Glossary

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3G Dongle

A 3G Dongle is a device for connecting a computer to a Third Generation Mobile Network (3G Network). 3G mobile networks offer much faster data transfer speeds than earlier versions, and are a... Read more

A

ADSL

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is the most common form of fixed-line broadband provision for internet access. It is called Asymmetric because Upload speed (to the internet), is much slow... Read more

B

BSOD

Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). This may occur when a Windows operating system encounters a low-level error with the machine hardware, for example with memory or disk. The machine stops all norm... Read more

F

Firewall

A Firewall is a means of controlling network access to a system. This is usually in the context of preventing intrusion from the internet to a private system. Firewalls may be in the fo... Read more

FTTC

FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) is the acronym for BT's current programme to bring higher speed broadband connections to an increasing number of businesses and homes. In essence, this means lay... Read more

I

IMAP

Internet Message Access Profile is an internet email system. In IMAP, email messages are stored on a server as well as locally. The usual method of use is to work online with the server... Read more

N

NAS

A Network Attached Storage (NAS) device provides disk storage capacity to users of a local area network. Such devices are independent of any PCs or servers on the network, and are particularl... Read more

P

POP

Post Office Protocol (POP) is one of the most common forms of internet email. Emails are received by a mail server on the internet and are stored until the user logs on and downloads them to ... Read more

Q

QoS

Quality of Service is used in relation to network routers and switches. It refers to the ability of the device to prioritise different sorts of traffic (eg computer data, voice, or TV) to pro... Read more

R

REIN

Repetitive Electrical Impulse Noise (REIN) is when electrical "noise" from an external source interferes with the ADSL (or other electronic) signal. Usually the presence of other power eq... Read more

Router

A router serves the purpose of directing network traffic to specified destinations. It is used to link networks together, for example a local system to the internet, or a head office to branc... Read more

S

SBS

Microsoft Small Business Server (SBS) is a bundle of server software packaged for small business. The main items included are Windows Server and Exchange (email) Server, and optionally, in the Prem... Read more

SDSL

Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL) is a more expensive and sophisticated form of fixed-line broadband provision for internet access, and generally used only by businesses. It is called Symmet... Read more

SPF

Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is an e-mail validation system designed to prevent e-mail spam by addressing a common vulnerability, source address spoofing. Domain Name Service (DNS) records f... Read more

Switch

A Network Switch, often known simply as a Switch, is a physical network device for connecting together the various components of an Ethernet computer network. Such components might include PC... Read more

V

VDSL

Very High Speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) is a higher speed form of broadband access and is increasingly available in the UK. It uses a Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) line with conventional... Read more

VOIP

Voice Over IP uses Internet Protocol technology rather than traditional methods to provide telephone services. Generally speaking, this can offer additional features and it is particularly good for... Read more

VPN

A Virtual Private Network is used to provide a secure network link between two locations using the internet as a means to carry the traffic. A so-called tunnel is created through the internet... Read more

W

WAP

A Wireless Access Point (WAP) is a physical device used in an ethernet computer network to provide wireless connections to the network. A WAP is connected physically to a network switch or ro... Read more