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Glossary 35
file server A computer that serves files to clients. A file server may be a general-
purpose computer that’s capable of hosting additional applications or a computer
capable only of serving files.
file system A scheme for storing data on storage devices that allows applications to
read and write files without having to deal with lower-level details.
File Transfer Protocol See FTP.
FTP File Transfer Protocol. A protocol that allows computers to transfer files over a
network. FTP clients using any operating system that supports FTP can connect to a file
server and download files, depending on their access privileges. Most Internet browsers
and a number of freeware applications can be used to access an FTP server.
group A collection of users who have similar needs. Groups simplify the administration
of shared resources.
guest user A user who can log in to your server without a user name or password.
home directory See home folder.
home folder A folder for a user’s personal use. Mac OS X also uses the home folder to
store system preferences and managed user settings for Mac OS X users. Also known as
a home directory.
host Another name for a server.
host name A unique name for a computer, historically referred to as the UNIX
hostname.
iChat The Mac OS X instant messaging application.
iChat service The Mac OS X Server service that hosts secure chats. iChat service uses
Open Directory authentication to verify the identity of chatters and SSL to protect the
privacy of users while they chat.
Internet A set of interconnected computer networks communicating through a
common protocol (TCP/IP). The Internet is the most extensive publicly accessible
system of interconnected computer networks in the world.
Internet Protocol See IP.
IP Internet Protocol. Also known as IPv4. A method used with Transmission Control
Protocol (TCP) to send data between computers over a local network or the Internet. IP
delivers data packets and TCP keeps track of data packets.
IP address A unique numeric address that identifies a computer on the Internet.