Glossary - Maxtor FireWire 800 User Manual

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Glossary

Backup – In Restropsect HD, a backup contains all the files and folders
you selected to back up from a specific point in time. Previous backups are
preserved, allowing you to store copies of your backup files from multiple
points in time. See Restore Point.
Byte – A unit of storage on a drive that holds a single character. A byte is
equal to 8 bits.
Capacity – The amount of information, measured in bytes, that can be
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stored on a drive. Also known as storage capacity.
Daisy chain – A hardware configuration in which peripheral devices are
connected to each other in a series. The FireWire interface, for example,
supports a daisy chain of up to 62 drives.
Data Transfer Rate – The speed at which data transfers to and from
the drive.
Defrag – (or defragment) A software utility that keeps the data for each
file physically contiguous on the drive, which can enhance your drive's
performance.
Device Driver – A software program that enables a PC to communicate
with peripheral devices such as hard drives and CD-ROM drives. Each type
of device requires a different driver. Device driver programs are stored on a
computer's hard drive and are loaded into memory when the computer is
started or when a device is plugged into the computer.
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Duplicate – In Retrospect Express HD, a duplicate saves the most
recent version of files, in their original format, and overwrites the previous
version.
External Hard Drive – A external peripheral device containing a hard
drive mechanism connected to a computer via a FireWire or USB interface.
FireWire – The FireWire interface, also known as 1394 and i.LINK, is a
high-performance, serial bus defined by the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) as a standard for connecting digital devices
together. It is ideal for connecting computers and hard drives to digital
video and audio equipment.
GB – (Gigabyte) Equal to 1,000,000,000 (billion) bytes.
Hard Drive – An electromechanical device used for information storage
and retrieval, incorporating one or more rotating disks on which data is
recorded, stored, and read magnetically.
Hot-Swap – This feature allows you to connect and disconnect external
devices while the computer and the devices are running. External drives,
such as the Maxtor OneTouch II drive can be hot-swapped.
KB – (Kilobyte) Equal to 1,000 (thousand) bytes.
MB – (Megabyte) Equal to 1,000,000 (million) bytes.