B

bandwidth A measure of the volume of information that can be transmitted over a communication link. Often used to describe the number of bits per second a network can deliver.

baud rate The rate at which information is transmitted between devices, for example, between a terminal and a server.

bind In the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), refers to the authentication process that LDAP requires when users access the LDAP directory. Authentication occurs when the LDAP client binds to the LDAP server.

BIOS (Basic

Input/Output System) System software that controls the loading of the operating system and testing of hardware at system power-on. BIOS is stored in read-only memory (ROM).

bits per second (bps) The unit of measurement for data transmission speed.

boot loader A program contained in read-only memory (ROM) that automatically runs at system power-on to control the first stage of system initialization and hardware tests. The boot loader then transfers control to a more complex program that loads the operating system.

C

cache A copy of original data that is stored locally, often with instructions or the most frequently accessed information. Cached data does not have to be retrieved from a remote server again when requested. A cache increases effective memory transfer rates and processor speed.

certificate Public key data assigned by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA) to provide verification of an entity’s identity. This is a digitally signed document. Both clients and servers can have certificates. Also called a “public key certificate.”

Certificate Authority

(CA) A trusted organization that issues public key certificates and provides identification to the owner of the certificate. A public key Certificate Authority issues certificates that state a relationship between an entity named in the certificate and a public key that belongs to that entity, which is also present in the certificate.

client In the client-server model, a system or software on a network that remotely accesses resources of a server on a network.

Glossary

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Sun Microsystems X4150 manual Bios Basic, Certificate Authority