LaCie Hard Drive User Manual page 45

LaCie Hard Drive User's Manual Glossary
page 44
Initialize, -ed, Initialization – After a hard drive (or other storage device) is formatted and partitioned, some special data
needs to be written to it that helps the Mac and Windows create files and save data. The process is called initialization. This
process, like formatting, causes all user data on the storage device to be lost.
Interface – The protocol data transmitters, data receivers, logic and wiring that link one piece of computer equipment to
another, such as a hard drive to an adapter or an adapter to a system bus. Protocol means a set of rules for operating the
physical interface, such as: do not read or write before the drive is ready.
I/O (Input/Output) – Refers to an operation, program or device whose purpose is to enter data into or to extract data from a
computer.
Isochronous – Data transfer method that ensures that data flows continuously and at a steady rate. These transfers provide
guaranteed transmission opportunities at defined intervals.
Kb (Kilobit) – Equivalent to 1,000 bits.
Kb/s – Kilobits per second. 480Kb/s is equal to 60KB/s.
KB (KiloByte) – Basically, this means 1,000 bytes, but it is actually 1,024 bytes.
KB/s – Kilobytes per second. A means of measuring throughput.
Mb (Megabit) – Equivalent to 1,000,000 bits.
Mb/s – Megabits per second. A means of measuring throughput. 480Mb/s is equal to 60MB/s.
MB (Megabyte) – Basically means one million bytes, but is actually 1,024 Kilobytes or 1,024 x 1,024 bytes, which equals
1,048,576 bytes.
MB/s – Megabytes per second. A means of measuring throughput.
Media – The material or device used to store information in a storage subsystem, such as a tape cartridge, CD, DVD or disk
drive.
Operating System (OS) – Software that controls the assignment and use of hardware resources such as memory, processor
time, disk space and peripherals. An operating system is the basis on which software (applications) run. Windows, Mac OS
and UNIX are among the most common.