Filter
Top Products
Glossary 203
MBR
Abbreviation for master boot record.
MCA
Abbreviation for Micro Channel Architecture, which is
designed for multiprocessing. MCA eliminates
potential conflicts that arise when installing new
peripheral devices. MCA is not compatible with either
EISA or XT bus architecture, so older cards cannot be
used with it.
memory
A computer can contain several different forms of
memory, such as RAM, ROM, and video memory.
Frequently, the word
memory
is used as a synonym for
RAM; for example, an unqualified statement such as
“a computer with 16 MB of memory” refers to a
computer with 16 MB of RAM.
memory address
A specific location, usually expressed as a hexadecimal
number, in the computer's RAM.
memory manager
A utility that controls the implementation of memory
in addition to conventional memory, such as extended
or expanded memory.
memory module
A small circuit board containing DRAM chips that
connects to the system board.
MHz
Abbreviation for megahertz.
MIB
Acronym for management information base. MIB is
used to send detailed status/commands from or to an
SNMP managed device.
microprocessor
The primary computational chip inside the computer that
controls the interpretation and execution of arithmetic and
logic functions. Software written for one microprocessor
must usually be revised to run on another
microprocessor.
CPU
is a synonym for microprocessor.
MIDI
Abbreviation for musical instrument digital interface.
MIF
Acronym for management information format. A MIF
file contains information, status, and links to
component instrumentation. MIF files are installed
into the MIF database by the DMI service layer. The
content of a MIF is defined by a DTMF working
committee and is published in the form of a MIF
definition document. This document identifies the
groups and attributes that are relevant to
DMI-manageable components.
mm
Abbreviation for millimeter(s).
modem
A device that allows your computer to communicate
with other computers over telephone lines.
MOF
Acronym for managed object format, which is an ASCII
file that contains the formal definition of a CIM schema.
mouse
A pointing device that controls the movement of the
cursor on a screen. Mouse-aware software allows you to
activate commands by clicking a mouse button while
pointing at objects displayed on the screen.
MPEG
Acronym for Motion Picture Experts Group. MPEG is
a digital video file format.
ms
Abbreviation for millisecond(s).
MTBF
Abbreviation for mean time between failures.
multifrequency monitor
A monitor that supports several video standards.
A multifrequency monitor can adjust to the frequency
range of the signal from a variety of video adapters.