FAQ: Glossary of Terms

These are some commonly used terms that you may come across. If you do not find a term here, or you or looking for additional information, please refer to one of the following Web sites:

• Learn the Net
• WhatIs?com
• Ask Jeeves

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

access provider

This is a company that offers Internet Access, such as DialMaine.

ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Loop/Line)

This is a Residential High Speed Internet Access solution. This technology uses existing phone lines, as opposed to specially installed lines. Currently Arcus Digital offers SDSL, which is superior in performance, in the Waterville area. For more information on this service, please contact Arcus Digital at 1-207-861-7067.

B

bandwidth

This is the amount of data that can be sent through an existing connection. This is typical measured in Bits Per Second (bps).

C

cookies

Cookies are small text files, downloaded through your browser. They determine when you were last at a site, and any customized features on the site (such as name, local weather, etc.) These are sometimes used to store the items you have selected to purchase on shopping sites.

D

domain name

Domain names are the last part of e-mail addresses (everything after the @ sign), or the last part of web page addresses (everything after www.), such as dialmaine.com. Also, see Top Level Domain Names. Arcus Digital offers domain name parking to reserve domain names, or domain name registration along with their Web hosting accounts. If you would like any of these services, please contact Arcus Digital at 1-207-861-7067.

DNS (Domain Name Service)

Every computer on the Internet has an IP address (such as 66.101.10.2). DNS resolves URLs (such as www.dialmaine.com) to IP addresses, so people can use simplistic names, rather then remembering long and complex numbers. When your computer dials in and connects, it receives a temporary IP Address. Typically, these IP addresses change each time you connect.

F

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

FTP is used to transfer files from one machine to another via an Internet connection. This is typically used to upload content for a Web page, but may be used to store any kind of file.

file compression

File compression is a way of reducing the size of one or more files. This is typical done before downloading or sending files as e-mail. Zip files are the most common form of this, which uses the program WinZip. WinZip can be obtained from www.winzip.com. Windows XP features built-in Zip compression and does not require any third-party utilities.

firewall

A firewall is a piece of software or hardware that limits the connections that a computer or network will accept data from. This is used for security concerns.

H

HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)

This is the language that Web pages are written in. There are several Web sites and books with instructions for creating simple HTML pages. Arcus Digital offers Web authoring/development for advanced sites. For information, please contact Arcus Digital at 1-207-861-7067.

I

IPRS

Verizon Internet Protocol Routing Service.

IROC

Internet Regional Operations Center.

ISP (Internet Service Provider)

This is a company that offers Internet access, such as DialMaine.

L

LAN (Local Area Network)

A local area network is two or more computers connected together within one location.

M

MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension)

MIME is a format used to attach files to e-mail messages.

N

newsgroup

A newsgroup is an electronic discussion group consisting of postings. Newsgroups and Usenet can be accessed through a news server, such as news.dialmaine.com.

O

OC3 (Optical Carrier 3)

An ATM/SONET/SDH based optical transport operating at 155Mbits/second.

P

packet

A packet is a small block of transmitted data. Several packets are used in a typical transmission.

PGP (Pretty Good Privacy)

PGP is method used to send and receive secure e-mail. The sender and the receiver have to have a specific key to encrypt and decrypt messages. Special e-mail clients or third party software is needed to accomplish this.

PMFI

Problem Magically Fixed Itself.

POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3)

POP3 is a protocol used to authenticate and download e-mail messages.

POP (Point of Presence)

A POP is typical a physical location where connections are received.

PPP (Point to Point Protocol)

PPP is the most common authentication/communication method used to establish a dial-up connection.

S

SDSL (Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Loop/Line)

This is a Commercial High Speed Internet Access solution. This technology requires a special circuit installed by the phone company. Currently Arcus Digital offers SDSL in the Waterville area. For more information on this service, please contact Arcus Digital at 1-207-861-7067.

SMTP (Simple Mail Transport Protocol)

SMTP is the protocol used to send e-mail from a client machine, to an e-mail server for delivery to the addressed recipient.

T

top level domain name

Top Level domain names are the last two or three characters of the web address (such as .com, .net, .org, .edu, .gov, .mil, .int, .info, .biz). The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers govern the top level domain names.

U

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

A URL is the address used to reach a Web site. This typically includes the protocol desired (such as http:// or ftp://) http://www.dialmaine.com is an example of a URL.http://www.icann.org

Usenet

Usenet refers to all newsgroups collectively. Usenet can be accessed through a news server, such as news.dialmaine.com.

V

VADI (Verizon Advanced Data Inc.)

A subsidary corporation of Verizon that handles frame relay, ATM, and other Wide Area Network technologies

virus

A virus is a malicious program, designed to: alter, corrupt, or extract data on a machine. Viruses are spread primarily through e-mail attachments or floppy disks. Other methods do exist, however they are usually targeted at specific operating systems. Typical these types of viruses are corrected by getting an update to the operating system. Many software companies sell anti-virus software to eliminate and protect against viruses. See McAfee or Symantec for more information.

W

WAN (Wide Area Network)

This is a group of computers connected together over a large geographical area. The Internet is considered the ultimate WAN.

WWW (World Wide Web)

The term used to refer to publicly accessible Web pages and other files and services.