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n
COM
The device names for the first through fourth serial
ports on your system are COM1, COM2, COM3, and
COM4. The default interrupt for COM1 and COM3
is IRQ4, and the default interrupt for COM2 and
COM4 is IRQ3. Therefore, you must be careful when
configuring software that runs a serial device so that
you don't create an interrupt conflict.
config.sys file
The config.sys file is executed when you boot your
system (before running any commands in the
autoexec.bat file). This start-up file contains
commands that specify which devices to install and
which drivers to use. This file also contains commands
that determine how the operating system uses memory
and controls files.
console redirection
Console redirection is a function that directs a
managed system's display screen, mouse functions, and
keyboard functions to the corresponding devices on a
management station. You may then use the
management station's system console to control the
managed system.
controller
A chip that controls the transfer of data between the
microprocessor and memory or between the
microprocessor and a peripheral device such as a disk
drive or the keyboard.
control panel
The part of the system that contains indicators and
controls, such as the power switch, hard drive access
indicator, and power indicator.
conventional memory
The first 640 KB of RAM. Conventional memory is
found in all systems. Unless they are specially designed,
®
MS-DOS
programs are limited to running in
conventional memory.
CPU
Abbreviation for central processing unit. See also
microprocessor.
device driver
A program that allows the operating system or some
other program to interface correctly with a peripheral
device, such as a printer. Some device drivers—such as
network drivers—must be loaded from the config.sys
file (with a device= statement) or as memory-resident
programs (usually, from the autoexec.bat file).
Others—such as video drivers—must load when you
start the program for which they were designed.
DHCP
Abbreviation for Dynamic Host Configuration
Protocol, a protocol that provides a means to
dynamically allocate IP addresses to computers on a
LAN.
DIMM
Acronym for dual in-line memory module. A small
circuit board containing DRAM chips that connects to
the system board.
directory
Directories help keep related files organized on a disk
in a hierarchical, "inverted tree" structure. Each disk
has a "root" directory; for example, a C:\> prompt
normally indicates that you are at the root directory of
hard drive C. Additional directories that branch off of
the root directory are called subdirectories.
Subdirectories may contain additional directories
branching off of them.
DKS
Abbreviation for dynamic kernel support.
DMA
Abbreviation for direct memory access. A DMA
channel allows certain types of data transfer between
RAM and a device to bypass the microprocessor.
Glossary
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