Web site, will usually be called index.html or main.html
HTML
Stands for Hyper-Text Markup Language. It's the computer language used to create web pages.
Intranet
A company's internal Web site accessed only by those within the company or who have obtained permission to do so.
IP Address
A unique address assigned to every machine on the internet, usually represented by numbers like 215.77.98.34. When we type in a web address like www.me.com, the address is converted into an IP address behind the scenes, so our computer can find the right website.
ISP
Stands for Internet Service Provider. You need to connect to an ISP to get onto the internet, just as you need to connect to a power company to get electricity. ICONZ is an ISP.
Kbps
Stands for Kilo Bits Per Second, and is the rate at which 1,000 bits of data travels across your internet connection.
Linux
An operating system created by Linus Torvalds, who made the code available so others could freely develop it as an alternative to Windows or Mac.
Mail Server
Server which handles emails for one or more domain names. Your name@iconz.co.nz emails are handled on the ICONZ Mail Server.
Mbps
Stands for Mega Bits Per Second, and is the rate at which 1,000,000 bits of data travels across your internet connection.
Modem
Short for 'Modulator-Demodulator'. It codes and decodes the data that goes between your computer and the Internet via a telephone line, so they can understand each other.
NTU
Network Termination Unit.
Packet Shaping
The limiting of bandwidth utilisation by IP/network address to ensure equitable provision of bandwidth amongst users.
Plug-In
A piece of software you can download from the Internet to enable your web browser (like Internet Explorer) to access something like a movie preview or play music files. An example of a plug-in is RealPlayer, which plays music and movie clips.
POP
You might hear this mentioned when talking to your ISP. POP stands for Point of Presence, and is usually the location where you can dial into the ISP's computer.
Proxy
A gateway that relays one Internet session to another.
RAM
Stands for Random Access Memory. Parts of programs are stored in RAM when the program is launched so that it will run faster.
ROM
Stands for Read Only Memory. This type of memory contains only permanent information put there by the manufacturer.
Router
A device that determines the next network point to which a data packet should be forwarded enroute toward its destination. The router is connected to at least two networks and determines which way to send each data packet based on its current understanding of the state of the networks it is connected to. Routers create or maintain a table of the available routes and use this information to determine the best route for a given data packet.
Search Engine
An engine or program that searches the web or a website. Some websites have links to their own search engine, whereas others like Google and AskJeeves exist almost entirely for their search engine.
Server
A computer that gives services to other computers. Services include hosting and serving web pages, and email handling. Your computer got this page you are reading from the ICONZ web server.
Shareware
Software you can download from a web site and at least try out for free.
Shopping Cart
Just like in the supermarket; items selected at an online shop are stored here prior to purchase.
Streaming
A feed of audio and/or video from a web site that requires no prior downloading and because of this cannot be saved on your computer.
Surfing
The common term used to describe going from one web site to another, browsing through web pages.
URL
Stands for Uniform Resource Locator - it's the full address of a web page and is made up of a domain name plus several other elements. The URL for this website is http://www.iconz.co.nz and the domain name for it is iconz.co.nz
Virus
A malicious program spread over the Internet usually by email, but you could also get a virus off a floppy disk or CD.
Virtualisation
Can be defined as "a technique for hiding the physical characteristics of computing resources from the way in which other systems, applications, or end users interact with those resources. This includes making a single physical resource (such as a server, an operating system, an application, or storage device) appear to function as multiple logical resources; or it can include making multiple physical resources (such as storage devices or servers) appear as a single logical resource."
VPN
Stands for Virtual Private Network. A private communications network existing within a shared or public network platform (i.e. the Internet).
World Wide Web
Refered to as WWW. It's not the Internet itself, just a part of it. The WWW or web consists of web sites and to look at them you need a web browser - a software program such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer that enables you to access and view the documents put on the Web.