Dell PowerVault DP100 - Manual (Page 15)

device driver — A program that allows the operating system or some other program to interface correctly with a peripheral. Some device drivers—such as
network drivers—must be loaded from the config.sys file or as memory-resident programs (usually, from the autoexec.bat file). Others must load when you
start the program for which they were designed.
DHCP — Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. A method of automatically assigning an IP address to a client system.
diagnostics — A comprehensive set of tests for your system.
DIMM — Dual in-line memory module. See also memory module.
DIN — Deutsche Industrie Norm.
directory — Directories help keep related files organized on a disk in a hierarchical, "inverted tree" structure. Each disk has a "root" directory. Additional
directories that branch off the root directory are called subdirectories. Subdirectories may contain additional directories branching off them.
DMA — Direct memory access. A DMA channel allows certain types of data transfer between RAM and a device to bypass the processor.
DMI — Desktop Management Interface. DMI enables the management of your system's software and hardware by collecting information about the system's
components, such as the operating system, memory, peripherals, expansion cards, and asset tag.
DNS — Domain Name System. A method of translating Internet domain names, such as www.dell.com, into IP addresses, such as 143.166.83.200.
DRAM — Dynamic random-access memory. A system's RAM is usually made up entirely of DRAM chips.
DVD — Digital versatile disc.
ECC — Error checking and correction.
EEPROM — Electronically erasable programmable read-only memory.
EMC — Electromagnetic compatibility.
EMI — Electromagnetic interference.
ERA — Embedded remote access. ERA allows you to perform remote, or "out-of-band," server management on your network server using a remote access
controller.
ESD — Electrostatic discharge.
ESM — Embedded server management.
expansion bus — Your system contains an expansion bus that allows the processor to communicate with controllers for peripherals, such as NICs.
expansion card — An add-in card, such as a NIC or SCSI adapter, that plugs into an expansion-card connector on the system board. An expansion card adds
some specialized function to the system by providing an interface between the expansion bus and a peripheral.
expansion-card connector — A connector on the system board or riser board for plugging in an expansion card.
F — Fahrenheit.
FAT — File allocation table. The file system structure used by MS-DOS to organize and keep track of file storage. The Microsoft® Windows® operating systems
can optionally use a FAT file system structure.
flash memory — A type of EEPROM chip that can be reprogrammed from a utility on diskette while still installed in a system; most EEPROM chips can only be
rewritten with special programming equipment.
format — To prepare a hard drive or diskette for storing files. An unconditional format deletes all data stored on the disk.
FSB — Front-side bus. The FSB is the data path and physical interface between the processor and the main memory (RAM).
ft — Feet.
FTP — File transfer protocol.
g — Gram(s).
G — Gravities.
Gb — Gigabit(s); 1024 megabits or 1,073,741,824 bits.
GB — Gigabyte(s); 1024 megabytes or 1,073,741,824 bytes. However, when referring to hard-drive capacity, the term is usually rounded to 1,000,000,000
bytes.
graphics mode — A video mode that can be defined as x horizontal by y vertical pixels by z colors.
group — As it relates to DMI, a group is a data structure that defines common information, or attributes, about a manageable component.
guarding — A type of data redundancy in which a set of physical drives stores data and an additional drive stores parity data. See also mirroring, striping, and
RAID.
h — Hexadecimal. A base-16 numbering system, often used in programming to identify addresses in the system's RAM and I/O memory addresses for devices.
In text, hexadecimal numbers are often followed by h.
headless system — A system or device that functions without having a keyboard, mouse, or monitor attached. Normally, headless systems are managed over
a network using an Internet browser.
host adapter — A host adapter implements communication between the system's bus and the controller for a peripheral device. (Hard-drive controller