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control programs such as the operating system and database management sys-
tem (DBMS). Application software is any program that processes data for the
user.
A common misconception is that software is data. It is not. Software tells the
hardware how to process the data.
SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) - Market segment of professionals who
work at home or in small offices.
Static IP Address - A permanent IP address that is assigned to a node in a
TCP/IP network.
Static Routing - Forwarding data in a network via a fixed path. Static routing
cannot adjust to changing line conditions as can dynamic routing.
Storage - The semi-permanent or permanent holding place for digital data.
STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) - Telephone wire that is wrapped in a metal
sheath to eliminate external interference.
Subnet Mask - The method used for splitting IP networks into a series of sub-
groups, or subnets. The mask is a binary pattern that is matched up with the IP
address to turn part of the host ID address field into a field for subnets.
Swapping - Replacing one segment of a program in memory with another and
restoring it back to the original when required.
Switch – 1. A data switch connects computing devices to host computers,
allowing a large number of devices to share a limited number of ports. 2. A
device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical cir-
cuit.
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) - A method (protocol) used along with
the Internet Protocol (Internet Protocol) to send data in the form of message
units between computers over the Internet. While IP takes care of handling the
actual delivery of the data, TCP takes care of keeping track of the individual
units of data (called packets) that a message is divided into for efficient rout-
ing through the Internet.
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Instant Broadband
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Series
diagnostic tool or debugging feature, especially when fending off an attack. It
enables the administrator to keep close track of switch performance and alter it
if necessary. Port mirroring can be managed locally or remotely.
PPPoE (Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet) - A method used mostly by
DSL providers for connecting personal computers to a broadband modem for
Internet access. It is similar to how a dial-up connection works but at higher
speeds and quicker access.
PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) - A protocol (set of communication
rules) that allows corporations to extend their own corporate network through pri-
vate “tunnels” over the public Internet. Effectively, a corporation uses a wide-area
network as a single large local area network. A company no longer needs to lease
its own lines for wide-area communication but can securely use the public net-
works. This kind of interconnection is known as a virtual private network (VPN).
PrintServer - A hardware device that enables a printer to be located anywhere
in the network.
RIP (Routing Information Protocol) - A simple routing protocol that is part of
the TCP/IP protocol suite. It determines a route based on the smallest hop count
between source and destination. RIP is a distance vector protocol that routine-
ly broadcasts routing information to its neighboring routers and is known to
waste bandwidth. AppleTalk, DECnet, TCP/IP, NetWare, and VINES all use
incompatible versions of RIP.
RJ-11 (Registered Jack-11) - A telephone connector that holds up to six wires.
The RJ-11 is the common connector used to plug a telephone into a wall.
RJ-45 - A connector similar to a telephone connector that holds up to eight
wires, used for connecting Ethernet devices.
Router - Protocol-dependent device that connects subnetworks together.
Routers are useful in breaking down a very large network into smaller subnet-
works; they introduce longer delays and typically have much lower throughput
rates than bridges.
Server - Any computer whose function in a network is to provide user access
to files, printing, communications, and other services.
Software - Instructions for the computer. A series of instructions that performs
a particular task is called a “program.” The two major categories of software are
“system software” and “application software.” System software is made up of
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