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Definitions
The Support Glossary contains definitions and explanations of many technical terms.
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AppalNet
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- Appalachian's AppalNet is a web portal providing information and resources from the Appalachian State community. AppalNet access includes faculty, staff and student resources such as calendaring, email, and group services.
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Banner
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- Appalachian's administrative computing system. Banner is usually accessed through AppalNet.
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Ethernet
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- Ethernet is a standard connectivity technology used for computer networking. There are three common speeds for networks connected using Ethernet cables: 10 megabits per second, 100 megabits per second, and 1 gigabit per second. Ethernet connections can, additionally, be either half-duplex (transfers travel one direction at a time) or full-duplex (transfers can travel both directions simultaneously). Also see Wireless Ethernet.
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Firefox
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- Mozilla Firefox is a free web browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation. The purpose of the project is to create a fast, extensible, and standards compliant web browser.
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Hub
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- A hub is a networking component that allows a connection to branch out to multiple devices, effectively 'splitting' a single connection into multiple connections. All of the devices connected to the switch are directly connecting to the network, unlike a router which creates or manages an internal network. Hubs broadcast data transferred to all clients connected to the hub, which can lead to network congestion on a busy network. Some networking applications, however, require that all clients receive any data that is broadcast and so hubs are naturally a good choice in these situations.
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IMAP
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- The Internet Message Access Protocol, or IMAP, is a type of email service in which messages are stored on a server and remotely accessed by a client. This is in contrast to POP, in which messages are downloaded from a server to the local machine, and accessed on the local machine once downloaded.
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Linux
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- Linux is a free operating system kernel developed by Linus Torvalds. The Linux kernel serves as the most central part of any Linux version, or distribution, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Fedora, or Ubuntu Linux.
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Mac
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- The term Mac is short for Macintosh, the computer brand manufactured by Apple. Though Macs are technically personal computers, Apple differentiates Macs from PCs. The more specific terms 'Windows PC', 'Linux PC', and 'Mac' can be more descriptive.
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Mac OS
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- Mac OS is a trademark operating system developed by Apple that is designed to run on Mac computer hardware. Mac OS Classic refers to versions up to and including Mac OS 9. Versions newer than Mac OS 9 are all, so far, branded Mac OS X, with an additional version descriptor such as 10.1 or 10.5.
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Media Access Control (MAC)
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- The Media Access Control, or MAC, address is the unique number given to networking hardware for identification purposes. Each wired and wireless NIC, router, switch, and hub all have unique MAC addresses, which usually are grouped by device and manufacturer. The MAC address is also referred to as the physical address. Note that the MAC address has nothing to do with Mac computers, other than that Mac networking hardware has a physical address.
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Modem
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- A modem is a computer hardware component for connecting to a network, usually to gain access to the Internet, over an analog phone line. Note that modems are not the same as a network interface controller (NIC).
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Moodle
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- Moodle is an Open Source online learning and course management system.
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Motherboard
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- The motherboard of a desktop or laptop computer is the main, central hardware component to which other components such as the CPU connect. Motherboards may have many integrated devices such as sound or video, so that connecting additional hardware for features is not necessary.
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Network Interface Controller (NIC)
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- Network Interface Controllers (NICs) are computer hardware components that allow a computer to connect to a network, usually to gain connectivity to the Internet. NICs can be either wired (having a port to plug an Ethernet cable into) or wireless. Note that modems are not usually considered NICs; the term modem is much more specific.
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Office
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- Microsoft Office is a suite of software developed for general word processing, data manipulation, and presentational uses. The versions available are comprised of various combinations of Word (word processing), Excel (spreadsheet), Powerpoint (presentation), Access (database), Frontpage (web development), Publisher (desk top publishing), Outlook (email, contact, and scheduling) and more.
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PC
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- The term PC is an abbreviation for Personal Computer. In more modern terms, it refers specifically to a personal computer running the Microsoft Windows operating system as opposed to an Apple Mac computer. Technically, Macs are also personal computers. The more specific terms 'Windows PC', 'Linux PC', and 'Mac' can be more descriptive.
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POP
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- The Post Office Protocol, or POP, is a type of email service in which messages are downloaded from a server to the local machine, and accessed on the local machine once downloaded. This is in contrast to IMAP, in which messages are stored on a server and remotely accessed by a client.
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Project
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- Microsoft Project is a program for managing and organizing projects.
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ResNet
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- ResNet (Residential Network) is a computer network system that provides Internet and network connections to students living on campus.
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Router
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- A router is a networking hardware component that controls the flow of data from one network (usually an external connection to the Internet) to another network (usually an internal local area network, or LAN). Routers are typically plugged into an external network using a cable, and then the internal network can be wired, wireless, or both.
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SAS
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- SAS is an integrated software environment. SAS once stood for 'Statistical Analysis System', but this is not longer the case. The main services provided by SAS are statistical inference, but other modules include human resource management, business intelligence and more.
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Seamonkey
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- Mozilla Seamonkey is a suite of Internet applications developed by the Mozilla Foundation. The suite includes a web browser, email client, HTML composer, and address book.
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SMTP
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- The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, or SMTP, is a standard method by which email messages are sent. Organizations with email service will often have a server which provides the SMTP mail sending service.
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Sound Card
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- The term 'sound card' historically refers to the physical component of a computer responsible for audio playback and recording, specifically in the form factor of a card that plugged into a slot on the motherboard. Modern usage of this term indicates any type of audio hardware, whether in the card form factor or integrated directly as a chip on the motherboard.
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SPSS
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- Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, or SPSS, is a software suite available for statistical education and research.
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Switch
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- A switch is a networking component that allows a connection to branch out to multiple devices, effectively 'splitting' a single connection into multiple connections. All of the devices connected to the switch are directly connecting to the network, unlike a router which creates or manages an internal network. Switches are typically better than hubs at balancing the load of network traffic from independent clients.
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Thunderbird
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- Mozilla Thunderbird is an email client developed by the Mozilla Foundation.
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Video Card
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- The term 'video card' historically refers to the physical component of a computer responsible for video playback to a screen, specifically in the form factor of a card that plugged into a slot on the motherboard. Modern usage of this term indicates any type of video display hardware, whether in the card form factor or integrated directly as a chip on the motherboard.
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Visio
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- Microsoft Visio is a program for creating a variety of business and other technical drawings.
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Windows
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- Windows is a trademark graphical operating system developed by Microsoft that is designed to run on personal computer (PC) hardware. Windows has been released in many versions, including Windows XP and Windows Vista.
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Wireless Ethernet
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- Wireless Ethernet is a wireless connection technology for computer networks. There are three standard, common speeds currently: 802.11b is 11 megabits per second, 802.11a and 802.11g are 54 megabits per second, and 802.11n is 74 megabits per second.
