Appendixes
Setting Up a Dial-Up Server in Windows 98
You can make any one of your home network computers a dial-up server for others to use. If you want to let your son call from college or your spouse call in from a business trip, for
example, you can let a Windows 98 computer accept the call and enable the remote user to access the network.
Windows 2000 uses Remote Access Service RAS instead of dial-up. By default, RAS is enabled, and therefore, Windows 2000 computers are dial-up servers. All you need is a
modem and a telephone line. Windows XP can use either RAS services or VPN services as a dial-up server. For more information, see www.microsoft.com.
Installing the Dial-Up Server
You must install the Dial-Up Server service on the computer. You can install it at the same time you install dial-up networking, or you can install it later. To install the Dial-Up Server, fol-
low these steps:
1. Open the Control Panel. 2. Double-click the AddRemove Programs icon.
3. Select the Windows Setup tab. 4. Select Communications in the Components list. Click Details. The Communications dia-
log box appears.
5. Choose the Dial-Up Server. 6. Click OK to return to the AddRemove Programs Properties dialog box. Click OK again
to install the feature.
Enabling the server
Before you enable the server, make sure that you’ve specified the folders and drives you want to share over the remote network. For information about sharing drives and other resources,
see Chapter 12. To configure a computer to be the dial-up networking server, follow these steps:
1. Open My Computer. 2. Open the Dial-Up Networking folder.
3. Choose Connections ➪ Dial-Up Server. The Dial-Up Server dialog box appears. 4. Select the Allow Caller Access option.
5. If you want to add password protection, click the Change Password button. Type the
password you want to assign, and then confirm the password by typing it again.
6. You can add a comment or note in the Comment text box, if you want. 7. Click OK. The computer checks for the modem and notifies you if the modem is not
turned on or is not working properly.
Note
Appendix C ✦ Telecommuting
Enabling browsing on the server
You must enable browsing on the server computer if you want remote users to see the net- work and its resources. To enable browsing, follow these steps:
1. Open the Control Panel. 2. Double-click the Network icon. The Network dialog box appears.
3. In the list of components on the Configuration tab, select File and Printer Sharing for
Microsoft Networks.
4. Click the Properties button. The File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
Properties dialog box appears.
5. Select Browse Master in the Property list. In the Value list, select Enabled. 6. Click OK to return to the Network dialog box.
7. Click OK to close the dialog box. If you’re prompted to restart your computer, do so.
Connecting to a remote server
To connect to a remote server, you need to know the server’s phone number, the protocols it uses, the type of network PPP, NT Server, Windows 98, and so on it runs on, and the remote
server’s computer name. After you install the modem and dial-up networking, and you create a connection, you can
connect to the remote server. You can connect to a network using the dial-up networking con- nection as long as the other computer is on and you have permission to connect.
To connect to a network, follow these steps:
1. Open My Computer. 2. Double-click Dial-Up Networking.
You can create a shortcut for your desktop that will save steps when connecting to a remote network. Right-click the connection icon and then choose Create Shortcut.
3. Double-click the Connection icon. The Connect To dialog box appears. 4. Type the appropriate username and password. Click the Save Password check box so
that you don’t have to enter it every time you connect. When you do this, the password is stored in your Windows’s PWL file, not in the dialog box.
5. Click the Connect button. Windows dials the number and connects to the network.
When Windows connects, a dialog box appears, stating that you’re connected to the server. You can use the Network Neighborhood or Windows Explorer to view the network after you
connect.
The browse list in the Network Neighborhood might take a long time to appear, especially if the network is a large one.
Note Tip
Appendixes
Map network drives to make the connections faster and easier to get to. For information about drive mapping, see Chapter 13.
Working with a Macintosh Modem
Working with a modem in a Mac is similar to working with a modem in Windows. You can con- trol the modem’s sound and connection, change drivers, and so on in a Mac. There are many
differences between Macintosh operating systems — such as System 7, System 8, Mac OS X, and so on — so you’ll need to consult the documentation for your particular operating sys-
tem. This section covers only Mac OS X.
Mac OS X works with the PPP Point-to-Point Protocol similarly to Windows computers. You use PPP to communicate between computers through the dial-up modem connection. If your Mac
does not have an internal modem connected to it, you can use an external modem just as well. Generally, the Network dialog box contains the information for you to create a dial-up connec-
tion to the Internet. You can also use the Network dialog box to configure a dial-up to any other computer with a modem. To set up your modem for use with a dial-up connection, fol-
low these steps:
1. Click System Preferences. The System Preferences dialog box appears, as shown in
Figure C-17.
2. Double-click the Network icon in the Internet Network section of the dialog box. The
Network dialog box appears, as shown in Figure C-18.
3. Click the Show down arrow and click Modem. 4. Click the PPP tab of the Modem dialog box. Figure C-19 shows the tab.
5. Add the account name, password, and telephone number you wish to call.
Figure C-17: Open System Preferences.
Tip
Appendix C ✦ Telecommuting
Figure C-18: Use the Network dialog box to set up the modem dialing properties.
Figure C-19: Use the PPP tab to enter a phone number.
Appendixes
6. You can optionally click the Save password check box. 7. Click the PPP Options button. The Session Options dialog box appears, as shown in
Figure C-20.
Figure C-20: Set any options for the modem and session.
8. Click OK and then close the System Preferences dialog box.
If you use a cell phone that is Bluetooth-enabled, you can pair the phone with your com- puter in the Bluetooth pane of System Preferences. Once you do that, you can use your
Address Book to place outgoing phone calls.
Working with a Linux Modem
If you must buy a modem for your Linux box, choose an external modem as opposed to inter- nal. External modems are easier to work with and easier to find drivers for, and they will most
likely work with a Linux distribution. Internal modems are often built for Windows or have drivers meant for use only with Windows. Whether internal or external, avoid the modems
advertised for Windows only.
If all you can find are Plug and Play modems, you can likely deal with that through Linux. You can use a serial driver, use the isapnp program, or let the PnP BIOS do the configuring.
Hardware modems don’t usually need a driver in Linux, although the serial port on which the modem resides does need a driver. Serial port drivers are either supplied as a Linux serial
module or compiled into the kernel. You must also configure the IRQ and IO for the port. For more specific information about your modem and your Linux distribution, see these Web
sites: www.tldp.org, new.linuxnow.com, www.extremetech.com, or any of hundreds of sites on the Internet.
✦ ✦
✦
Note Tip
Glossary
2D The speed at which normal programs use the video or sound card.
3D In video and audio multimedia, this is a near-realistic sound or picture.
4-bit cable Available before 1992, 4-bit cables are parallel cables. Examples include the LapLink and InterLink cables.
8s See Class A IP addresses.
16s See Class B IP addresses.
24s See Class C IP addresses.
10Base-2 An implementation of an Ethernet standard for coaxial cabling. The data transfer rate, or network speed, for 10Base-2 is 10
Mbps megabits per second over 185 meters. The 185 meters around 600 feet describes the maximum cable-segment length.
10Base-T An Ethernet standard topology for twisted-pair cabling. The data transfer rate is 10 Mbps over a distance of 100 meters
330 feet.
100Base-T Produces 100 Mbps throughput over twisted-pair cabling, usually Fast Ethernet. 100Base-T is built on the older Ethernet standards.
100Base-T4 Produces 100 Mbps throughput over twisted-pair wiring but uses four pairs of the wiring, thus making the network a lower
quality than 100Base-TX, which uses only two pairs of the wiring.
100Base-TX Produces 100 Mbps throughput over twisted-pair wiring, usually Fast Ethernet. 100Base-TX is built on newer Ethernet stan-
dards, which means it is a faster technology than 100Base-T.
802 standards The IEEE 802 standards are set for networking, specifi- cally LANs. Some standards identify wireless, others Ethernet, and
so on.
1000Base-T Produces speeds of 1000 Mbps over twisted-pair wiring. Also called Gigabit Ethernet, this technology is normally used in cor-
porations and businesses as a backbone or foundation of their networks.
1394 Also known as FireWire, this is a technology that has a band- width of up to 1000 Mbps. The bus is also hot swappable.
Accelerated Graphics Port See AGP.
Glossary
accelerator card An adapter used in a computer to speed up graphics. An accelerator card is a type of video card.
access point A wireless-based device used to connect roaming wireless PC cards to a server, the Internet, or another wireless station. The access point provides mobility from a station-
ary connection.
access time How fast a drive can move data around. adapter The software driver that makes a card work. The adapter driver is the program that
enables a device to communicate with the computer and over the network. Examples of adapters are sound, video, and network cards.
address Can be an e-mail specification for a person, a specification for a Web page, or a num- ber that identifies a computer on a network.
Address Book The Exchange post office maintains a list of all mailboxes for users on the network. This list is called the Address Book. Also, Outlook Express and other e-mail applica-
tions maintain their own versions of the Address Book. Some Address Books contain names, phone numbers, and other information; others contain e-mail addresses, Web page URLs, and
so on.
Address Resolution Protocol See ARP.
administrator The person in charge of a network. Administrators troubleshoot connection problems, upgrade applications, set up networking hardware and software, and so on. They
also have special permissions and access to computers on the network.
ADSL Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Lines A type of DSL line that provides access paths for 6 Mbps in one direction and around 640 Kbps in both directions simultaneously.
AGP Accelerated Graphics Port A new technology built specifically for the demands of 3D graphical software.
AirPort Apple’s name for wireless adapters for the Macintosh. alias A name given to a computer or person to replace long names or to keep your own name
private. Used in chat rooms and computer gaming.
analog technology Transmission methods developed to transmit voice signals instead of dig- ital signals. The phone lines in your home are analog lines built to carry voice transmissions
and perhaps other data, such as faxes. They also might carry your network transmissions on a phone line network.
anonymous FTP File Transfer Protocol A method of transferring files between two Internet sites. FTP is a method of logging on to another Internet site for the main purpose of retrieving
or sending files. When a user logs on to the FTP server, he or she can use the Anonymous account which is like a guest account, meaning anyone can access those files.
antivirus software A program that detects and removes viruses from your computer. These programs search for suspicious activities on the system or characteristic patterns. Some
antivirus programs compete with computer devices, hardware, and programs for network resources.
API application program interface A set of interface functions available for applications. API enables the Windows operating system to work with various programs.
Glossary
AppleTalk The Macintosh network protocol. applets Mini-programs included with software.
application layer One of the ISOOSI layers. The application layer defines how the applica- tions interact with the network.
application program interface See API.
ARP Address Resolution Protocol One of the TCPIP protocols. ARP translates 32-bit IP addresses into physical network addresses, such as 48-bit Ethernet addresses.
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Lines See ADSL.
authentication The process of checking a user and his or her password to make sure that the user has permission to access a clientserver network.
backbone A main, high-speed cable from which transceiver cables are connected to comput- ers, hubs, and other equipment. It’s the main cable that connects everything together.
backup A copy of data, programs, or other information stored on floppy disks, Zip or Jaz disks, tapes, or, most commonly, CD-Rs and CD-RWs.
bandwidth A measurement of the amount of information or data that can pass through any given point on the network: cabling, server, network cards, and so on. The wider the band-
width, the more data can pass through. With an Ethernet network, bandwidth is measured in megabits per second.
base station A Macintosh wireless access point. basic inputoutput system
See BIOS.
Basic Rate Interface See BRI.
batch file A text file that contains commands that are carried out automatically on startup. The commands are entered into the system, one at a time, just as if you had typed them in
yourself. Batch files use a .BAT extension to identify themselves as batch files to the operat- ing system.
baud rate A speed measurement for communication. Baud rate sometimes corresponds to the number of bits transmitted per second, but they are not always the same. At a baud rate
of 300, the bits per second also might be 300; at higher baud rates, however, the number of bits transmitted per second is usually higher than the baud rate.
BBS See bulletin boards.
binary The base 2 numbering system, using combinations of the digits 0 and 1 to represent all values. Binary numbers are easy for the computer to read.
binding The process of assigning a protocol to the network card. Binding the protocol means the network card uses that particular language to communicate with other network cards on
the network.
BIOS basic inputoutput system A set of routines that works with the hardware to support the transfer of data through components of the system, such as memory, hard disks, or the
monitor.
bit The basic unit of information in the binary numbering system, represented by either 0 for off or 1 for on. Computers read binary numbers, or strings of 0s and 1s.
Glossary
bit depth Describes the information a scanner records about the pixels it scans. Some scan- ners record only black and white 1-bit. To see grays or tones between the black and white,
you need at least a 4-bit depth 16 tones or an 8-bit depth up to 256 tones. Color scanners are usually 24-bit or higher, which means they can capture more than 16 million different colors.
bit rate The rate of data throughput for the medium modem or other serial device, mea- sured in bits per second.
bits per second bps A measurement of data transmission speed over a serial data link. A single character requires about 10 bits. For example, a 33.6 Kbps modem transfers 33,600 bits
of data per second. Bits per second is a more accurate statement of modem capability than baud rate. See also baud rate.
blog Also called weblog, this is a Web page or group of pages usually run by one person, who updates the log daily, adding text, images, and other personal remarks about his or her life or
emotions. A blog is a diary of sorts on the Internet, for all to see.
Bluetooth A wireless connection that works on short-range radio waves to enable communi- cations between Bluetooth devices. A radio chip, placed in the computer, printer, telephone,
handhelds, or other device, communicates with another Bluetooth radio chip.
BNC connector An end piece that connects two or three cables together. Cabling is coaxial. boot disk A floppy disk that contains system files and enables a computer to boot, or start,
when inserted into a computer’s disk drive. You use a boot disk to diagnose system problems or to access a system when the computer cannot boot on its own. See also system disk.
boot sector The set of instructions your computer reads when it starts up. bottleneck A place that slows the information moving from one computer to another. A bot-
tleneck can be caused by a slow switch or hub, a slow NIC, a damaged cable, and so on.
box A computer’s CPU, motherboard, hard drive, and the case are often called the “box.” In Linux, in particular, a computer is often called a Linux box.
bps See bits per second.
BRI Basic Rate Interface BRI lines are a type of ISDN that enables a download speed of 64 Kbps.
bridge A network device that provides a communications path between two network seg- ments to form one logical network. Generally, a bridge is used in larger or corporate networks.
broadband Also called wideband transmission, broadband refers to networking that pro- vides multiple channels of data over a single wire; cable and DSL are two examples.
broadcast On a network, a message that is sent to everyone in the area. A server might send a broadcast regarding certain services that have become available, such as Internet access.
browser Software on a computer that enables the user to view Web pages on the Internet. A browser reads the HTML language and displays it in an attractive manner.
BTW by the way Used in chat programs and e-mail to represent the words by the way.
bulletin boards BBS Areas in which users can post messages, ideas, and replies to other members of the LAN. Users might want to brainstorm ideas, for example, or simply schedule
a meeting.
Glossary
burst access mode A method of transmitting data in which the data is collected first and then sent in one high-speed transmission instead of one character at a time.
bus An electronic corridor that sends signals from one part of the computer to another, such as from the processor to the memory. The bus sends signals in either 16 or 32 bits.
bus topology Connects each computer along a single length of cable, in a line. You can con- nect up to 30 users on this simple network. Installation is easy, and the network is relatively
inexpensive.
byte A data measurement unit that is the equivalent of one character; a byte is made up of 8 bits of data, also known as an octet. Bits are grouped to form larger storage units, the most
common of which is a byte. The word byte is a contraction of BinarY digiT Eight.
cable Any one of various types of wiring used for networking. Cabling must match the topol- ogy and protocol of the network.
cable for television This type of line is leased to you by your cable television company and provides high speed at an affordable price. Downstream or downloading cable speeds are
from 10 Mbps to 30 Mbps for a distance of up to 30 miles. Upstream or uploading speeds might be 128 Kbps to 10 Mbps for the same distance. Cable television lines are usually coaxial.
cable modem A device, not actually a modem, that connects your PC to a cable television line instead of a phone line. The device enables you to have Internet access 24 hours a day.
The connection is much faster than a dial-up modem.
cache Pronounced “cash,” this is a special area of memory your computer uses on top of RAM memory. Cache helps boost the performance of the computer by making information
even more available than that stored in RAM.
capture a printer port Capturing a printer port is similar to mapping a drive. You assign a network path to an LPT port to fool an application. Many MS-DOS applications and some
16-bit Windows programs print only to an LPT port. These programs cannot recognize a network path as written — \\Sue\\WinHP, for example.
CardBus A PC Card slot that is a 32-bit bus mastering slot. This slot is commonly the bottom slot on laptops that support it.
CAT 3 cable There are categories, or levels, of twisted-pair cabling. Each level describes the performance characteristics of wiring standards. Category 3 CAT 3 is less expensive than
CAT 5, and its transfer rate isn’t as fast; in fact, you can hardly find CAT 3 in use anymore.
CAT 5 cable There are categories, or levels, of twisted-pair cabling. Each level describes the performance characteristics of wiring standards. Category 5 CAT 5 is the best cable for any
network — business or home. CAT 5 works equally well with 10Base-T or with 100Base-T.
CCITT Comité Consultatif International de Téléphonique et Télégraphique An organiza- tion that sets international telecommunications standards that govern, in part, the definition
of modem speeds and operations. The new name for the CCITT is the International Telecommunications Union-Telecommunications Standards Section, or ITU-TSS.
CD-R recordable CD-Rs, writable compact discs, are more affordable than in the past and are a great way to save data. You must consider, however, that unless you get the right type of CD
CD-RW, as opposed to CD-R, you cannot overwrite the CD. CDs usually hold 650MB of data.
Glossary
CD-ROM compact disc–read-only memory A high-capacity disc around 650MB containing data stored with laser optic technology instead of through magnetic means.
CD-RW CD-RW drives can overwrite data on a CD so that the CD can be used over and over again. You must purchase special CD-RW discs for recording over; CD-RW discs are more
expensive than CD-R discs.
CEBus Consumer Electronics Bus A communications protocol you can use with appliances, such as dryers and dishwashers, lighting, and other systems. CEBus is similar to LonWorks
in that each device is capable of transmitting and receiving signals from other devices on the network. CEBus is similar to X-10 in that it works over your power lines, so you don’t have to
install new wiring.
central processing unit CPU The part of the computer that controls devices, components, and so on. Also called a processor, the CPU is a printed circuit board that often includes slots
for memory and device cards.
chat programs Programs that connect two or more people online at the same time. The conversation is held in real time.
CIFS Common Internet File System A protocol that runs over TCPIP and enables users from different platforms, such as Linux and the Mac, to use Windows operating systems.
Class A IP addresses These addresses are used for large networks. To identify a Class A net- work address, the first octet uses the numbers from 1 to 126. Class A networks have an 8-bit
network prefix; therefore, they are currently referred to as 8s pronounced “slash eights” or just “eights.”
Class B IP addresses These addresses are mainly used for medium-sized networks, and the first octet values range from 128 to 191. Class B network addresses have a 16-bit network
prefix; thus, they are referred to as 16s.
Class C IP addresses These addresses are reserved for smaller networks. The values for a Class C range from 192 to 233. Class C networks have a 24-bit network prefix and are referred
to as 24s.
Class D IP addresses These addresses aren’t used for networks because they’re special multicast or broadcasting addresses.
Class E IP addresses These addresses, with values higher than 233 in the first octet, are used only for experimental purposes.
client A computer that accesses shared network resources provided by a server. Also refers to one-half of a program installed on a workstation; the other half of the program is installed
on a server. The two halves work together to provide data to the user. Also, the network client is the software that enables your computer to become a member of a network.
client application A program on a workstation that connects to another computer’s resources. The client might access a server application, such as a database management
system, or simply another workstation that contains a host application, such as an Internet access program.
clientserver network A network in which one computer — called the server — shares its resources with all other computers — called clients.
Glossary
CMOS Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor An integrated circuit used in processors and for memory. CMOS devices operate at a high speed while using little power. In a PC,
battery-backed CMOS memory stores operating parameters when the computer is switched off.
coaxial cabling A fast, expensive network cable. Coaxial coax cable consists of a plastic jacket surrounding a braided copper shield, plastic insulation, and a solid inner conductor.
The cabling is generally free from external interference and supports greater distances, and it is also a secure transfer medium.
collision Happens when two computers or other networking devices send data at the same time to another computer, server, or device. When a collision occurs, the server or network
device sends a request back to the original computer asking for the original data. It’s best to avoid collisions because they take longer for services to be delivered over the network and
they add more network traffic. Switches and routers are good solutions.
COM Refers to the serial port on a computer. Often the COM port attaches a mouse, modem, or keyboard to the computer. Computers usually have two COM ports: COM1 and COM2.
Comité Consultatif International de Téléphonique et Télégraphique See CCITT.
command.com The command interpreter, a system file, for your operating system — DOS, Windows 9598, and so on. This file is a necessary startup file for a PC system.
communications server A server, or even a computer, that enables many computers to use its communications lines, such as a cable modem, shared T1 line, and so on, usually to con-
nect to the Internet.
compact disc–read-only memory See CD-ROM.
concentrator A communications device that enables a shared transmission medium to accommodate more data sources than there is currently room for.
conferencing software Refers to electronic meetings over the network. With groupware, the network can be a LAN or the Internet. Real-time conferencing enables groups of people to get
online at one time and discuss topics. In these types of conferences, only one person can enter a message at a time, so everyone has a turn without being interrupted.
configuration files The files that load your device drivers when your computer boots. Many programs also have their own configuration files that load your preferences in that particular
program.
connectable Refers to a Bluetooth device that is in range so that it responds to another Bluetooth device.
controller An additional card, board, or other piece of equipment that receives information from the computer’s processor and uses the instructions to manage additional hardware.
cookies Identifiers that are saved on your hard disk during your visits to various Web pages. Software on the Web sends the cookie to collect information — such as your name, e-mail
address, site password, and so on — and then logs that information on your hard disk. The next time you visit that particular site, software from the site recalls the cookie so that it
knows who you are.
CPU See central processing unit.
daemon A program that runs automatically to perform a task. A daemon, pronounced “demon,” can control the flow of print jobs to a printer, for example.
Glossary
data bits Describe the number of bits used to transmit a piece of information, usually 7 or 8. database management system The server software contains all of the data in the database —
for example, a price list of products or an inventory of equipment. Any user can use a client version of the database software to look up a specific product or piece of equipment by
name, number, price, description, or other criterion. When the client makes a request for information, the database management system on the server searches the stored records.
When it locates the requested data, it displays the data on the client software for the user.
datagrams Packets of data that contain the source and destination address, as well as data intended for its target host. Each datagram contains all the information it needs to find the
target host, no matter which paths the other datagrams have taken.
data link layer One of the ISOOSI layers. The data link layer controls the flow of data through the network cards.
DCC See Direct Cable Connection.
Debian Debian GNULinux is a popular distribution of Linux. Debian is free, and it includes over 8,000 software packages you can pick and choose from to install.
dedicated line A special high-speed, hard-wired limited flexibility connection that is perma- nent. The connection is always active and therefore always ready.
default gateway A physical device that connects two network segments. The gateway address looks like an IP address.
desktop The on-screen work area containing icons and menus in Windows. A desktop com- puter is one that sits on your desk or table, as opposed to standing on its end, as a tower
computer does which is often mistakenly referred to as a desktop.
device driver The software needed to make a hardware device — sound card, mouse, CD-ROM drive, and so on — work through the operating system.
DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol A utility for assigning TCPIP addresses to workstations automatically.
Dial-Up Networking A Windows feature that enables you to use your modem to call the Internet, your company’s network, or some other remote network for the purpose of sharing
resources, exchanging e-mail, and performing other network-specific tasks.
differential backup This kind of backup backs up everything that has changed or been cre- ated since the last full backup of the selected files.
digital modem Also called a terminal adapter TA or router, this is a piece of hardware located at the end of the line — ISDN, DSL, TV cable, and so on — that transmits and translates
the signal to and from the computer or server. When there’s a digital modem on one end of the line, there must be a digital modem on the other end of the line for the two to communicate.
Digital Subscriber Line See DSL.
digital technology Digital lines transmit data at high speeds so that a link to the Internet enables users to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. You can transfer large data files, have
videoconferences, and perform other tasks all at the same time, for example.
Digital Video Disc–Read Only Memory See DVD-ROM.
Glossary
Direct Cable Connection DCC Sharing resources between two computers over just a cable, using no network card. Windows includes the software necessary to set up this slow, but
effective, networking scheme.
direct memory access See DMA.
directory folder Folders in Windows are the same as directories in DOS. Use a directory to contain files for an application, data, the system files, and so on.
DirectX A library of codes in Windows that presents a standardized format for programming. DirectX makes an application, such as a game, accessible to a wide variety of hardware
features. Some hardware might not be fully compatible with DirectX.
disk cache Part of the system’s RAM that’s reserved for the data being read from a disk, which allows for faster access. The memory is cleared each time the computer is turned off,
so the data in the cache is only temporary.
distro A Linux distribution that is based on the Linux kernel, to which enhancements have been added.
DMA direct memory access A method of transferring information directly from a hard disk, for example, into memory by bypassing the processor.
DNS See Domain Name System.
docking station You use a docking station with a portable computer to attach additional equipment, such as speakers, CD-ROM, or keyboard, and to plug the portable into a network.
document management software Document management is a method of organizing multiple documents for access by the members of the group. Each user can view other documents and
contribute her or his own. Users also can copy, save, and search documents in the database.
domain name IP addresses are difficult to remember, so domain names can also represent a computer on the Internet. Microsoft’s domain name, for example, is www.microsoft.com.
Domain names usually start with www, which stands for World Wide Web; however, www is not always included in an address. Some addresses route to a different server and therefore
use different prefixes than www; other addresses use a generic routing, so if you don’t use www, the link finds its way on its own.
Domain Name Server See Domain Name System.
Domain Name System DNS A method of matching IP addresses with domain names. When you type a domain name in the URL address area of your browser, that query is transmitted
to a Domain Name Server. A Domain Name Server maintains a database of domain names and IP addresses. The Domain Name Server finds the IP address that matches the domain name
and then sends your request on to that server. The process is called name resolution.
DOS disk operating system An operating system that loads from disk devices at startup. There are various versions of DOS: MS-DOS, IBM DOS, and so on.
dot pitch Every object and character on the screen is made up of dots. The distance between the centers of the dots is called dot pitch. Dot pitch ranges from 0.25 to 0.52 mm.
download A method of retrieving files from another computer, via the Internet or a network.
