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Absolute
URL
The Internet address of a page or other World Wide Web resource that
includes the protocol and complete network location of the page or
file is called an absolute URL. The absolute URL includes a protocol,
such as "http," network location, and optional path and file name.
For example, http://www.exostream.com/home.html is an absolute URL.
Active hyperlink
An Active Hyperlink is the hyperlink that is currently selected in
a Web browser. Many browsers highlight the active hyperlink by changing
its color.
ActiveX control
A component that can be inserted into a page in order to provide functionality
not directly available in HTML, such as animation sequences, credit-card
transactions or spreadsheet calculations.
Anonymous ASDL
A file transfer (FTP) service in which any user can log into an FTP
server with a common login (usually "ftp" or "anonymous" and any password
(usually the person's e-mail address is used as the password). Anonymous
FTP is beneficial for the distribution of large files to the public,
avoiding the need to assign large numbers of login and password combinations
for FTP access.
Applet
An Applet, or Java Applet, is a small Java program that can be embedded
into an HTML page. Applets differ from full-fledged Java applications
in that they are not allowed to access certain resources on the local
computer, such as files and serial devices (modems, printers, etc.),
and are prohibited from communicating with most other computers across
a network. The current rule is that an applet can only make an Internet
connection to the computer from which the applet was sent.
ASCII
ASCII, the American Standard Code for Information Interchange, is
the predominant method for encoding 7-bit characters on a personal
computer. HTML tags and URLs must be in ASCII.
ASDL
ASDL, Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, is a method for moving data
over regular phone lines that is much faster than a regular phone
connection. ASDL allows users to download at higher speeds than when
uploading, hence the 'Asymmetric' part of the acronym.
Authentication database
A database on a server that matches user names to passwords.
Backbone
A backbone is a high-speed line or series of connections that form
a major pathway within a network.
Bandwidth
The term "bandwidth" is used to refer to the difference between the
highest and lowest frequencies available for network signals. The
term is also used to describe the throughput capacity or data flow
speed of a given network medium or protocol measured in Kilobits or
Megabits per second.
Base URL
An optional URL that you assign to a page to convert relative URLs
on the page into absolute URLs. A base URL should end with a document
name part, such as http://sample/sample.htm, or a trailing slash,
such as http://sample/subdir/.
BBS
BBS, Bulletin Board System, is a computerized meeting and announcement
system that allows people to carry on discussions, upload and download
files, and make announcements without the people being connected to
the computer at the same time.
Bit
A Bit, derived from Binary DigIT, is a single digit number in base-2,
i.e. either a 1 or a zero, and is the smallest unit of computerized
data. Bandwidth is usually measured in bits-per-second.
Bps
Bps, Bits-Per-Second, is a measurement of the speed that data is moves
from one place to another. A 56K modem can move 56,000 bits per second.
Broken hyperlink
A broken hyperlink is a hyperlink that does not correctly point to
the web page or Internet file that it was intended to point to. A
broken hyperlink indicates either an incorrect URL or a missing page
or file, and usually returns a 404 Error, i.e. "File not found."
Browser
A browser is client software, such as Internet Explorer, Netscape
or Mosaic, which retrieves information from an HTTP server program,
allowing the client to view hypertext or HTML web pages on the internet.
Bulletin board
See BBS for more info.
Byte
A Byte is a set of Bits that represent a single character. There are
8 Bits in a Byte.
CGI
CGI, or Common Gateway Interface, is a set of rules that describe
how a Web Server communicates with another piece of software on the
same machine, i.e. a CGI program. Any piece of software can be a CGI
program if it handles input and output according to the CGI standard.
CGI "scripts" are scripts that use CGI. CGI is often confused with
Perl which is a programming language commonly used to write CGI scripts.
Other scripting languages include, Python and PHP3.
cgi-bin
A cgi-bin is a common name for the directory on a web server in which
CGI programs are stored. The 'bin' part of 'cgi-bin' is a shorthand
version of 'binary', as most programs were once referred to as 'binaries'.
Most programs found in cgi-bin directories are text files, which are
scripts that are executed by binaries located elsewhere on the server.
While most programs using CGI are stored in this directory, it is
not a requirement for using CGI.
Co-Location
Co-location is a type of hosting where the hosting provider stores
and maintains the customer's server. The customer owns the server
hardware and software, but houses the equipment in the hosting providers
Network Operations Center, NOC, taking advantage of the provider's
facilities.
Contact Record
A contact record is contact information that many domain registrars
keep on file for technical, billing and administrative purposes. It
is important to keep contact records updated to ensure that your registrar
can contact the appropriate authority for various issues including
billing and renewal issues.
Cookie
The most common meaning of 'Cookie' on the Internet refers to a piece
of information sent by a Web Server to a Web Browser that the Browser
software is expected to save and to send back to the Server whenever
the browser makes additional requests from the Server. Cookies might
contain information such as login or registration information, online
'shopping cart' information, user preferences, etc. When a Server
receives a request from a Browser that includes a Cookie, the Server
is able to use the information stored in the Cookie. For example,
the Server might customize what is sent back to the user, or keep
a log of particular user's requests.
Dedicated Server
Dedicated or managed hosting allows the customer to take advantage
of a hosting provider's facilities, similar to co-location, however,
the customer does not own the server hardware. The hosting provider
assumes all the responsibility for the technical support and maintenance
of the server.
DNS: Domain Naming System
The Domain Name System (DNS) helps users to find their way around
the Internet. Every computer on the Internet has a unique address
- just like a telephone number - which is a string of four groups
of numbers separated by a period called an "IP address" (IP stands
for "Internet Protocol"). The DNS makes using the Internet easier
by allowing a familiar string of letters (the "domain name") to be
used instead of the arcane IP address, which is difficult to remember.
So, instead of typing 140.239.167.114 to get to eXostream's website,
you can type www.exostream.com. In essence, DNS is a "mnemonic" device
that makes web addresses easier to remember.
Domain Name
A domain name is the name that is assigned to a specific IP address
so that the address can more easily be remembered.
Every domain name is made up of two components, a generic or global
top-level domain, gTLD, and a second-level domain, SLD, which are
separated by a period. For example, in exostream.com, "exostream"
represents the second-level domain, while the ".com" represents the
top-level domain. Together, exostream.com, is referred to as the second-level
domain name.
There are also country code top-level domains called ccTLDs. These
domain extensions represent a specific country for example, .us for
the United States, .uk for the United Kingdom and .ca for Canada.
eCommerce
eCommerce, Electronic Commerce, refers to the general exchange of
goods and services via the Internet.
E-mail
E-mail, Electronic Mail, is a service used for sending messages electronically
over a computer network. E-mail can be sent from one address to another,
or automatically to a large number of addresses, see Mailing List.
Ethernet
Ethernet is a very common method of networking computers in a LAN,
Local Area Network. Ethernet can handle approximately 10,000,000 bits-per-second
and can be used with almost any kind of computer.
External hyperlink
An external hyperlink is a hyperlink to any file that is outside the
current web page.
FAQ
FAQ, Frequently Asked Questions, are documents that list and answer
the most common questions on a particular subject.
File
A file is a named collection of information that is stored on a computer
disk.
File server
A file server is a program running on a network that stores files
and provides access to them.
File type
A file type is the format of a file, usually indicated by its filename
extension, such as .xls for a Microsoft Excel file or .rtf for a rich
text formatted file.
Firewall
A fire wall is a method of securing one network from another network
by blocking unwanted access to the protected network while giving
the protected network access to networks outside of the firewall.
There are both software and hardware firewall solutions.
Form
A form is a set of data entry fields on a page that are processed
on the server. The data is sent to the server when the user submits
the form by clicking on a button, image or icon.
Form field
A form field is a data-entry field on a page. A user supplies information
in a field either by typing text or by selecting the field.
Form handler
A form handler is a program on a server that executes when a user
submits a form.
FrontPage
FrontPage®, is a popular web site creation and management software
tool developed by Microsoft.
FTP
FTP, File Transfer Protocol, is a common method of transferring files
between computers in different locations. An FTP client program (such
as CuteFTP or WS-FTP) is required to access an FTP server.
Gateway
The technical definition of a gateway is a hardware or software set-up
that translates between two dissimilar protocols, for example some
ISPs have a gateway that translates between their internal, proprietary
e-mail format and Internet e-mail format. "Gateway" might also be
used to describe any mechanism for providing access to another system,
e.g. AOL might be called a gateway to the Internet.
Gigabyte
A Gigabyte is 1024 Megabytes.
Gopher
Gopher is a widely successful method of making menus of material available
over the Internet. Gopher is a Client and Server style program like
FTP, which requires that the user have a Gopher Client program. Although
Gopher spread rapidly across the globe in only a couple of years,
it has been largely supplanted by Hypertext, also known as WWW, World
Wide Web.
Hit
As used in reference to the World Wide Web, 'hit' means a single request
from a web browser for a single item from a web server; thus in order
for a web browser to display a page that contains 3 graphics, 4 'hits'
would occur at the server: 1 for the HTML page, and one for each of
the 3 graphics.
'hits' are often used as a very rough measure of load on a server,
e.g. 'Our server has been getting 300,000 hits per month.' Because
each 'hit' can represent anything from a request for a tiny document
(or even a request for a missing document) all the way to a request
that requires some significant extra processing (such as a complex
search request), the actual load on a machine from 1 hit is almost
impossible to define.
Home page
A home page, or homepage, is the starting point on a Web server. It
is the page that is retrieved and displayed by default when a user
visits the Web server. The default home-page name for a server depends
on the server's configuration, however, on most Web servers, it is
index.html or index.htm.
A more common meaning of home page refers to the main web page out
of a collection of web pages, e.g. the home page for ExoStream Communications
would be www.exostream.com.
Host
Any computer on a network that is a repository for services available
to other computers on the network is considered a host. It is quite
common to have one host machine provide several services, such as
WWW and USENET.
Hosting
Hosting is the term used to refer to the housing of various items
such as an application, database, web site, email or a domain. There
are several types of hosting, including, dedicated, co-location, shared
and virtual hosting.
Hotspot
A hotspot is a graphically defined area in an image that contains
a hyperlink. An image with hotspots is called an image map. In browsers,
hotspots are invisible, however users can tell that a hotspot is present
by the changing appearance of the pointer.
HTML
HTML, HyperText Markup Language, is the standard language for describing
the contents and structure of pages on the World Wide Web. HTML looks
a lot like old-fashioned typesetting code, where you surround a block
of text with codes that indicate how it should appear. In addition,
with HTML you can specify that a block of text, or a word, is linked
to another file on the Internet, i.e. a hyperlink. HTML files are
meant to be viewed using a World Wide Web Client Program, such as
Netscape, Internet Explorer or Mosaic.
HTML attribute
A, HTML attribute is a name-value pair used within an HTML tag to
assign additional properties to the object being defined.
HTML character encoding
HTML character encoding is a table that associates a numeric index
with each character in a character set. The table is used when you
create a Web page for use in a specific language.
HTML tag
An HTML tag is a symbol used in HTML to identify a page element's
type, format, and structure.
HTTP
HTTP, Hyper Text Transfer Protocol, is the Internet protocol used
to transfer hypertext, or HTML web pages on the internet. This requires
an HTTP client program, or web browser such as Internet Explorer,
Netscape or Mosaic, which retrieves information from an HTTP server
program.
Hyperlink
A hyperlink is a jump from text or from an image map to a page or
other type of file on the World Wide Web. In World Wide Web pages,
hyperlinks are the primary way to navigate between pages and among
Websites.
Hypertext
Originally, the term "hypertext" was use to describe any textual information
on a computer containing jumps to other information. The hypertext
jumps are called hyperlinks. In World Wide Web pages, hypertext is
the primary way to navigate between pages and among Websites. Hypertext
on World Wide Web pages has been expanded to include hyperlinks from
text and hyperlinks from image maps.
Image
A graphic in GIF or JPEG file format that can be inserted in a World
Wide Web page. FrontPage lets you import images in the following formats
and insert them as GIF or JPEG: GIF, JPEG, BMP (Windows and OS/2),
TIFF, TAG, PCD, RAS, EPS, PCX, and WMF.
Image map
An image map is an image containing one or more invisible regions,
called hotspots, which are assigned hyperlinks.
Internet
The global computer network composed of a vast collection of inter-connected
networks, both wide-area networks, (WANs) and local-area networks,
(LANs), that use the TCP/IP protocols and that evolved from the ARPANET
of the late 60's and early 70's is referred to as the Internet, (Upper-case
"I").
In addition, any two or more networks connected together can be referred
to as an internet, (Lower-case - "I").
InterNIC
InterNIC (now known as Network Solutions) currently holds an exclusive
contract with the U.S. government to assign domain names for .COM,
.NET and .ORG. The contract is scheduled to expire September 30, 1998.
Network Solutions is the company that runs the InterNIC registry.
Intranet
A private network inside a company or organization that uses the same
kinds of software that you would find on the public Internet, but
that is only for internal use.
IP
IP, Internet Protocol, is Internet software that divides data into
packets for transmission over the Internet. Computers must run IP
to communicate across the Internet.
IP address
An IP address, (Internet Protocol address), is the standard way of
identifying a computer that is connected to the Internet, much the
way a telephone number identifies a telephone on a telephone network.
The IP address is a 32-binary digit number that identifies each sender
or receiver of information that is sent in packet across the Internet.
When you request a web page or send an e-mail, your IP address is
sent to the IP address associated with the domain name in the URL
you requested or in the e-mail address you sent mail to. At the other
end, the recipient can see your IP address and can respond by sending
the web page you requested or another message using the IP address
received.
IP address mask
IP address mask, Internet Protocol address mask, is a range of IP
addresses defined so that only machines with IP addresses within the
range are allowed access to an Internet service. To mask a portion
of the IP address, it must be replaced with an asterisk wild card
character (*). For example, "192.44.*.*," represents every computer
on the Internet with an IP address beginning with 192.44.
ISDN
(Integrated Services Digital Network) -- Basically a way to move more
data over existing regular phone lines. ISDN is rapidly becoming available
to much of the USA and in most markets it is priced very comparably
to standard analog phone circuits. It can provide speeds of roughly
128,000 bits-per-second over regular phone lines. In practice, most
people will be limited to 56,000 or 64,000 bits-per-second.
ISP
ISP, (Internet Service Provider) is an institution that provides access
to the Internet in some form, usually for money.
Java
Java is a network-oriented programming language developed by Sun Microsystems
that is specifically designed for writing programs that can be safely
downloaded to your computer through the Internet and immediately run
without fear of viruses or other harm to your computer or files. Using
small Java programs called "Applets", Web pages can include functions
such as animations, calculators, and other fancy tricks.
Java applet
A Java Applet is a short program written in Java that is attached
to a World Wide Web page and executed by the browser machine.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a cross-platform, World Wide Web scripting language
developed by Netscape Communications. JavaScript code is inserted
directly into the HTML page.
JDK
JDK, Java Development Kit, is a software development package from
Sun Microsystems that implements the basic set of tools needed to
write, test and debug Java applications and applets.
JPEG
JPEG, Joint Photographic Expert Group, is a color image format with
excellent compression for most kinds of images. JPEG is commonly used
on the World Wide Web for 24-bit color images.
Kilobyte
Derived from the SI unit modifier meaning 'a thousand,' a Kilobyte
is actually 1024 (2^10) bytes.
LAN
LAN, Local Area Network, is a computer network limited to the immediate
area, usually the same building or floor of a building. However, several
LANs can be connected to over longer distances via telephone lines
and radio. This system of LANs is called a wide-area network (WAN).
A LAN can be connected to the Internet and can also be configured
as an intranet.
Most LANs connect workstations and personal computers. Typically,
each node in a LAN can access data and devices anywhere on the LAN,
allowing many users to share expensive devices, such as laser printers,
as well as data. Users can also use the LAN to communicate with each
other, by sending e-mail or engaging in chat sessions.
There are many different types of LANs, including Ethernets, which
are the most common for PCs, and AppleTalk network system, which is
used for Apple Macintosh.
Leased-line
Refers to a phone line that is rented for exclusive 24-hour, 7 -days-a-week
use from your location to another location. The highest speed data
connections require a leased line.
Listserv
The most common kind of maillist, Listservs originated on BITNET but
they are now common on the Internet.
Linux
Linux is an operating system, originally developed by Linus Torvalds,
whose development is continued by programmers all over the world who
write supporting software and give it away to anyone who needs it.
Linux source code is freely available and may be modified to suit
users' requirements as are many of its applications, offering its
users an independence and flexibility that other commercially available
operating systems cannot.
Login
As a noun, login refers to the account name used to gain access to
a computer system, application or network. As a verb, login is the
act of entering into a computer system, application or network.
Maillist
Maillist, or Mailing List, is a system that allows people to send
a single e-mail, which is then automatically copied and sent to all
of the other subscribers to the maillist.
Mailto
Mailto is the Internet protocol that is used to send electronic mail.
Megabyte
Derived from the SI unit modifier meaning 'a million,' a Megabyte
is actually 1024 Kilobytes.
Meta tag
A meta tag is an HTML tag that must appear in the portion of the page.
Meta tags supply information about the page but do not affect its
display. A standard meta tag, "generator," is used to supply the type
of editor that created the HTML page.
MIME
MIME, or Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, is the standard for
attaching non-text files to standard Internet mail messages. Non-text
files include graphics, spreadsheets, formatted word-processor documents,
sound files, etc.
An email program is said to be MIME Compliant if it can both send
and receive files using the MIME standard. When non-text files are
sent using the MIME standard they are converted or encoded into text,
although the resulting text is not readable.
Generally speaking, the MIME standard is a way of specifying both
the type of file being sent, and the method that should be used to
turn it back into its original form.
Besides email software, the MIME standard is also universally used
by Web Servers to identify the files they are sending to Web Clients,
in this way new file formats can be accommodated simply by updating
the Browsers' list of pairs of MIME-Types and appropriate software
for handling each type.
Mirror
To 'mirror' is to maintain an exact copy of something. A common use
of the term on the Internet refers to 'mirror sites' which are web
sites, or FTP sites that maintain exact copies of material originated
at another location, usually in order to provide more widespread access
to the resource.
Another common use of the term 'mirror' refers to an arrangement where
information is written to more than one hard disk simultaneously,
so that if one disk fails, the computer keeps on working without losing
anything.
Modem
Modem, derived from MOdulator, DEModulator, is a device that is connected
to a computer and to a phone or cable line that allows the computer
to communicate with other computers through the phone system or cable
network.
Mosaic
Mosaic was the first World Wide Web browser that was available for
Macintosh, Windows and UNIX.
Multihosting
Multihosting is the ability of a Web server to support more than one
Internet address, (domain name), and more than one home page on a
single server.
MX Record: Mail Exchange
Mail Exchange record is part of the zone file and is used to designate
which mail server machine should process email for a specific domain.
Name Servers
A Name Server is a computer that performs the mapping of domain names
to IP addresses.
Nested list
A nested list is a list that is contained within a member of another
list. Nesting is indicated by indentation in most Web browsers.
Netscape®
Netscape is a common World Wide Web browser, originally based on the
Mosaic program developed at the National Center for Supercomputing
Applications (NCSA). The main author of Netscape, Mark Andreessen,
was hired away from the NCSA by Jim Clark, and they founded a company
called Mosaic Communications, which soon after changed the name to
Netscape Communications Corporation. Netscape Communications has since
been acquired by America Online, which is now known as AOL Time Warner.
Network
A network is created when 2 or more computers are connected together
so that they can share resources. When two or more networks are connected
together, an internet is created.
Newsgroup
The name for discussion groups on USENET. See Also: USENET
NIC
NIC, or Networked Information Center, is any office that handles information
for a network, e.g. Network Solutions, which maintains information
for many domain names.
NIC also refers to a Network Interface Card which plugs into a computer
and adapts the network interface to the appropriate standard. ISA,
PCI, and PCMCIA cards are all examples of NICs.
Node
Any single computer connected to a network.
NT
Windows NT®, New technology, is Microsoft's® 32-bit operating system
developed from what was originally intended to be OS/2 3.0 before
Microsoft ®and IBM ceased joint development of OS/2. Used by web hosting
companies in the network environment to offer customers support for
Microsoft base products such as MS Access®, MS SQL® 7.0, and FrontPage®
2000.
OC-3
An OC-3 is a circuit that transmits 155,000,000 bits per second.
Packet Switching
Packet Switching is the method used to move data around on the Internet.
In packet switching, all the data coming out of a machine is broken
up into chunks, each chunk has the address of where it came from and
where it is going. This enables chunks of data from many different
sources to co-mingle on the same lines, and be sorted and directed
to different routes by special machines along the way. This allows
many people to use the same lines at the same time.
Parking
Parking is a term that refers to the process by which someone selects
a domain name, and "parks" it by registering the domain name under
name servers. Registries require the use of name servers or hosts
for every domain registered. When a domain is 'parked' the domain
is registered and points to a nameserver, but does not have webhosting
and associated services.
Path
The portion of a URL that identifies the folders containing a file.
For example, in the URL http://my.web.site/hello/world /greetings.htm,
the path is /hello/world/.
Password
A password is a code used to gain access to a locked system.
PCT
PCT, or Personal Communications Technology, is an enhanced version
of Secure Socket Layer. (See also SSL)
POP
POP, or Post Office Protocol, refers to the protocol used by e-mail
software such as Outlook, Lotus Notes and Eudora get mail from a mail
server.
Port
A port refers to one of the network input/output channels of a computer
running TCP/IP. In the World Wide Web, port usually refers to the
port number that a server is running on. A single computer can have
many Web servers running on it, but only one server can be running
on each port. The default port for World Wide Web servers is 80, while
the standard gopher port is 70.
PPP
PPP, or Point to Point Protocol, is a well known as a protocol that
allows a computer to use a regular telephone line and a modem to make
TCP/IP connections.
Propagation
Propagation is the process whereby the nameservers throughout the
world have updated their records for a specific domain. For example,
if you move your domain from one host to another, it will take between
24 and 48 hours for the new address to be updated on all of the nameservers
around the world. During this period, the traffic decreases at the
old location and increases at the new location.
Properties
Properties are the settings and values that characterize an item on
the web, such as the title and URL of a web, the file name and path
of a file, or the name and initial value of a form field.
Protocol
A protocol is a type or method of accessing a document or service
over the Internet, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or HyperText
Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
Proxy server
A proxy server is an Internet server that acts as a firewall, mediating
traffic between a protected network and the Internet.
Radio Button
A radio button is a form field that presents the user with a selection
that can be chosen by clicking on a button. Radio buttons are presented
in a list, one of which is selected by default. Selecting a new member
of the list deselects the currently selected item.
Real Audio / Real Video
Real Audio/Real Video enables users of personal computers and other
consumer electronic devices to send and receive audio, video and other
multimedia services using the Web.
Registrant
A registrant is the entity, organization or individual that registers
a domain name.
Registered User
A registered user is a user of a Website with a recorded name and
password.
Registrar
A registrar is a company that registers domain names. The registrar
you choose will ask the registrant to provide various contact and
technical information that makes up the registration. The registrar
will keep records of the contact information and submit the technical
information to a central directory known as the "registry."
Registry
The registry is an organization responsible for assigning domain names
for the top-level domain, (TLD), that they manage. In addition, it
is their responsibility to update the global DNS tables that all nameservers
use to resolve domain names. InterNIC is the registry for TLDs such
as .com, .net and .org domain names.
Relative URL
The Internet address of a page or other World Wide Web resource with
respect to the Internet address of the current page is called a relative
URL. A relative URL gives the path from the current location of the
page to the location of the destination page or resource.
Renewal
Most TLDs need to be renewed at some scheduled yearly interval. This
is an opportunity for both the registrant and the registry to update
their records as well as collect any applicable renewal fees.
Resolution
The conversion of an internet address or domain name into the corresponding
physical location, i.e. IP address, is called resolution.
Router
A router is a special-purpose computer or software package that handles
the connection between 2 or more networks. Routers look at the destination
addresses of the packets passing through them and deciding which route
to send them on.
RTF
RTF, Rich Text Format, is a method of encoding text formatting and
document structure using the ASCII character set.
Security Certificate
A security certificate is piece of information, often stored as a
text file, that is used by the SSL protocol to establish a secure
connection. Security Certificates contain information about the owner,
who it was issued by, a unique serial number or other unique identification,
valid dates, and an encrypted 'fingerprint' that can be used to verify
the contents of the certificate. In order for an SSL connection to
be created both sides must have a valid Security Certificate.
Server
A computer, or a software package, that provides a specific kind of
service to client software running on other computers is called a
server. The term can refer to a particular piece of software, such
as a WWW server, or to the machine on which the software is running.
A single server machine could have several different server software
packages running on it, thus providing many different servers to clients
on the network.
Server-Side Image Map
A server-side image map is an image map that passes the coordinates
of the cursor to a CGI handler routine on the server. Server-side
image maps require your server to compute the target URL of the hyperlink
based on the cursor coordinates.
Server-Side Include
Server-side include, SSI, is a feature provided by some Web servers
that automatically inserts text onto pages when they are given to
the browser.
SGML
SGML is an ISO (International Standards Organization) markup language
for representing documents on computers. HTML is based on SGML concepts.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is similar to dedicated hosting in that the hosting
provider owns the hardware stored in their NOC facility, however,
the customer shares server space with many other clients, allowing
the customer to experience a much lower cost of service. Instead of
a customer buying their own server, they lease space on the hosting
provider's server with other customers, much like renting an apartment
in an apartment building with other residents.
Shockwave
Shockwave, produced by Macromedia, allows users to view various forms
of entertainment on the Web, such as games, music, rich-media chat,
interactive product demos, and e-merchandising applications.
SMTP
SMTP, or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, is the protocol used to send
electronic mail on the Internet. SMTP consists of a set of rules for
how a program sending mail and a program receiving mail should interact.
SNMP
SNMP, Simple Network Management Protocol, is a set of standards for
communication with devices connected to a TCP/IP network. Examples
of these devices include routers, hubs, and switches. A device is
said to be 'SNMP compatible' if it can be monitored and/or controlled
using SNMP messages. SNMP messages are known as 'PDU's' - Protocol
Data Units. Devices that are SNMP compatible contain SNMP 'agent'
software to receive, send, and act upon SNMP messages.
Spam (or Spamming)
Spamming is an inappropriate attempt to use a mailing list, USENET
or other networked communications facility as if it was a broadcast
medium by sending the same message to a large number of people who
didn't ask for it.
SQL
SQL, Structured Query Language, is a specialized programming language
for sending queries to databases. Most industrial-strength and many
smaller database applications can be addressed using SQL.
SSL
SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, is a low-level protocol designed by
Netscape Communications to enable encrypted, authenticated communications
across the Internet. SSL used mostly, but not exclusively, in communications
between web browsers and web servers. URL's that begin with 'https'
indicate that an SSL connection will be used. SSL provides 3 important
things: Privacy, Authentication, and Message Integrity.
In an SSL connection each side of the connection must have a Security
Certificate, which each side's software sends to the other. Each side
then encrypts what it sends using information from both its own and
the other side's Certificate, ensuring that only the intended recipient
can de-crypt it, and that the other side can be sure the data came
from the place it claims to have come from, and that the message has
not been tampered with.
Sysop
Sysop, (System Operator), refers to anyone responsible for the physical
operations of a computer system or network resource.
T-1
A T-1 is a leased-line connection capable of carrying data at 1,544,000
bits-per-second.
T-3
A T-3 is a leased-line connection capable of carrying data at 44,736,000
bits-per-second.
TCP
TCP, (Transmission Control Protocol), is Internet networking software
that controls the transmission of packets of data over the Internet.
TCP checks for lost packets, puts the data from multiple packets into
the correct order, and requests that missing or damaged packets be
resent. Computers must run TCP to communicate with World Wide Web
servers.
TCP/IP
TCP/IP, (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), is the
suite of protocols that defines the Internet. Originally designed
for the UNIX operating system, TCP/IP software is now available for
every major kind of computer operating system.
Telnet
Telnet is the command and program used to login from one Internet
site to another. The telnet command/program gets you to the login:
prompt of another host.
Terabyte
One Terabyte is equal to 1024 gigabytes.
Thumbnail
A thumbnail is a small version of an image on a World Wide Web page,
often containing a hyperlink to a full-size version of the image.
URL
A URL or Universal Resource Locator is a unique identifier that distinguishes
an address on the World Wide Web (www), along with the protocol by
which the resource is accessed. The most common URL type is "http,"
which gives the Internet address of a www page, for example, http://www.exostream.com.
Other URL types include "gopher," which provides the Internet address
of a Gopher directory, and "ftp," which calls up the Internet address
of an FTP resource. No two websites can have the same URL just like
no two residencies can have the same phone number.
UNIX
UNIX is a multi-user operating system designed in the 1970s typically
used on proprietary workstations and computers. Available in many
versions, the open source Linux operating system is based on Unix.
USENET
USENET is a world-wide system of discussion groups, with comments
passed among hundreds of thousands of machines. USENET is completely
decentralized, with over 10,000 discussion areas, called newsgroups.
Virtual Hosting
Hosting service designed to provide you with the tools you need to
effectively manage your presence on the Internet.
WAN
Wan, Wide Area Network, refers to any internet or network that covers
an area larger than a single building or campus.
Whois
Whois is a program that allows users to query databases of domain
names and their associated contact information, which are maintained
by registries.
WWW
WWW, World Wide Web, can be used to refer to the whole constellation
of resources that can be accessed using Gopher, FTP, HTTP, telnet,
USENET, WAIS and some other tools. In addition, WWW refers to the
universe of hypertext servers (HTTP servers) which are the servers
that allow text, graphics, sound files, etc. to be mixed together.
Zone file
A zone file is the group of files that reside on the domain host or
nameserver. The zone file designates a domain, its subdomains and
mail server.
