10BaseT
10 Megabit per second baseband Ethernet specification using two pairs of twisted-pair cabling (Category 3, 4, or 5): one pair for transmitting data and the other for receiving data. 10BaseT has a distance limit of approximately 100 meters per segment.

100BaseT
100 Megabit per second baseband Fast Ethernet specification using UTP wiring. Like the 10BaseT technology on which it is based, 100BaseT sends link pulses over the network segment when no traffic is present. However, these link pulses contain more information than those used in 10BaseT.

A Record
An A record is part of the zone file. It is used to point Internet traffic to an IP address. For example, you can use an “A record” to designate abc.yourdomain.com to send traffic to your website at IP address 209.15.32.135. You can also designate xyz.yourdomain.com to go to a separate IP address.

Access [Microsoft®]
MS Access®, published by Microsoft, is an easy-to-use and highly integrated database creation and maintenance software. Capable of online databases, the software is supported with the NT® hosting platform.

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)
A method for moving data over regular phone lines. An ADSL circuit is much faster than a regular phone connection, and the wires coming into the subscriber’s premises are the same (copper) wires used for regular phone service. An ADSL circuit must be configured to connect two specific locations, similar to a leased line.

A commonly discussed configuration of ADSL allows a subscriber to receive data (download) at speeds of up to 1.544 Megabits per second and to send (upload) data at speeds of 128 kilobits per second. Thus, the ‘Asymmetric’ part of the acronym.

Another commonly discussed configuration would be symmetrical: 384 kilobits per second in both directions. In theory, ADSL allows download speeds of up to 9 megabits per second and upload speeds of up to 640 kilobits per second.

ADSL is often discussed as an alternative to ISDN, allowing higher speeds in cases where the connection is always to the same place.

Anonymous FTP
Anonymous File Transfer Protocol allows the public to log into an FTP server with a common login (usually “ftp” or “anonymous”) and any password (usually the person’s e-mail address is used as the password). Anonymous FTP is beneficial for the distribution of large files to the public, avoiding the need to assign large numbers of login and password combinations for FTP access.

Applet
A small Java program that can be embedded in an HTML page. Applets differ from full-fledged Java applications in that they are not allowed to access certain resources on the local computer, such as files and serial devices (modems, printers, etc.), and are prohibited from communicating with most other computers across a network. The current rule is that an applet can only make an Internet connection to the computer from which the applet was sent.

Archie
A tool (software) for finding files stored on anonymous FTP sites. You need to know the exact file name or a substring of it.

ARPANet (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network)
The precursor to the Internet. A landmark packet-switching network established in 1969 by the US Department of Defense as an experiment in wide-area networking that would survive a nuclear war.

ASP (Active Server Pages)
ASP files provide web developers with an easier, faster, and more powerful way to build web applications. These files are regular HTML pages with embedded scripts. These scripts can be written in any language and processed by the server when the file’s URL is requested.
(Source: Microsoft)

ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)
International standard for cell relay in which multiple service types (such as voice, video, or data) are conveyed in fixed-length (53-byte) cells. Fixed-length cells allow cell processing to occur in hardware, thereby reducing transit delays. ATM is designed to take advantage of high-speed transmission media such as E3, SONET, and T3.

ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)
The de facto worldwide standard for the code numbers used by computers to represent all the upper and lower-case Latin letters, numbers, punctuation, etc. There are 128 standard ASCII codes, each of which can be represented by a 7-digit binary number: 0000000 through 1111111, plus parity.

Backbone
A high-speed line or series of connections that forms a major pathway within a network. The term is relative, as a backbone in a small network will likely be much smaller than many non-backbone lines in a large network.

Bandwidth
The difference between the highest and lowest frequencies available for network signals. The term is also used to describe the rated throughput capacity of a given network medium or protocol. In short, bandwidth is a loose term used to describe the throughput capacity (measured in Kilobits or Megabits per second) of a specific circuit.

Baud
Unit of signaling speed equal to the number of discrete signal elements transmitted per second. Baud is synonymous with bits per second (bps). In common usage, the baud rate of a modem is how many bits it can send or receive per second. Technically, baud is the number of times per second that the carrier signal shifts value. For example, a 1200 bit-per-second modem actually runs at 300 baud, but it moves 4 bits per baud (4 x 300 = 1200 bits per second).

BBS (Bulletin Board System)
A computerized meeting and announcement system that allows people to carry on discussions, upload and download files, and make announcements without being connected to the computer at the same time. There are many thousands (or even millions) of BBSs around the world. Most are very small, running on a single IBM-compatible PC with one or two phone lines. Some are very large, and the distinction between a BBS and a system like CompuServe becomes blurred at a certain point.

Binhex (BINary HEXadecimal)
A method for converting non-text files (non-ASCII) into ASCII. This is needed because Internet e-mail can only handle ASCII.

Bit (Binary DigIT)
A single digit number in base-2, either a 1 or a zero. It is the smallest unit of computerized data. Bandwidth is usually measured in bits per second.

BITNET (Because It’s Time NETwork)
A network of educational sites separate from the Internet, but e-mail is freely exchanged between BITNET and the Internet. Listservs, the most popular form of e-mail discussion groups, originated on BITNET. BITNET machines are usually mainframes running the VMS operating system, and the network is likely the only international network that is shrinking.

Bps (Bits-Per-Second)
A measurement of how fast data is moved from one place to another. A 28.8 modem can move 28,800 bits per second.

Browser
Client software used to view various kinds of Internet resources. Examples include Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and Netscape’s Navigator.

BTW (By The Way)
A shorthand appended to a comment written in an online forum.

Byte
A set of Bits that represent a single character. Usually, there are 8 Bits in a Byte, though sometimes more, depending on how the measurement is being made.

Certificate Authority
An issuer of Security Certificates used in SSL connections.

CGI (Common Gateway Interface)
A set of rules that describe how a Web Server communicates with another piece of software on the same machine and how the other piece of software (the ‘CGI program’) talks to the web server. Any piece of software can be a CGI program if it handles input and output according to the CGI standard.

CGI programs are typically small programs that take data from a web server and perform actions such as placing form data into an e-mail message or generating a database query. CGI is often confused with Perl, which is a programming language, whereas CGI is simply an interface standard. Other languages used with CGI include MIVA, Python, and PHP.

cgi-bin
The most common name for a directory on a web server where CGI programs are stored. The ‘bin’ part of ‘cgi-bin’ is a shorthand version of ‘binary’, as programs were traditionally referred to as ‘binaries’. Most programs found in cgi-bin directories are text files—scripts executed by binaries located elsewhere on the server. While most CGI programs are stored in this directory, it is not a requirement.

Client
A software program that contacts and obtains data from a server software program on another computer, often across a great distance. Each client program is designed to work with specific types of server programs. Examples include web browsers and FTP programs.

Co-Location
Network Operations Centers provide customers with the ability to place their web servers and other network equipment in a controlled facility with high-speed fiber connections to the Internet backbone. Administration is performed remotely, allowing customers to manage their equipment from anywhere.

Cold Fusion
A scripting language used by web designers for advanced development and database interfacing. Cold Fusion supports MS Access, dBASE, FoxPro, and Paradox databases.

Contact Record
Many registries maintain contact information for technical, billing, and administrative purposes. Keeping contact records updated ensures smooth billing and renewal processes.

Cookie
A piece of information sent by a Web Server to a Web Browser, which the browser is expected to save and return to the server on subsequent requests. Depending on the type of Cookie used, and the Browser’s settings, the Cookie may be stored for either a short or long time.

Cookies can store data such as login credentials, shopping cart contents, and user preferences. They allow web servers to customize responses based on stored user data. Cookies do not read hard drives or send personal data to external parties but can be used to track user behavior.

Cyberpunk
Originally a cultural sub-genre of science fiction featuring dystopian, industrialized societies. The term, inspired by the works of William Gibson and Bruce Sterling, has evolved into a cultural label representing a fusion of human, machine, and punk aesthetics, including clothing and lifestyle choices.

Cyberspace
A term coined by author William Gibson in his novel Neuromancer. It describes the vast information network accessible through computer systems.

Data Transfer
The amount of information users download from a website while browsing. Whenever a visitor accesses a site or views additional pages, data is transferred. Websites that contain images, downloadable files, audio, or video consume more data transfer bandwidth than text-based sites.

DNS (Domain Name System)
A distributed, replicated system that allows domain names to be mapped to IP addresses, enabling easy-to-remember web addresses instead of numeric IPs.

Dedicated Server
A server exclusively leased by a customer who does not want to purchase their own hardware but still requires the benefits of colocation services.

Digerati
A term derived from ‘literati’ that describes individuals considered knowledgeable and influential in the digital revolution.

Domain Name
A unique identifier for an Internet site. Domain names have at least two parts separated by dots. The leftmost part is the most specific, while the rightmost part is the most general (e.g., example.com). A domain name may exist without being linked to an active website but still be used for email or branding purposes.

E-Commerce
Short for ‘Electronic Commerce’, it refers to the buying and selling of goods and services over the Internet.

E-mail (Electronic Mail)
Text-based messages sent from one person to another via computer. E-mails can also be sent in bulk through mailing lists.

Ethernet
A widely used networking method for local area networks (LANs), capable of transmitting data at speeds of up to 10,000,000 bits per second.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Documents containing commonly asked questions and their answers. FAQs exist on a wide variety of subjects to provide easy reference for users.

FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface)
A standard for transmitting data on optical fiber cables at rates of around 100,000,000 bits per second—10 times the speed of Ethernet.

Finger
An Internet tool used to locate individuals on other Internet sites. Some sites do not allow incoming Finger requests for privacy reasons.

Firewall
A combination of hardware and software that separates a network into secure sections to control and restrict access.

Flame
Originally, flame meant to carry forth in a passionate manner in the spirit of honorable debate. Flames often involved the use of flowery language, and flaming well was considered an art form. More recently, “flame” has come to refer to any kind of derogatory comment, no matter how witless or crude.

Flame War
An online discussion that degenerates into a series of personal attacks against the debaters rather than discussion of their positions. A heated exchange.

FrontPage
Microsoft® FrontPage® is a site creation and management software tool. One of the most popular website creation software packages, both FrontPage® 98 and FrontPage® 2000 are widely supported by the hosting community.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
A common method of moving files between two Internet sites. FTP is a special way to log in to another Internet site for the purposes of retrieving and/or sending files. Many Internet sites have publicly accessible repositories of material that can be obtained using FTP by logging in with the account name “anonymous”; thus, these sites are called anonymous FTP servers.

Gateway
A hardware or software setup that translates between two dissimilar protocols. For example, Prodigy has a gateway that translates between its internal, proprietary e-mail format and Internet e-mail format. Another, broader meaning of “gateway” refers to any mechanism for providing access to another system; for example, AOL might be called a gateway to the Internet.

Gigabyte
1024 Megabytes.

Gopher
A widely successful method of making menus of material available over the Internet. Gopher is a client and server-style program, requiring users to have a Gopher client program. Although Gopher spread rapidly across the globe in a few years, it has largely been supplanted by Hypertext, also known as the World Wide Web (WWW). Thousands of Gopher servers remain on the Internet.

Hit
In reference to the World Wide Web, a “hit” is a single request from a web browser for a single item from a web server. For example, when a web browser displays a page containing three graphics, four hits occur at the server: one for the HTML page and one for each of the three graphics. Hits are often used as a rough measure of server load, e.g., “Our server gets 300,000 hits per month.” However, because each hit can represent anything from a tiny document request to a complex search, its impact on server load varies.

Home Page (or Homepage)
Originally, the web page a browser is set to use when it starts up. More commonly, it refers to the main web page for a business, organization, or person, or the primary page within a collection of web pages. Sometimes, the term “homepage” is used incorrectly to refer to any web page.

Host
Any computer on a network that provides services to other computers. A single host machine may offer multiple services, such as WWW and USENET.

Hosting
Refers to the housing of a website, email, or domain. See “Email Hosting” and “Website Hosting” for more details.

HTML (HyperText Markup Language)
The coding language used to create hypertext documents for the World Wide Web. HTML resembles old-fashioned typesetting code, where blocks of text are surrounded by codes indicating how they should appear. Additionally, HTML allows words or blocks of text to be linked to other files on the Internet. HTML files are designed to be viewed using a World Wide Web client program, such as Netscape or Mosaic.

HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol)
The protocol for moving hypertext files across the Internet. HTTP requires an HTTP client program on one end and an HTTP server program on the other. HTTP is the primary protocol used in the World Wide Web (WWW).

Hypertext
Any text that contains links to other documents, allowing users to select words or phrases to retrieve and display additional content.

IMHO (In My Humble Opinion)
A shorthand notation commonly used in online forums to indicate that the writer is expressing a personal and debatable opinion.

Index Server
A service that indexes the contents and properties of documents on an Internet or intranet website served by IIS 4.0. Index Server enables web clients using any browser to search a website via an HTML query form.
Source: Microsoft

Internet (Uppercase I)
The vast collection of interconnected networks that all use the TCP/IP protocols. The Internet evolved from the ARPANET of the late 1960s and early 1970s. As of July 1995, the Internet connected roughly 60,000 independent networks worldwide.

internet (Lowercase i)
Any time two or more networks are connected, they form an “internet” (as in inter-national or inter-state).

InterNIC
InterNIC (now known as Network Solutions) previously held an exclusive contract with the U.S. government to assign domain names for .COM, .NET, and .ORG. The contract was scheduled to expire on September 30, 1998. Network Solutions operates the InterNIC registry.

Intranet
A private network within a company or organization that uses Internet technologies but is restricted to internal use. Many companies use web servers available only to employees. Note that an intranet may not necessarily be an “internet” in the technical sense but may simply be a private network.

IP Number (Internet Protocol Number)
Also known as a “dotted quad,” an IP number is a unique identifier consisting of four parts separated by dots (e.g., 165.113.245.2). Every machine on the Internet has a unique IP number. If a machine does not have an IP number, it is not truly on the Internet. Most machines also have one or more domain names that are easier for people to remember.

IRC (Internet Relay Chat)
A large, multi-user live chat facility. Major IRC servers around the world are linked, allowing users to create channels where messages typed by one person are seen by all others in the channel. Private channels can also be created for multi-person conference calls.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
A technology that enables the transmission of digital data over existing telephone lines. ISDN is widely available in the U.S. and is priced similarly to standard analog phone circuits. It can provide speeds of roughly 128,000 bits per second over regular phone lines, though most users are limited to 56,000 or 64,000 bits per second.

ISP
(Internet Service Provider) — An institution that provides access to the Internet, usually for a fee.

Java
A network-oriented programming language developed by Sun Microsystems, designed for creating programs that can be safely downloaded from the Internet and executed on a computer without security risks. Java applets enable web pages to include functions such as animations, calculators, and other interactive features.

JDK (Java Development Kit)
A software development package from Sun Microsystems that includes tools for writing, testing, and debugging Java applications and applets.

Kilobyte
A unit of digital information storage equivalent to 1024 bytes (2^10 bytes).

LAN (Local Area Network)
A network of computers limited to a small geographic area, such as a single building or office.

Leased Line
A dedicated phone line rented for continuous 24/7 use between two locations. Leased lines are used for high-speed data connections.

Listserv
A widely used type of automated mailing list system, originally developed for BITNET but now common on the Internet.

Local Registry Fees
Fees associated with registering and maintaining domain names in different top-level domains (TLDs). These fees vary based on the chosen TLD and renewal schedule.

Login
A term used both as a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to an account name used to gain access to a computer system. As a verb, it describes the action of entering a system, e.g., “Login to access the service.”

Mailing List (Maillist)
An automated system that allows users to send emails to a single address, which then distributes the message to all subscribers.

Megabyte
A unit of digital storage equal to 1,024 kilobytes or approximately one million bytes.

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
A protocol developed in the 1970s for transmitting digital musical data between instruments, computers, and controllers.

MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions)
A standard for attaching non-text files, such as images and documents, to email messages. MIME-compliant email clients can send and receive these attachments. MIME is also used by web servers to identify file formats.

Mirror
A duplicate copy of a website or FTP site maintained to provide faster access and reduce server load. In data storage, mirroring refers to duplicating information across multiple hard drives for redundancy.

Modem (MOdulator, DEModulator)
A device that enables a computer to communicate over telephone lines by converting digital data into an analog signal and vice versa.

Modify (Domain Name)
The process of updating domain name registration records, including changes to nameservers, contact details, or administrative settings.

MOO (Mud, Object Oriented)
A type of multi-user role-playing environment, usually text-based.

Mosaic
The first graphical web browser available for multiple operating systems (Macintosh, Windows, and UNIX), which contributed to the early popularity of the World Wide Web.

MUD (Multi-User Dungeon/Dimension)
A text-based multi-user simulation environment used for gaming, social interaction, software development, and education.

MUSE (Multi-User Simulated Environment)
A variation of MUDs with an emphasis on social interaction and creativity, often with minimal violence.

MX Record (Mail Exchange Record)
A DNS record that designates which mail server is responsible for handling email for a domain.

NT (Windows NT)
A 32-bit operating system developed by Microsoft, originally derived from OS/2. Windows NT is used for hosting services that support Microsoft products such as MS Access, MS SQL 7.0, and FrontPage 2000.

Name Servers
Servers that translate domain names into IP addresses, enabling users to access websites using human-readable names instead of numerical IPs.

Netiquette
A set of informal rules governing polite and respectful behavior on the Internet.

Netizen
A term derived from “citizen,” referring to an active and responsible user of the Internet who participates in online communities.

Netscape®
A web browser and the name of a company. The Netscape™ browser was originally based on the Mosaic program developed at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). Netscape introduced significant improvements in speed and user interface over other browsers and quickly became the most popular web browser.

Netscape Communications Corporation also produced web server software and played a key role in web development. The company created extensions to the HTML language, which were not universally supported, sparking debate. The browser’s lead developer, Marc Andreessen, was hired from NCSA by Jim Clark, leading to the formation of Mosaic Communications, which was later renamed Netscape Communications Corporation.

Network
A system in which two or more computers are connected to share resources. Connecting multiple networks together forms an internet.

Newsgroup
A discussion group on USENET where users post and read messages.
See Also: USENET.

NIC (Networked Information Center)
A service office that manages network-related information. The most well-known NIC on the Internet is Network Solutions, which handles domain name registrations.

Another meaning of NIC refers to a Network Interface Card, a hardware component that allows a computer to connect to a network. Common types include ISA, PCI, and PCMCIA cards.

NNTP (Network News Transport Protocol)
A protocol used by client and server software to distribute USENET newsgroup postings over TCP/IP networks. Popular newsreader applications such as Netscape and Internet Explorer use NNTP connections.

Node
An individual computer or device connected to a network.

OC-3
A high-speed network circuit that transmits data at 155 million bits per second. This level of bandwidth is used by major Internet backbone providers.

Packet Switching
A data transmission method in which information is broken into smaller units called packets. Each packet contains the source and destination addresses, allowing multiple data streams to share the same communication lines. Packets are directed dynamically through routers, enabling efficient network usage.

Parking (Domain Name)
The process of registering a domain name and assigning it to name servers without providing active services such as web hosting or email. This allows the domain to be reserved for future use.

Password
A security code used to access a computer system or online account. A strong password typically combines letters, numbers, and symbols, such as Xy7@pQ#2.

Plug-in
A small software module that extends the functionality of a larger application. Common examples include browser plug-ins for Netscape® and Adobe Photoshop® plug-ins. Plug-ins are often developed by third parties to add specialized features.

POP (Point of Presence / Post Office Protocol)

  • Point of Presence (POP) – A local access point where users connect to an Internet service provider’s (ISP) network, often through a dial-up number or leased line.
  • Post Office Protocol (POP) – A protocol used by email applications to retrieve messages from a mail server. Popular email clients like Eudora and Outlook use POP to access emails.

Port

  • General Definition – A physical or logical point where data enters or exits a computer system.
  • Networking Definition – A number in a URL that specifies a service on a server, e.g., http://example.com:8080. Web servers typically use port 80, while FTP servers use port 21.
  • Software Definition – The process of adapting software to run on a different operating system or hardware platform (e.g., porting a Windows program to macOS).

Posting
A message submitted to an online forum, newsgroup, or discussion board.
See Also: Newsgroup.

PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol)
A protocol that allows a computer to establish a TCP/IP connection using a standard telephone line and modem. PPP enables true Internet connectivity.

Propagation
The process by which updated domain name records are distributed across the global DNS system. This process can take up to 24 hours when a domain name is transferred to a new host.

PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network)
The traditional circuit-switched telephone system used for voice communication and dial-up Internet connections.

Real Audio / Real Video
A multimedia streaming technology that allows users to send and receive audio and video content over the Web in real-time. Developed by RealNetworks, it enables live broadcasts and on-demand playback.

Register (Domain Name)
The process of acquiring and assigning a domain name through an authorized registry. Once registered, the domain is exclusively assigned to the registrant. Most domains require periodic renewal.

Registrant (Domain Name)
The individual or entity that owns and manages a registered domain name.

Registrar (Domain Name)
A company authorized to register domain names on behalf of users. Some domain registries require registration through an accredited registrar rather than allowing direct registration.

Registry (Domain Name)
The official organization responsible for managing domain name records within a specific top-level domain (TLD), such as InterNIC for .COM, .NET, and .ORG domains. Registries maintain DNS records and ensure proper domain name resolution.

Renewal (Domain Name)
The periodic extension of domain name registration to maintain ownership. Most TLDs require annual renewal, which ensures continued functionality and updates to records.

Resolution (Domain Name)
The process of converting a domain name (e.g., example.com) into its corresponding IP address. This allows users to access websites using human-readable names instead of numerical IP addresses.

RFC (Request for Comments)
A document that proposes and defines Internet standards. Published by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), RFCs undergo community review before becoming official standards. For example, RFC 822 defines email protocols.

Router
A specialized device or software component that directs data packets between different networks. Routers analyze packet destinations and determine the most efficient path for data transmission.

Security Certificate

A chunk of information (often stored as a text file) used by the SSL protocol to establish a secure connection.

Security Certificates contain details such as:

  • Ownership information
  • Issuer details
  • Unique serial number or identifier
  • Validity dates
  • An encrypted fingerprint for verification

For an SSL connection to be established, both parties must have a valid Security Certificate.

Server

A computer or software that provides a specific service to client software on other machines.

The term can refer to:

  • A particular software, such as a WWW server
  • The hardware running that software (e.g. “Our mail server is down today, so emails aren’t being delivered.”)

A single machine can run multiple server applications, providing different services to clients on a network.

Shockwave

Developed by Macromedia, Shockwave enables interactive entertainment on the web, including:

  • Games
  • Music
  • Rich-media chat
  • Interactive product demos
  • E-commerce applications

SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol)

A standard that allows a regular telephone line and modem to connect a computer to the Internet.
SLIP is being replaced by PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol).

SMDS (Switched Multimegabit Data Service)

A high-speed data transfer standard for fast and efficient communication.

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

The primary protocol for sending electronic mail across the Internet.

SMTP defines the rules for:

  • How mail-sending programs interact with receiving mail programs
  • How emails are transmitted between servers

Most email clients and servers use SMTP for sending emails.

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)

A set of standards for managing devices on a TCP/IP network, such as:

  • Routers
  • Hubs
  • Switches

A device is SNMP-compatible if it can be monitored and controlled via SNMP messages (Protocol Data Units – PDUs).

Devices contain SNMP agent software to handle messages, and management software is used for monitoring.

Spam (or Spamming)

Sending unsolicited messages to a large audience over email, USENET, or other communication networks.

  • Often associated with advertising or fraudulent schemes
  • Term likely originates from the Monty Python skit where “spam” is repeated excessively

Example: “Mary spammed 50 USENET groups by posting the same message to each.”

SQL (Structured Query Language)

A specialised programming language for managing databases.

  • Used for querying and manipulating data
  • Most databases support SQL with unique features for their systems

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)

A security protocol developed by Netscape Communications to enable encrypted, authenticated web communications.

  • Used primarily for secure web browsing (https://)
  • Provides Privacy, Authentication, and Message Integrity

For SSL to function:

  1. Both parties exchange Security Certificates
  2. Encryption occurs using both certificates
  3. Ensures data integrity and authenticity

Sysop (System Operator)

An individual responsible for the physical operation of a computer system or network resource.

  • System Administrators make policies, while Sysops execute them
  • Tasks include maintenance, backups, and security management

T-1

A leased-line connection capable of transmitting 1.544 Mbps (megabits per second).

  • Can transfer 1 MB in less than 10 seconds
  • Not fast enough for full-screen, full-motion video

T-3

A leased-line connection transmitting 44.736 Mbps, sufficient for full-screen, full-motion video.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol)

The core protocol suite that defines the Internet.

  • Originally developed for UNIX, now available for all major operating systems
  • A device must support TCP/IP to be truly connected to the Internet

Telnet

A command-line tool used to remotely access another Internet-connected machine.

  • Provides text-based remote login
  • Often used for server administration

Terabyte

Equivalent to 1,024 gigabytes (1 TB = 1,024 GB).

Terminal

A device or software used to send commands to a remote computer.

  • Can be a physical terminal (hardware)
  • More commonly, terminal emulation software on a PC

Terminal Server

A specialised computer that:

  • Connects multiple modems to a LAN or host machine
  • Handles incoming network connections
  • Often used for PPP or SLIP services

Top-Level Domain (TLD)

The highest level in the domain name system.

Example: In communitech.net –

  • .net is the TLD
  • communitech.net is the second-level domain

There are two types of TLDs:

  1. Generic TLDs (gTLDs) – .com, .net, .org, .mil, .edu
  2. Country Code TLDs (ccTLDs) – .uk, .de, .fr, .jp

TLD regulations vary by country and organisation.

Trademark

A word, phrase, or slogan used to identify and distinguish a company’s goods or services.

  • Trademark laws differ worldwide
  • Companies must secure trademarks early to prevent others from registering their domain names

Example: If someone registers microsoft.to, Microsoft must pursue legal action in Tonga to reclaim it.

Transfer (Domain Name)

Domains are sometimes sold to another organisation, or a company’s name may change.

  • Most registries require a letter of permission from the current owner before transferring control to a new owner.
  • The transfer process varies depending on the registry.

TTFN (Ta Ta For Now)

An online shorthand often used in forums or chat conversations.

See Also: IMHO, BTW

UNIX

A computer operating system designed for multi-user environments.

  • Commonly used for servers on the Internet
  • Has TCP/IP built-in
  • Known for its stability and efficiency

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

A standard address format used to locate resources on the Internet.

Examples:

  • http://www.example.com/page (Web page)
  • telnet://server.address (Telnet access)
  • news:newsgroup.name (Newsgroups)

URLs are typically entered into a web browser (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Edge).

USENET

A global discussion network where messages are shared across thousands of machines.

  • Not all USENET servers are on the Internet
  • Completely decentralised
  • Contains over 10,000 newsgroups

See Also: Newsgroup

UUENCODE (Unix to Unix Encoding)

A method for converting binary files to ASCII (text format) to allow transfer via email.

Veronica (Very Easy Rodent Oriented Net-wide Index to Computerized Archives)

A search tool for Gopher servers, developed at the University of Nevada.

  • Constantly updated database of Gopher menu items
  • Allows users to search across thousands of Gopher servers

See Also: Gopher

VBScript

A lightweight version of Microsoft Visual Basic, used for:

  • Web applications
  • Microsoft ActiveX controls
  • Automation servers
  • Java applets

Source: Microsoft MSDN

WAIS (Wide Area Information Servers)

A commercial software package for indexing and searching large amounts of data.

  • Searches return ranked results based on relevance
  • Allows users to refine searches for more accurate results

WAN (Wide Area Network)

A network that spans beyond a single building or campus.

Examples:

  • The Internet
  • A corporate network connecting multiple offices across cities

Web

See: WWW

Whois

A public database containing domain names and associated contact information.

  • Used to query ownership details of a domain
  • Maintained by registries

WWW (World Wide Web)

Can have two meanings:

  1. General: The full set of Internet resources, including Gopher, FTP, HTTP, Telnet, USENET, and WAIS.
  2. Specific: The universe of hypertext servers (HTTP servers) that enable text, graphics, sound, and multimedia integration.

Zone File

A set of files stored on a domain host or nameserver.

  • Defines the domain, its subdomains, and its mail servers
  • Essential for DNS resolution