Multitech MT5634HD16 User Manual page 69

1. The way text is set up on a page.
2. To prepare a disk for holding information. Formatting a
disk can delete all information that was previously on it.
3. The information is structured in a file, often specific to
one application or protocol.
Frequency: A characteristic of an electrical or electronic
signal which describes the periodic recurrence of cycles.
Frequency is inversely proportional to the wavelength or
pulse width of the signal.
FSK (Frequency Shift Keying): A technology that
establishes two frequencies used to represent binary values.
This was the earliest type of modulation used by 300 bps
modems.
Full-duplex: A method of transmitting and receiving data
simultaneously over a single pair of wires. Compare with
Half-Duplex.
G
Gateway: A workstation which serves as a protocol
converter (translator) between two or more dissimilar
networks, providing incompatible systems.
H
Half-Duplex: The transmission of data in both directions,
but only one direction at a time. Compare with Full-Duplex.
Handshaking: A process that two modems go through at
the time of call setup to establish synchronization over the
data communications link. It is a synchronization and
negotiation process, accomplished by the exchange of
predefined, mutually recognized control codes.
Hard Disk: A metal disk covered with magnetic recording
material. Some can hold up to several gigabytes of
information. Contrast with floppy disk.
Hardware: The equipment that makes up your computer
system, including the keyboard, mouse, disk drives, and
monitor.
Hexadecimal: A base 16 numbering system used to
represent binary values. Hex uses the numbers 0-9 and the
letters A-f; usually notated by an "h" (as in "4CF h", read as
"four charley fox, hex"). The result is that one hex digit
represents a four-bit value.
Host: The computer that is designated as retaining
information or processing power to service the needs of
other computers or terminal. Mainframes and mid-range
computers are hosts, as well as PCs with powerful
microprocessors. Often a PC on a LAN will be set up as a host
to provide LAN access for remote users.
I
CommPlete Communications Server
I/O Addresses: Locations within the I/O address space of
your computer used by a device, such as an expansion card,
a serial port, or an internal modem. The address is used for
communication between software and a device.
Initialize: To begin anew and establish start-up parameters.
This typically involves clearing all or some part of the
device's memory or disk space.
Interface: A common meeting ground supplied by hardware
or software to facilitate a compatible connection and
operation between two devices or programs. For example,
when two PCs are connected they use a common interface
across the physical connectors so that the signals being sent
and received are accurately interpreted. With software, an
interface is a module created to be "written to". That is, if
two programs are written to the same interface, they can be
successfully linked together.
IPX (Internet Packet Exchange): A data transport protocol
developed by Novell used to route messages from one node
to another. Application programs that manage their own
client/server or peer-to-peer communications in a Novell
network can access IPX directly. IPX does not guarantee the
delivery of a message. Compare with SPX.
IRQ Level (Interrupt Request Level): The notification a
processor receives when another portion of the computer's
hardware requires its attention. IRQs are numbered so that
the device issuing the IRQ can be identified, and so IRQs can
be prioritized.
ISA (Industry Standards Architecture - pronounced "ice
a"): The classic 8 or 16-bit architecture introduced with
IBM's PC-AT computer. Due to speed constraints, IBM
introduced a restructured Micro Channel Architecture with a
32-bit bus and increased addressing capabilities.
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network): International
telecommunications standard for transmitting voice, video
and data over a digital communications line.
ISI (Intelligent Serial Interface): Multi-Tech's multiport
serial card with an on-board processor and 50K or RAM for
data buffering. The ISI does more than provide additional
serial ports. It enhances the serial port performance with the
data buffering, and it holds the data it receives until an entire
block can be transferred to the processor. This allows the
computer's processor to be interrupted less often, so it can
perform more efficiently.
J
Job: The unit of work being processed by the computer.
K
Kermit: An asynchronous file transfer protocol noted for its
accuracy over noisy lines.
Glossary
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