Multitech MT5634HD16 User Manual page 70

MT5634HD8/16 User Guide
Kernel: The core of an operating system which interacts
directly with the system hardware. While most operating
systems are based on the concept of a kernel, the term is best
recognized as a fundamental of the UNIX operating system.
Kernels have been expanded to include commonly-used
utilities, but with the advent of the "micro kernel", the
original modular design of UNIX is being revived.
Kilobit: One thousand bits. A unit of measure for digital
data rates.
Kilobyte: One thousand bytes. A unit of measure for digital
data rates. Not to be confused with "K", which stands for z
bytes of storage space, either in memory or on disk. 1K of
disk space is actually 1024 bytes. 16K is 65,536 bytes, and 1M
(meg) is 1,048,576 bytes.
L
LAM (Line Adapter Module): The cabling that connects the
phone line to the PCMCIA modem card.
LAN Card: An IC Card that complies with the PCMCIA Card
Services Interface Specification, Release 2.0. LAN cards can
be connected to laptops or palmtop computers which, in
turn, can be interconnected to local LAN services.
Leased Line: A private, dedicated communications channel
that connects two locations. This connection lasts for the
duration of the subscription. Leased lines may be
conditioned to improve line quality over that of dial-up
lines.
Line Conditioning: An additional cost option offered by the
telephone company for their leased, voice-grade lines. The
service provides a careful balance of line enhancements to
improve the frequency response and to reduce distortion.
LPTx (Line Printer): The parallel port interface on a PC. It
provides a 25-pin connector for parallel transfer of data and
printer controls, commonly used for parallel printers. A
maximum of four I/O addresses are set with DOS parameters
LPT1, LPT2, LPT3 and LPT4.
LRC (Longitudinal Redundancy Check): An error
checking method that generates a parity bit from the
specified string of bits on a longitudinal track. In a row and
column format such as on magnetic tape, LRC is often used
with VRC, which creates a parity bit for each character.
M
Macro: A series of keystrokes, commands, and/or menu
selections that have been recorded and assigned a key or key
combination. When those keys are pressed, the macro is
executed from beginning to end.
Magnetic Disk: A non-volatile computer storage device that
uses one or more magnetic-coated disk platters that can be
recorded over and over again. Hard disks, minifloppies (5-
64
1/4") and microfloppies (3-1/2") are examples of magnetic
disks.
Mainframe: A large, powerful computer used to centralize a
data processing environment. It has hundreds of gigabytes
of storage space. It uses a frond end processor to connect
directly to the communications channels that interconnect
terminals and computers.
Megabyte: One million bytes, when describing a data rate.
1M of disk space may actually mean 1,048,576 bytes.
Mid-range computer: A term coined by IBM, referring to
10
any of their Advanced Business Systems computers. This
product line was originally called their mini-computers, but
as the number of supported users approached mainframe
capabilities, the term "mid-range" caught on.
MI/MIC (mode indicate/mode indicate common
interface): A user definable feature that defines various
combinations of edge or level detection in Originate or
Answer mode, with the Ring Indicator (RI) pulse enabled or
disabled.
Mnemonics: A term assigned to a complex idea, value, or
list of information which is found to be representative of that
information. Computer commands are almost entirely
mnemonics. Mnemonics are used as memory aids for
people.
MNP (Microcom Networking Protocol): A family of
communications protocols from Microcom that have
become de facto standards for error correction and data
compression.
MNP Class 3&4: The de facto error correction standard
from Microcom.
MNP Class 5: The most widely used data compression
scheme before V.42 bis took hold. MNP5 offers "2-to-1" data
compression.
MNP Class 7: MNP's "3-to-1" data compression scheme.
MNP7 never became a de facto standard because of V.42 bis
"4-to-1" compression.
Modem: A communications device that enables a computer
to transmit information over a telephone line. It converts the
computer's digital signals into analog signals to send over a
telephone line and converts them back to digital signals at
the receiving end. Modems can be internal and fit into an
expansion slot, or external and connect to a serial port.
Modulation: The process of encoding information from one
signal (called the source) into another (called the carrier) by
modifying some characteristic(s) of the carrier. It is often
used in telecommunications when one type of signal must be
converted for transmission over an otherwise incompatible
medium.
CommPlete Communications Server