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pixel — A single point on a video display. Pixels are arranged in rows and columns to create an image. A video resolution, such as 640 x 480, is expressed as the number of pixels across by the number of pixels up and down.

POST — Power-on self-test. Before the operating system loads when you turn on your system, the POST tests various system components such as RAM and hard drives.

processor — The primary computational chip inside the system that controls the interpretation and execution of arithmetic and logic functions. Software written for one processor must usually be revised to run on another processor. CPU is a synonym for processor.

protected mode — An operating mode that allows operating systems to implement:

•A memory address space of 16 MB to 4 GB

•Multitasking

•Virtual memory, a method for increasing addressable memory by using the hard drive

The Windows 2000 and UNIX 32-bit operating systems run in protected mode. MS-DOS cannot run in protected mode.

PS/2 — Personal System/2.

PXE — Preboot eXecution Environment. A way of booting a system via a LAN (without a hard drive or bootable diskette).

RAC — Remote access controller.

RAID — Redundant array of independent disks. A method of providing data redundancy. Some common implementations of RAID include RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, and RAID 50. See also guarding, mirroring, and striping.

RAM — Random-access memory. The system’s primary temporary storage area for program instructions and data. Any information stored in RAM is lost when you turn off your system.

RAS — Remote Access Service. This service allows users running the Windows operating system to remotely access a network from their system using a modem.

readme file — A text file, usually shipped with software or hardware, that contains information supplementing or updating the product’s documentation.

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Glossary