Computer
Terms D E F
DHCP -- (Dynamic
Host Configuration
Protocol)
DHCP is a protocol by
which a machine can
obtain an IP number (and
other network
configuration
information) from a
server on the local
network.
DHTML -- (Dynamic
Hypertext Markup
Language)
DHTML refers to web
pages that use a
combination of HTML,
JavaScript, and CSS to
create features such as
letting the user drag
items around on the web
page, some simple kinds
of animation, and many
more.
DNS -- (Domain
Name System)
The Domain Name System
is the system that
translates Internet
domain names into IP
numbers. A "DNS Server"
is a server that
performs IP translation.
Domain Name
The unique name that
identifies an Internet
site. Domain Names
always have 2 or more
parts, separated by
dots. The part on the
left is the most
specific, and the part
on the right is the most
general. A given machine
may have more than one
Domain Name but a given
Domain Name points to
only one machine. For
example, the domain
names:
thundercloud.net
chipper.thundercloud.net
store.thundercloud.net
All point to the same
machine (server).
Download
Transferring
data (usually a file)
from one computer to
another.
DSL --
(Digital Subscriber
Line)
A method for moving data
over regular phone
lines. A DSL 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. A common
configuration of DSL
allows downloads at
speeds of up to 1.544
megabits per second, and
uploads at speeds of 128
kilobits per second.
This arrangement is
called ADSL: Asymmetric
Digital Subscriber Line.
ADSL is the most common
form of DSL.
Email --
(Electronic Mail)
Messages containing text
and sometimes graphics
and attachments, sent
from one person to
another via computer.
E-mail can also be sent
automatically to a large
number of addresses
(mass mailings,
announcements, spam).
Ethernet
A very common method of
networking computers in
a LAN (Local Area
Connection). There is
more than one type of
Ethernet. The standard
type is"100-BaseT" which
can handle up to about
100,000,000
bits-per-second and can
be used with almost any
kind of computer.
Extranet
An intranet (closed
network) that is
accessible to computers
that are not physically
part of a company's' own
private network, but
that is not accessible
to the general public,
for example to allow
vendors and business
partners to access a
company web site. Often
an intranet will make
use of a Virtual Private
Network. (VPN.)
FAQ -- (Frequently
Asked Questions)
FAQ are documents
that list and answer the
most frequently asked
questions on a
particular subject. FAQ
are usually written by
people who have grown
tired of answering the
same questions over and
over :-)
Firewall
Software, hardware or a
combination of hardware
and software that
separates a Network into
two or more parts and
isolates a machine or
machines from the WAN
(Wide Area Network) for
security purposes.
Flame
Flame has refers to any
kind of derogatory
comment no matter how
witless or crude. Used a
a verb - To "Flame"
someone or a group of
people, means to sent or
post denigrating
comments. A "Flame War"
is usually a war of
nasty comments sent back
and forth between two
(or more) people.
Normally, a waste of
time and not useful.
FTP -- (File
Transfer Protocol)
A very common method of
moving files between two
Internet sites. FTP is a
way to login to another
Internet site for the
purposes of retrieving
and/or sending files.
There are many Internet
sites that have
established repositories
of material that can be
obtained using FTP, by
logging in using the
account name
"anonymous", thus these
sites are called
"anonymous ftp servers".
FTP was invented and in
general use long before
the advent of the World
Wide Web and originally
was always used from a
text-only interface.
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