Acomdata EXTERNAL E5 HARD DRIVE USB 2.0 User Manual page 82

cific file system. Formatting is often
referred to as initializing on the Mac.
Gigabyte – 1,024 megabytes (bina-
ry); 1,000 megabytes (decimal), or
approximately one billion bytes.
Hot-Pluggable – The ability to
connect and disconnect peripheral
devices while the computer is run-
ning.
Hub – A device which links periph-
erals onto the same data bus.
Interface – Junction between two
items of hardware or software for
the exchange of data.
Mbps (Megabits per second) – A
measurement of data transmission
speed. For data transmissions, the
base unit is the bit rather than the
byte. Using bits is a truer measure
of raw performance because it
negates the need to differenti-
ate between the part of the data
stream that makes up the file(s)
being sent and the accompanying
data protocols that structure and
govern data communications.
MB (Megabyte) – 1,048,576 bytes
(binary); 1,000,000 bytes (decimal).
Partition – A fixed amount of
reserved storage space on a hard
disk. A disk can contain one or
more partitions. A partition must
be formatted with a compatible file
system in order to mount to a given
operating system. A mounted parti-
tion is treated as a discrete volume.
Port – A connection which enables
compatible devices to send and
receive data. A port can be either
hardware-based or software based.
Startup Disk – The disk from which
a computer loads its operating sys-
tem. Also called a "boot volume. "
Volume – A formatted hard drive
partition. The term "volume" is
often used as a synonym for the
hard drive itself when the drive con-
tains a single partition. However, it
is possible for a hard drive to con-
tain more than one volume, or for
a single volume to span more than
one hard drive.
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