Hardware and Operating Systems Essentials Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering hardware components, networking, virtualization, malware types, and software development stacks based on the D386 assessment notes.

ROM (Read-Only Memory)

Non-volatile memory that retains data even when the power is turned off.

Worm

A type of self-replicating malware that spreads automatically and requires no host file to spread.

Swift

A programming language used for Apple iOS app development.

RAID 6

A RAID level that uses striping with dual parity information to protect data, allowing for the survival of two simultaneous drive failures.

Memory Address Register (MAR)

A control unit register that holds the address of a memory location that is to be accessed.

Bus Topology

A network topology where all devices are connected to a single shared cable called a backbone.

ARP (Address Resolution Protocol)

A protocol that maps a known IP address to its corresponding MAC address within a local network.

Northbridge Chip

A chip responsible for managing high-speed communication between the CPU, RAM, and GPU.

SaaS (Software as a Service)

A cloud service model that delivers fully functional software applications over the internet, requiring no local installation.

Interpreted Language

A programming language where instructions are executed line-by-line at runtime by an interpreter rather than being converted to machine code ahead of time.

Hypervisor

A software layer that manages and runs virtual machines by allocating system resources to each.

Switch

A network device operating at Layer 2 (Data Link) that connects devices within a LAN and forwards data based on MAC addresses.

RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks)

A technology that protects against drive failure but is NOT considered a backup solution.

Biometric Authentication

A category of authentication factor known as 'something you are,' which includes fingerprint scans.

SODIMM

A small memory module specifically designed for laptops and other small devices.

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)

A core internet protocol that ensures reliable data delivery through a connection-oriented session.

Ransomware

Malware that encrypts files, demands payment, and often changes file extensions.

Kafka

A distributed event streaming platform that uses a publish-subscribe model for real-time data pipelines.

CreateProcess()

A Windows function used to create a new process and its primary thread, allowing a program to launch another program.

SSD (Solid State Drive)

A storage device using flash memory with no moving parts, making it unaffected by electromagnetic interference.

Containers

A virtualization technology that shares the host system's OS kernel, making them smaller and faster to start than virtual machines.

Client-Server Model

A centralized network structure where a dedicated server provides services or resources to clients.

IPS (Intrusion Prevention System)

An active security system that can automatically block or prevent attacks.

IDS (Intrusion Detection System)

A passive security system that detects attacks without intervening.

Extended Support

An OS lifecycle phase providing only critical security updates with no new features, such as Windows 10 after October 14, 2025.

LAMP Stack

A traditional open-source backend stack consisting of Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP.

PaaS (Platform as a Service)

A cloud model providing a managed environment for developers to build, test, and deploy applications without managing underlying infrastructure.

Type 1 Hypervisor

A hypervisor that runs directly on the host hardware (bare metal).

Type 2 Hypervisor

A hypervisor that runs on top of a host operating system, such as Parallels Desktop for Mac.

Volatile Memory

Memory like RAM that loses all stored data when the power is turned off.

Southbridge Chip

A chip that managed slower peripherals like USB ports and audio; replaced in modern systems by the PCH (Platform Controller Hub).

Full-Duplex

A communication mode where signals can travel simultaneously in both directions, such as a phone call.

Half-Duplex

A communication mode where data can be transmitted in both directions but only one direction at a time, such as a walkie-talkie.

MEVN Stack

A JavaScript stack including MongoDB, Express.js, Vue.js, and Node.js.

Virtual Sandbox

An isolated environment designed to test and run software, including legacy applications.

Stealth Virus

A virus that hides its presence by manipulating system functions during detection to conceal infection.

Bus Architecture

The set of pathways that carry data and signals between computer components.

Chipset

The component that manages and directs data flow through signal pathways on a motherboard.

BPaaS (Business Process as a Service)

A cloud model allowing organizations to outsource standardized business functions like HR and finance.

MongoDB

A schema-flexible NoSQL database that stores data in BSON-like documents instead of fixed tables and rows.

Node.js

A JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 engine that executes code on the server side using an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model.

IDE (Integrated Development Environment)

A full-featured application integrating a code editor, debugger, compiler/interpreter, and other development tools.

Hadoop

An open-source framework for storing (HDFS) and processing (MapReduce) large amounts of data across clusters.

Operating System (OS)

The software responsible for managing hardware/software resources (Device, Memory, File, and Process management) and providing services for programs.

Breakpoint

A debugging tool that pauses program execution at a specific line to allow inspection of variable values.

RAID 10

A combination of RAID 1 (mirroring) and RAID 0 (striping) providing high performance and fault tolerance.

DaaS (Desktop as a Service)

A cloud model delivering virtual desktops to users, accessible from any device for secure remote access.

Mesh Topology

A network design where devices are interconnected with multiple paths, providing high redundancy and the ability to reroute data if one path fails.

MEAN Stack

A JavaScript stack using Angular as the TypeScript-based frontend framework.

ATX (Advanced Technology eXtended)

A standard full-size motherboard form factor designed for high expandability in workstations.

Trojan (Trojan Horse)

Malicious software disguised as legitimate software that tricks users into installing it.