Application
— Organized
sets of software
instructions
designed to perform
specific tasks.1
Application
Program Interface
(API) —
Standardized
software
instructions that
control the
interaction between
the computer and
software
applications used to
perform specific
tasks.2
Broadband
— One of
several types of
high-speed Internet
access.
Backup
— The
process of
safeguarding data by
copying it to
another computer or
data storage medium.
Central
Processor Unit (CPU)
— Circuitry
inside a computer
usually contained
within a single
microchip that
performs the core
data processing on
which the rest of
the computer's
functions depend.
Client
Access License (CAL)
— Software
licensing that
allows a specific
number of users
and/or devices to
use the services
provided by network
software.
Client
Device —
Hardware — such as
a desktop PC,
notebook PC, tablet
PC, smartphone, or
Pocket PC — that
can be connected to
and accessed via a
network.
Driver
— Software
that enables a
computer to
communicate with a
specific client
device, such as a
printer.
Firewall
— Software
and/or hardware used
to protect a private
network from
unauthorized outside
access.
Hub
— Hardware
device used to
interconnect client
devices and servers
on a network.
Intranet
— A means of
providing controlled
access to shared
data within an
organization,
usually via a Web
browser.
Network
— Client
devices and servers
that are
interconnected to
enable the sharing
of data, network
services and access
to the Internet.
Operating
System (OS)
— Set of
software
instructions that
controls the
interaction of the
computer's hardware
components so that
they work together
in an orderly and
efficient way; the
user interface (U.I.);
and the interaction
between the computer
and software
applications and
other hardware
devices.
Peer-to-Peer
Network —
Simple networking
method where client
devices are
interconnected to
each other without a
central server, or
servers.
Random
Access Memory (RAM)
— Circuitry
in a computer that
temporarily holds
data the CPU can
access to perform
user-requested
tasks. In general,
more RAM allows a
CPU to work faster,
because data is
moved into and out
of RAM less
frequently.
Return
on Investment (ROI)
—
Measurement by which
the benefits
realized from a
business expenditure
— often
technology-related
— offset or exceed
its monetary cost.
Server
— Network
computer that
manages shared
resources, like data
files or access to a
printer.
Server
Application
— Organized
sets of software
instructions
installed on a
server and designed
to perform specific
tasks via a
one-to-many
relationship between
the server and
multiple clients and
client devices.
Server-based
Networking
— Networking
method where client
devices are
interconnected to
each other and to a
central server, or
servers.
Server
Operating System
(Server OS)
— Set of
software
instructions that,
in addition to the
core tasks of a
client operating
system, also:
manages a
one-to-many
relationship between
the server and
multiple users and
user devices;
controls access and
security for server
resources, such as
shared data,
Internet access and
network devices; and
serves as a platform
on which server
applications run.
Software
License —
Rights granted by
the publisher of a
commercial software
product that
establish the terms
of use for that
product. Software
licenses may
stipulate how many
users or devices can
use the software.
Switch
— Hardware
device, similar to a
hub, used to
interconnect client
devices and servers
on a network, but
with added
functionality to
make the flow of
network data more
efficient.
User
Interface (UI)
— Portion of
a computer operating
system that controls
how users interact
with the computer.
Virus
— Malicious
software written
with the express
intent of damaging
its host computer
and infecting any
computers connected
to the host, whether
by a network or the
Internet.
