readme file — A text file, usually shipped with software or hardware, that contains information supplementing or updating the product's documentation.
ROM —
ROMB — RAID on motherboard.
rpm — Revolutions per minute.
RTC —
SAS —
SATA — Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. A standard interface between the system board and storage devices.
SCSI — Small computer system interface. An I/O bus interface with faster data transmission rates than standard ports.
SDRAM — Synchronous dynamic
sec — Second(s).
serial port — An I/O port used most often to connect a modem to your system. You can usually identify a serial port on your system by its
service tag — A bar code label on the system used to identify it when you call Dell™ for technical support.
simple disk volume — The volume of free space on a single dynamic, physical disk.
SMART —
SMP — Symmetric multiprocessing. Used to describe a system that has two or more processors connected via a
SNMP — Simple Network Management Protocol. A standard interface that allows a network manager to remotely monitor and manage workstations.
spanning — Spanning, or concatenating, disk volumes combines unallocated space from multiple disks into one logical volume, allowing more efficient use of all the space and all drive letters on a
striping — Disk striping writes data across three or more disks in an array, but only uses a portion of the space on each disk. The amount of space used by a "stripe" is the same on each disk used. A virtual disk may use several stripes on the same set of disks in an array. See also guarding, mirroring, and RAID.
SVGA — Super video graphics array. VGA and SVGA are video standards for video adapters with greater resolution and color display capabilities than previous standards.
system board — As the main circuit board, the system board usually contains most of your system's integral components, such as the processor, RAM, controllers for peripherals, and various ROM chips.
system configuration information — Data stored in memory that tells a system what hardware is installed and how the system should be configured for operation.
system diskette — See bootable diskette.
system memory — See RAM.
System Setup program — A
system.ini file — A
TCP/IP — Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.
termination — Some devices (such as the last device at each end of a SCSI cable) must be terminated to prevent reflections and spurious signals in the cable. When such devices are connected in a series, you may need to enable or disable the termination on these devices by changing jumper or switch settings on the devices or by changing settings in the configuration software for the devices.
UNIX — Universal Internet Exchange. UNIX, the precursor to Linux, is an operating system written in the C programming language.
uplink port — A port on a network hub or switch used to connect to other hubs or switches without requiring a crossover cable.
UPS — Uninterruptible power supply. A
USB — Universal Serial Bus. A USB connector provides a single connection point for multiple
utility — A program used to manage system
UTP — Unshielded twisted pair. A type of wiring used to connect systems in a business or home to a telephone line.
V — Volt(s).
VAC — Volt(s) alternating current.
VDC — Volt(s) direct current.
VGA — Video graphics array. VGA and SVGA are video standards for video adapters with greater resolution and color display capabilities than previous standards.
video adapter — The logical circuitry that provides (in combination with the monitor) your system's video capabilities. A video adapter may be integrated into the system board or may be an expansion card that plugs into an expansion slot.
video driver — A program that allows
video memory — Most VGA and SVGA video adapters include memory chips in addition to your system's RAM. The amount of video memory installed primarily influences the number of colors that a program can display (with the appropriate video drivers and monitor capabilities).
video resolution — Video resolution (800 x 600, for example) is expressed as the number of pixels across by the number of pixels up and down. To display a program at a specific graphics resolution, you must install the appropriate video drivers and your monitor must support the resolution.
W— Watt(s).
WH —
win.ini file — A
Windows 2000 — An integrated and complete Microsoft Windows operating system that does not require