Active Directory
This is part of the Microsoft Windows system for servers (the main
computers that run a company network). It looks after who can
log onto the system and what they can do when they are using it
(e.g. it controls which staff members can access which files).
ADSL
This is the most common type of broadband Internet connection
provided using telephone lines.
Back-up
This is the term used to describe the process of making copies of
important computer files so that they can be restored or recovered
if something goes wrong. With on-site back-ups the back-up
data is stored somewhere at the same site (but usually physically
separated from the machine it's backed up from). With
off-site back-ups the data is stored in a completely different
location.
Bandwidth
This is a measure of the amount of computer data transferred in a
period of time. It could describe how fast data can be
exchanged (e.g. Broadband connections may be described as 8Mb/s - 8
Megabits per second) or that amount of data you're permitted to
transfer in a period of time (e.g. a website hosting package may
have a bandwidth limit of 1 GB per month).
Blackberry
This is one type of mobile phone based device that lets people
access their e-mail and electronic diary when they're away from
their computer.
Broadband
This is the general term for a relatively fast Internet connection
that is normally permanently connected. Very old Internet
connections mainly used 'Dial-up' which was much slower and had to
be connected and disconnected when needed.
Domain
Domains are a way of describing computer systems on the Internet
in a way that means that different systems can find each other and
exchange data. The system works using numbers called IP
addresses (e.g. 192.168.200.5) and a Domain Name System (DNS)
translates an Internet address (e.g. www.gwyddon.co.uk) into in IP
address so every computer on the Internet can find that
address. When you buy an Internet address (called a Domain
name) you have to register it with DNS servers. If you use
our Domain Registration service we look after all of this for
you.
E-Commerce
This term is used for websites and webpages where business
transactions take place - where people can buy and/or sell things
online.
Exchange
This is part of the Microsoft Windows system for servers. It
looks after e-mails etc.
FTP
This is short for File Transfer Protocol. It's a system used
for transferring files on the Internet and is mainly used to upload
web pages to a server.
GB
This is short for Gigabytes - a measurement of the size of a piece
of computer data. There are approximately 1000 Megabytes (MB)
in one Gigbyte. As computers get more storage capacity,
Terabytes (TB) will become more common (there are approximately
1000GB in 1 TB).
Hard Drive
This is the main storage device in a computer system. Most
personal computers contain only 1 hard drive but servers can
contain several hard drives in an array. It's also sometimes
called a hard disk.
Hosting
Hosting is the term used to describe the process of storing files
on a server that can be seen on the Internet. The host
machine has the IP address that relates to the Internet Domain in
DNS (see Domains above). If Gwyddon looks after your e-mail
or website we can deal with your hosting as well as domain
registration.
Internet
This is the term used to describe the world wide network of
computer systems that are linked to each other.
Intranet
This is like a mini, secure Internet. It works like the
Internet but can only be seen by people who have a secure
connection (e.g. people on your company network). Many
companies have Intranet websites which contain information and
pages for their staff but which are not accessible to the
public.
MB
This is short for Megabyte. It is another measurement of the
size of computer data. It is roughly 1000th of a
GB (see above).
Mb/s
This is a measure of the speed of an Internet connection. It
is an abbreviation of Megabits per second.
Network
This is the term used to describe a group of computers that are
connected together. Computers on a network are often
connected using cables as this is fairly fast and reliable but
wireless technologies mean that networks don't always use
cables. There are 2 main types of networks: Local Area
Networks (LANs) which are usually restricted to one business or
site and Wide Area Networks (WANs) which are usually networks
connected by the Internet and other long distance methods.
Operating System (OS)
This is the basic system that makes any computer work. Common
examples include Mac OS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, etc.
PC
Personal Computer - often also referred to as 'Workstation' or
simply 'computer', 'desktop', 'laptop' or 'machine.'
Sometimes PC is used specifically to describe a machine running the
Microsoft Windows operating system but sometimes it can be used to
describe any personal computer.
Peer to Peer
This is a description of activity on a network where two PCs can
exchange data without having to go through a central server.
PHP
This is a type of programming system used to make some web
pages. You don't need any special software to read these
pages.
POP3
This is one of the more common systems used to collect e-mail from
an e-mail server, it stands for Post Office Protocol v3
Portal
This is a type of website that is designed as a route into a number
of different websites or data sources. Quite often a company
Intranet site is a Portal - it might provide access to discussion
forums, project management tools, customer relationship databases
and useful company resources.
Remote Access
This means being able to view and take control of one computer by
logging into it from another one. It is often used by
technicians when someone is having a problem with their
computer. It means that a technician can be at one location
and make changes to a computer at another location without
physically having to travel there.
Replication
This is the process of automatically duplicating (or mirroring)
files from one computer or hard drive on another one.
Replicated file systems need more storage capacity but have the
advantage that if one hard drive gets damaged or develops a fault,
the data is usually still accessible on the replicated hard
drive.
Secure Connection
This is a way of connecting to a network in a way that cannot
easily be copied or hacked into by an unauthorised person.
Secure connections are used when you buy products online and give
you credit/debit card details. They can also be used to
access a VPN (see below).
Server
This is the name for a computer on a network that does background
functions. Servers handle things like who can log on to a
system, who can access which files, and e-mail sending/delivery
functions (e-mail server). Servers can also act as data
stores (e.g. file server) and every web page has to be located on a
web server for people to be able to access it.
SQL
This is a type of database that can be used to support complex
websites. MySQL is a very similar product.
VPN
This is short for Virtual Private Network. It's a process
that lets authorised people connect to an organisation's internal
network whilst they are not physically connected to it - usually
using an Internet connection. It means that people can work
from home or use a laptop away from their office but still have
access to all their office systems.
Website
A website is a place on the Internet where people can access
information or resources published by the website's owner. It
could be very simple (e.g. a single page of text) or very complex
(e.g. many hundreds of pages and include e-commerce pages, software
downloads or online games).
Web Page
Websites are made up from individual web pages. Web pages can
be very simple or more complicated. Sometimes a web page can
be a framework within which there is access to a more complex
system.
Windows Mobile
This is part of the Microsoft Windows family of operating
systems. It works on hand held mobile devices (similar to
mobile phones) and gives access to e-mail and other Office/Internet
activities. Windows Mobile devices can usually also be used
to make and receive calls and text messages like mobile phones.
Workstation
This is another term used to describe a personal computer.