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32 Glossary
Glossary
EISA - Extended Industry Standard Architecture. An extension of the 16-bit ISA bus standard.
It allows devices to perform 32-bit data transfers.
External SCSI Device - A SCSI device installed outside the computer cabinet. These devices
are connected in a continuous chain using specific types of shielded cables.
Fast SCSI - A standard for SCSI data transfers. It allows a transfer rate of up to 10 Mbytes/s
over an 8-bit SCSI bus and up to 20 Mbytes/s over a 16-bit SCSI bus.
FCC - Federal Communications Commission.
File - A named collection of information stored on a disk.
Firmware - Software that is permanently stored in ROM. Therefore, it can be accessed during
boot time.
Hard Disk - A disk made of metal and permanently sealed into a drive cartridge. A hard disk
can store very large amounts of information.
Host - The computer system in which a SCSI host adapter is installed. It uses the SCSI host
adapter to transfer information to and from devices attached to the SCSI bus.
Host Adapter - A circuit board or integrated circuit that provides a SCSI bus connection to
the computer system.
Internal SCSI Device - A SCSI device installed inside the computer cabinet. These devices
are connected in a continuous chain using an unshielded ribbon cable.
IRQ - Interrupt Request Channel. A path through which a device can get the immediate
attention of the computer’s CPU. The PCI bus assigns an IRQ path for each SCSI host adapter.
ISA - Industry Standard Architecture. A type of computer bus used in most PC’s. It allows
devices to send and receive data up to 16-bits at a time.
Kbyte - Kilobyte. A measure of computer storage equal to 1024 bytes.
Local Bus - A way to connect peripherals directly to computer memory. It bypasses the slower
ISA and EISA busses. PCI is a local bus standard.
Logical Unit - A subdivision, either logical or physical, of a SCSI device (actually the place
for the device on the SCSI bus). Most devices have only one logical unit, but up to eight are
allowed for each of the eight possible devices on a SCSI bus.
LUN - Logical Unit Number. An identifier, zero to seven, for a logical unit.
LVD - Low-Voltage Differential. LVD is a robust design methodology that improves power
consumption, data integrity, cable lengths and support for multiple devices, while providing a
migration path for increased I/O performance.
Mbyte - Megabyte. A measure of computer storage equal to 1024 kilobytes.
Main Memory - The part of a computer’s memory which is directly accessible by the CPU
(usually synonymous with RAM).
Motherboard (Mainboard ) - A large circuit board that holds RAM, ROM, the microproces-
sor, custom integrated circuits, and other components that make a computer work. It also has
expansion slots for host adapters and other expansion boards.
Multi-tasking - The executing of more than one command at the same time. This allows
programs to operate in parallel.
Multi-threading - The simultaneous accessing of data by more than one SCSI device. This
increases the data throughput.