CN-100 Week 4 Key Terms

Access Control List (ACL)

The collection of access control entries (ACEs) that determines which subjects (user accounts, host IP addresses, and so on) are allowed or denied access to the object and the privileges given (read-only, read/write, and so on)

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Principal microprocessor in a PC or mobile device responsible for running firmware, operating system, and applications software

Command Line Interface (CLI)

A text-based interface between the user and the operating system that accepts input in the form of commands

Defragmentation

Fragmentation occurs when a data file is not saved to contiguous sectors on an HDD and reduces performance. The defragmenter mitigates this and can also perform optimization operations for SSDs

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

An environment for passing commands to a computer by using a graphical, mouse-driven interface rather than by using text-based commands

Hard Disk Drives (HDDs)

Mass storage device that uses mechanical platters with a magnetic coating that are spun under disk heads that can read and write to locations on each platter (sectors)

Image

Clone copy of an operating system installation (including installed software, settings, and user data) stored as a file on disk. VMs use images to store persistent data, and the technology is also used to make system backups

Incremental Backups

Job type in which all selected files that have changed since the last full or incremental backup (whichever was most recent) are backed up

New Technology File System (NTFS)

64-bit default file system for Windows, with file-by-file compression and RAID support as well as advanced file attribute management tools, encryption, and disk quotas

Open-Source

Licensing model that grants permissive rights to end-users, such as to install, use, modify, and distribute a software product and its source code, as long as redistribution permits the same rights

Operating System (OS)

Software that facilitates the control and configuration of the computer device via device drivers, services, and one or more user interfaces

Plug and Play

A Plug-and-Play system (comprising a compatible BIOS, operating system, and hardware) is self-configuring. When a hardware device is added or removed, the operating system detects the change and automatically installs the appropriate drivers

SD Card

Solid state flash memory provisioned as a peripheral device in a proprietary adapter card form factors, such as Secure Digital and microSD

Advanced Technology Extended (ATX)

Standard PC case, motherboard, and power supply specification. Mini-, Micro-, and Flex-ATX specify smaller board designs

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The science of creating machines with the ability to develop problem-solving and analysis strategies without significant human direction or intervention

Bandwidth

Generally used to refer to the amount of data that can be transferred through a connection over a given period. Bandwidth more properly means the range of frequencies supported by transmission media, measured in Hertz

Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)

Legacy 32-bit firmware type that initializes hardware and provides a system setup interface for configuring boot devices and other hardware settings

Buses

Connections between components on the motherboard and peripheral devices providing data pathways, memory addressing, power supply, timing, and connector/port form factor

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)

A CRT receives an analog signal from the graphics adapter and forms a color image on the screen by illuminating red, green, and blue dots (triads), The screen size is the diagonal distance across the face of the CRT, though part of this area may be obscured by the case, making the viewable area considerably less than the quoted screen size. CRTs are no longer mass-manufactured and modern systems use LCD panels

Digital Visual Interface (DVI)

Legacy video interface that supports digital only or digital and analog signaling

DisplayPort

Digital audio/video interface developed by VESA. DisplayPort supports some cross-compatibility with DVI and HDMI devices

Double Data Rate (DDR)

Series of high-bandwidth system-memory standards (DDR3/DDR4/DDR5) where data is transferred twice per clock cycle

Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM)

Standard form factor for system memory. There are different pin configurations for different DDR-SDRAM RAM types

Elasticity

Property by which a computing environment can add or remove resources in response to increasing and decreasing demands in workload

Form Factors

Size and shape of a component, determining its compatibility. Form factor is most closely associated with PC motherboard, case, and power supply designs

Graphical Processing Unit (GPU)

Type of microprocessor used on dedicated video adapter cards or within a CPU with integrated graphics capability. GPUs can also perform cryptographic operations efficiently, and are often used for password cracking

Hard Disk Drives (HDD)

Mass storage device that uses mechanical platters with a magnetic coating that are spun under disk heads that can read and write to locations on each platter (sectors)

Heatsink

Cooling device fitted to PC components to optimize heat transfer

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)

Digital audio/video interface developed for use on both consumer electronics and computer equipment

Hot-Swappable

A device that can be added or removed without having to restart the operating system

Internet Service Provider (ISP)

Provides Internet connectivity and web services to its customers

Land Grid Array (LGA)

CPU socket form factor used predominantly by Intel where connector pins are located on the socket

M.2

Hardware specification for internal adapter cards. M.2 is often used for PCIe-based SSDs

MAC Address

Hardware address that uniquely identifies each network interface at layer 2 (Data Link). A MAC address is 48 bits long with the first half representing the manufacturer's organizationally unique identifier (OUI)

Motherboard

The computer motherboard, also called the system board, provides the basic foundation for all of the computer's hardware including the processor, RAM, firmware, and expansion cards. Several motherboard standards are available each with a different layout and associated advantages

Network Attached Storage (NAS)

Storage device enclosure with network port and an embedded OS that supports typical network file access protocols (FTP and SMB for instance)

Network Interface Card (NIC)

Adapter card that provides one or more Ethernet ports for connecting hosts to a network so that they can exchange data over a link

Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe)

Internal interface for connecting flash memory devices, such as SSDs, directly to a PCI Express bus. NVMe allows much higher transfer rates than SATA/AHCI

Optical Drive

Mass storage device that supports CD, DVD, and/or Blu-ray media. Burner-type drives also support recording and rewriting

PCI Express (PCIe)

Internal expansion bus that uses serial point-to-point communications between devices. Each link can comprise one or more lanes (x1, x2, x4, x8, x12, x16, or x32). Each lane supports a full-duplex transfer rate of 250 MB/s (v1.0) up to about 4 GB/s (v5.0)

PCIe Expansion Slots

Internal expansion bus that uses serial point-to-point communications between devices. Each link can comprise one or more lanes (x1, x2, x4, x8, x12, x16, or x32). Each lane supports a full-duplex transfer rate of 250 MB/s (v1.0) up to about 4 GB/s (v5.0)

Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)

Legacy internal expansion bus supporting 32-bit parallel transfers working at 33 MHz

Pin Grid Array (PGA)

CPU socket form factor used predominantly by AMD where connector pins are located on the CPU package

Power-On Self-Test (POST)

Test routine built into PC firmware to confirm that system components are available at boot or to signal an error condition via a beep code or on-screen status message

Random-Access Memory (RAM)

Volatile storage devices that hold computer data and program instructions while the computer is turned on

Ransomware

Malware that tries to extort money from the victim by blocking normal operation of a computer and/or encrypting the victim’s files and demanding payment

Read-Only Memory (ROM)

A ROM chip is a special form of memory that has data written to it during the manufacturing process and thus is not amenable to alteration

Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)

Specifications that support redundancy and fault tolerance for different configurations of multiple-device storage systems

RJ-45

Series of jack/plug types used with twisted-pair cabling, such as RJ45 and RJ11

Scalability

Property by which a computing environment is able to gracefully fulfill its ever-increasing resource needs

Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA)

Serial ATA is the most widely used interface for hard disks on desktop and laptop computers. It uses a 7-pin data connector with one device per port. There are three SATA standards specifying bandwidths of 1.5 Gb/s, 3 Gb/s, and 6 Gb/s respectively. SATA drives also use a new 15-pin power connector, though adapters for the old style 4-pin Molex connectors are available. External drives are also supported via the eSATA interface

Solid State Drive (SSD)

Persistent mass-storage device implemented using flash memory

Storage Area Networks (SAN)

A separate subnetwork typically consisting of storage devices and servers that house a large amount of data

Thermal Paste

Cooling substance applied between a component and heat sink to optimize heat transfer

Throughput

Amount of data transfer supported by a link in typical conditions. This can be measured in various ways with different software applications. Goodput is typically used to refer to the actual "useful" data rate at the application layer (less overhead from headers and lost packets)

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)

Type of system firmware providing support for 64-bit CPU operation at boot, full GUI and mouse operation at boot, and better boot security

Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS)

A battery-powered device that supplies AC power that an electronic device can use in the event of power failure

Video Graphics Array (VGA)

Legacy video interface supporting analog-only signaling over a 15-pin D-shell connector

Video Memory

Video memory is used by graphics adapters as a storage area in which to process picture information - the greater the size of the memory, the better the support for high resolutions and a wide color gamut. Originally, adapter cards used a special type of DRAM (VRAM). Nowadays, adapters use DDR or GDDR SDRAM

Zero Insertion Force (ZIF)

A processor socket type allowing the chip to be placed in the socket with as little risk of damaging the pins on the processor chip as possible