Glossary

A

Access: To store data on, or retrieve data from, a disk drive or other peripheral device. See also file.

ACL (Access Control List): An access control list (ACL) is a table that tells a computer operating system which access rights each user has to a particular system object, such as a file directory or individual file. Each object has a security attribute that identifies its access control list. The list has an entry for each system user with access privileges. The most common privileges include the ability to read a file (or all the files in a directory), to write to the file or files, and to execute the file (if it is an executable file, or program). Microsoft Windows NT/2000, Novell's NetWare, Digital's OpenVMS, and Unix-based systems are among the operating systems that use access control lists. The list is implemented differently by each operating system.

In Windows NT/2000, an access control list (ACL) is associated with each system object. Each ACL has one or more access control entries (ACEs) consisting of the name of a user or group of users. The user can also be a role name, such as "programmer," or "tester." For each of these users, groups, or roles, the access privileges are stated in a string of bits called an access mask. Generally, the system administrator or the object owner creates the access control list for an object.

Administrator: See system administrator.

Agent: The Sitekeeper agent is an application that enables Sitekeeper functions to include certain computers in two categories:

Computers running Windows 9x, Windows Millennium Edition (ME), or Windows XP Home Edition.

Remote computers on which you want to enable Sitekeeper tasks, but that are not always connected to a network.

Aggregate: To gather, assemble or collect. "To aggregate data" means to gather separate sets of data. As a noun, "aggregate data" is data that has been collected from two or more sources.

applet: A small application program that is usually built into an operating system or a larger application program. For example, the built-in writing and drawing programs that come with Windows are sometimes called "applets."

API: Abbreviation of application program interface, a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications. A good API makes it easier to develop a program by providing all the building blocks. A programmer puts the blocks together.

Most operating environments, such as MS-Windows, provide an API so that programmers can write applications consistent with the operating environment. Although APIs are designed for programmers, they are ultimately good for users because they guarantee that all programs using a common API will have similar interfaces. This makes it easier for users to learn new programs.

Application: A computer program, which causes a computer system to perform some useful work for the user.

ATA: Advanced Technology Attachment. One of several standard types of interfaces used to connect a disk drive and a computer. See also PATA and SATA.

Attribute: A file access classification which permits a file to be retrieved or erased. Typical attributes are read/write, read only, archive and hidden.

AutoPlay: A feature of some Windows applications on CD-ROM that causes the program to start automatically when the CD-ROM is placed in the drive.

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B

Background processing: The execution of certain operations during momentary lulls in the primary (foreground) process. An example of a background process is printing while a word processor is waiting for keystrokes.

Bad Sector: A segment of disk storage that can't be read or written due to a physical problem in the disk. Bad sectors on hard disks are marked by the operating system and bypassed. If data are recorded in a sector that goes bad, file recovery software and occasionally special hardware must be used to restore it.

Benchmark: A benchmark is a performance test of hardware and/or software. There are various programs which test the raw power of a single machine, interaction in a single client/server system (one server/multiple clients) and transactions per second in a transaction processing system.

BIOS: Basic Input Output System. An essential set of routines in a PC, stored on a chip and providing an interface between the operating system and the hardware. The BIOS supports all peripheral technologies and internal services such as the realtime clock (time and date).

BIOS Int 13 Routine: A DOS interrupt that is used to activate disk functions, such as seek, read, write and format.

Binary: From Latin "bini," meaning two by two and "ary," meaning of, or pertaining to. Computers use the binary number system, which is a way of counting in which only two digits (0 and 1) are used. Contrast with the familiar decimal number system, in which we count with 10 digits (0 through 9).

Bit: Short for binary digit. The smallest unit of information handled by a computer. Like a light switch, a bit is either on or off, which corresponds to a numerical value of one or zero. Larger numbers are expressed by groups of bits. See also byte.

Boot: Refers to the initial start-up of a computer, such as when you turn on the computer's power. From the word "bootstrap," indicating the computer "lifts itself by the bootstraps;" that is, it gets itself going.

Boot Sector : Reserved sectors on disk which are used to load the operating system. On startup, the computer looks for the master boot record (MBR), which is typically the first sector in the first partition of the disk. The MBR contains a program that reads the partition table, which points to the first sector that contains the operating system. That sector contains another small program which causes the computer to boot the operating system.

Boot-time: The time during which a computer boots; that is, the computer is starting up and the operating system has not yet taken over control of the computer.

Bottleneck: A lessening of throughput. "Bottleneck" often refers to overloaded networks; this is caused by the inability of the hardware and transmission lines to support the traffic.

Browser: A software program, such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer, designed to locate and view Web pages on the Internet. In addition to displaying text, modern browsers also can display pictures and play sounds.

Build: A version of a program, generally one still in testing. Although a version number is usually given to a released product, a build number is sometimes used instead.

Byte: A group of eight bits, which can represent a number from zero through 255, a letter of the alphabet, or a variety of other things.

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C

C/H/S: Cylinder/Head/Sector

Cache: From the French word cacher, meaning "to hide." A temporary storage facility designed to speed things up by providing information to software that would otherwise have to be obtained from a slower medium. Caches exist for Web browsers, disk drives and CPUs. See also cache memory.

Cache coherency: A condition where the data contained in the cache memories in a computer with multiple processors is kept consistent at all times.

Cache memory: In computers, a cache is a small amount of very fast memory that is placed close to (or inside) the CPU chip, in order to improve performance. The cache memory holds copies of recently accessed data. Because computer programs often run the same instructions repeatedly, many times the CPU will find the data it needs in the cache and therefore will run faster because it does not need to access the computer's main memory.

CD-ROM: Compact Disk Read-Only Memory. A stiff plastic disk commonly used by software manufacturers to distribute software to customers. As the name implies, the original contents of a CD-ROM cannot be changed.

Central processing unit (CPU): The part of the computer hardware that controls the computer's overall operation and performs computations. Most modern CPUs are built into a single integrated circuit or chip. See also Pentium, x86.

Chip: See integrated circuit.

CHKDSK: A program (supplied with Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003) that checks the integrity of a disk and corrects disk errors such as lost clusters. See also scandisk.

Cluster: Smallest addressable unit of space on a disk. A one-byte file will actually use a cluster of disk space. The minimum size of a cluster depends on the size of the disk volume. The FAT file system allows a maximum of 65,536 clusters per volume, which means that the cluster size on a 64-megabyte disk volume is one kilobyte, while a 128-megabyte volume uses two-kilobyte clusters. Thus, the FAT file system can be very wasteful of disk space on large volumes. The NTFS file system does not suffer from this limitation.

CMOS: Complementary MOS. CMOS is the most widely used type of integrated circuit for digital processors and memories.

CMOS memory is a small, battery-backed memory bank in a computer which holds configuration settings.

COM: Acronym for Component Object Model, a specification developed by Microsoft for building software components that can be made into programs or add functionality to existing programs running on Microsoft Windows platforms.

Command line parameters: A command line parameter is necessary to provide Sitekeeper with information it needs to install or uninstall a program or deploy an update using the Software Deployment module. Sitekeeper comes with default command line parameters for many programs. You can also build command line parameter for other programs.

Component: A small modular program that performs a specific function and is designed to work interactively with other components and applications. See also applet, COM.

Compress: To transform (data) to minimize the space required for storage or transmission: compressed the file so that it could be downloaded efficiently.

Compression: Compression is the reduction in size of data in order to save space or transmission time. For data transmission, compression can be performed on just the data content or on the entire transmission unit (including header data) depending on a number of factors.

Contiguous: Adjacent; placed one after the other. A contiguous file is not fragmented; that is, it takes up a single "chunk" of disk space. See also fragmentation, defragmentation.

Control file: A file (Diskeep.ctl) used by Diskeeper to keep track of and control scheduled defragmentation of disk volumes. See also Set It and Forget It.

Controller: A specialized electronic circuit, which serves as an interface between a device, such as a disk drive, and a computer. See also IDE, SCSI.

CPU: see central processing unit.

Cycle: A set of events that is repeated. For example, in a polling system, all of the attached terminals are tested in one cycle.

Cycle Time: The time interval between the start of one cycle and the start of the next cycle.

Cylinder: The aggregate (collection) of all tracks that reside in the same location on every disk surface. On multiple-platter disks, the cylinder is the sum total of every track with the same track number on every surface. On a floppy disk, a cylinder comprises the top and corresponding bottom track. When storing data, the operating system fills an entire cylinder before moving to the next cylinder. The access arm remains stationary until all the tracks in the cylinder have been read or written.

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D

Data: Information, as processed by a computer. Plural of the Latin word datum, meaning an item of information.

Database: A collection of related information about a subject, organized in a useful manner that provides a base or foundation for procedures such as retrieving information, drawing conclusions, and making decisions.

Data Caching: Temporary storage of new write data or high-demand read data in solid state memory, for the purpose of accelerating performance. After the cached data is either written to disk or determined to be of low demand, it is overwritten with newly cached data.

Data Recovery: Restoration of physically damaged or corrupt data on a disk or tape. Disks and tapes can become corrupted due to hardware failure, bad software and viruses, as well as from power failures that occur while the magnetic media is being written.

Datum: Singular of data.

Deadlock Condition: A stalemate that occurs when two elements in a process are each waiting for the other to respond. For example, in a network, if one user is working on file A and needs file B to continue, but another user is working on file B and needs file A to continue, each one waits for the other. Both are temporarily locked out. The software must be able to deal with this scenario. Also known as "deadly embrace".

Defrag: Defrag is to carry out or undergo defragmentation.

Defragment: Defragment is to reorganize or reallocate the storage on a computer's hard disk by bringing together files or parts of files to optimise the machine's performance; also called defrag.

Defragmentation: The reduction or elimination of fragmentation, by making files and/or free disk space more contiguous.

Defragmenter, Defragger: Also referred to as an "optimizer program," a defragmenter (such as Diskeeper) is a software utility which defragments a disk. Windows comes with a built-in defragmenter which is based on Executive Software's Diskeeper Lite utility.

Device: A machine, such as a printer or a disk drive.

Digit: From Latin "digitus," meaning finger. Any of the numbers 0 through 9 in the decimal number system, called a digit because people originally used their fingers for counting. Computers use a binary number system with only two digits (0 and 1).

Directory: A file that contains a catalog of files and other directories stored on a disk, which allows you to organize your files into groups, making them easier to find.

Directory consolidation: A Diskeeper feature which, at boot-time, gathers (almost) all directory entries on a disk volume into a single area on the disk, instead of scattered in many places. Directory consolidation makes defragmentation more effective than it would otherwise be. Directory consolidation requires sufficient contiguous free disk space into which the directories can be moved.

Disk drive: A device containing one or more disks, treated as a unit by a computer.

Disk Fragment: A disk fragment is a piece of a file. When a file is written to a hard drive, it is often written in multiple fragments because there is no contiguous space available large enough to store the file.

Disk Fragmentation: A condition wherein data is stored in non-contiguous areas on disk. As files are updated, new data are stored in available free space, which may or may not be contiguous. Fragmented files cause extra head movement, which slows disk accesses. A defragmenter program such as Diskeeper is used to rewrite and reorder the files.

Disk Head (Read/Write Head): A device which reads (senses) and writes (records) data on a magnetic disk (hard disk or floppy disk, for example) or tape. When writing, the surface of the disk or tape is moved past the read/write head. By discharging electrical impulses at the appropriate times, bits are recorded as tiny, magnetized spots of positive or negative polarity. When reading, the surface is moved past the read/write head, and the bits that are present induce an electrical current across the gap.

Disk Track: The storage channel on a disk or tape. On magnetic disks (hard disks, floppy disks, etc.), tracks are concentric (having a common center) circles.

Disk Volume: A physical storage unit, such as a hard disk, floppy disk, CD-ROM, for example.

Diskeeper: A software product that increases system performance through disk defragmentation. It eliminates resource-wasting file fragmentation safely, by consolidating fragmented files and free space.

Diskette: See floppy disk.

Disk-Intensive: Characterizing a process that requires a lot of reading from and writing to the disk.

Domain: In Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, a group of workstations and servers, defined by an administrator, that share a common directory database and allow a user to log onto any resource in the domain with a single user ID and password. Each domain in a network has a unique name.

DOS: Disk Operating System. A single-user operating system (OS). It was the first OS for the PC, and is the underlying control program for Windows 3.1, 95, 98 and ME. Windows NT, 2000, XP and later versions emulate DOS in order to support existing DOS applications.

The DOS version that Microsoft developed for IBM was PC-DOS, and the version that all other vendors used was MS-DOS. For the most part (with the exception of DOS 6), PC-DOS and MS-DOS commands and system functions are the same.

Drive: See disk drive.

Drive letter: In Windows and MS-DOS operating systems, the naming convention for disk drives, consisting of a letter, followed by a colon. Drives A: and B: are normally reserved for floppy disk drives and C: typically indicates the first hard drive. See also volume.

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E

Encrypted file: A file that has been scrambled and made unrecognizable by anyone who does not have the proper "key" to decode it. The Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Encrypting File System (EFS) allows users to encrypt files and folders on an NTFS volume to prevent access by unauthorized individuals.

Enterprise: The entire organization (including its subsidiaries). It implies a large corporation or government agency, but it may also refer to a company of any size with many systems and users to manage. However, no matter the size of the organization, "enterprise" generally means "the entire company". The terms "enterprise", "company", "corporation" and "organization" are used synonymously.

ESD: Electronic Software Dstribution. Distributing new software and upgrades via the Internet or over a network instead of by way of individual installations on each machine.

Event logging: The process of recording audit information when certain events occur, such as services starting and stopping, users logging on and off and accessing resources. When running Diskeeper on Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 systems, logged events can be viewed with the Event Viewer utility (in Administrative Tools.) When run on Windows 98/Me systems, Diskeeper logs events to a text file that can be viewed with a variety of text editor programs such as Notepad.

Event Viewer: A utility available on Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003, which permits the viewing of logged events. See also event logging.

Extended partition: A type of partition that permits the limitation of four partitions per disk drive to be overcome. A disk drive may be partitioned into a maximum of four primary partitions, or three primary partitions plus an extended partition. One or more logical drives may be created within an extended partition.

Extent: The contiguous area on a disk containing a file or a portion of a file. Consists of one or more clusters.

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F

FAT: File Allocation Table. The original file system used in DOS, Windows and OS/2. The FAT keeps track of where data are stored on disk. The directory list, which contains file name, extension, date, etc., points to the FAT entry where the file starts. If a file is larger than one cluster, the first FAT entry points to the next FAT entry where the second cluster of the file is stored, and so on all the way to the end of the file. If a cluster becomes damaged, its FAT entry is marked as such and that cluster is not used again.

FAT32: FAT32 is the 32-bit version of the FAT file system, used on most PCs today. It supports larger disk partitions and file sizes, and has more safeguards than the earlier version of FAT (FAT16).

FAT file system: The file system used by MS-DOS and adapted for Windows to store information on disks, which makes use of a file allocation table. There are three types of FAT file system. The FAT12 (12-bit) is used on FAT volumes smaller than 16 megabytes in size, such as floppy disks - it is not supported by Diskeeper. FAT16 can be found on all versions of Windows from Windows 95 through Windows Server 2003. Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows 98, and the later OSR 2 version of Windows 95 also support FAT32; Windows NT does not.

Field: A subdivision of a record in a file. For example, a record in a customer file may contain a name field, an address field and a phone number field.

File: A complete, named collection of data, such as a program, a set of data used by a program, or a user-created document. See also record, field.

File allocation table (FAT): A table or list maintained by some operating systems, to keep track of how files are stored on a disk.

File system: The method used by an operating system, of naming, accessing and organizing files and directories on a disk. See also NTFS, FAT file system.

Flagship: The best or most important product, idea, building, etc. that an organization owns or produces.

Floppy disk: A removable storage medium, consisting of a small magnetic disk made of flexible plastic, housed in a square protective envelope or cartridge. Originally, floppy disks really were "floppy," because they were enclosed in a paper envelope. Also called a diskette, which is a better name for the more recent design that uses a stiff plastic cartridge. Contrast with hard disk.

Formatting: A method of preparing a disk surface for use by placing certain magnetic patterns on it, which are used by the file system in storing and retrieving data.

Fragmentation: The word fragmentation means "the state of being fragmented." The word fragment means "a detached, isolated or incomplete part." It is derived from the Latin "fragmentum," which in turn is derived from "frangere," meaning "break." So, fragmentation means that something is broken into parts that are detached, isolated or incomplete.

FRS: File Record Segment. An MFT (Master File Table) file record. This metadata file is an index of all the files on the volume. It contains the attributes of each file and the root of any indexes.

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G

Gigabyte: A measure of computer storage capacity equal to approximately a billion bytes. A gigabyte is two to the 30th power, or 1,073,741,824 bytes.

Graphical User Interface (GUI): Pronounced "gooey." A user interface, as used in the Windows operating systems, which uses a mouse and graphic displays to interact with the user, with the purpose to make the computer system easier to use than other operating systems, such as MS-DOS.

GUI: See graphical user interface.

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H

Hard Coded : Unchangeable. Hard-coded features are built into the hardware or software in such a way that they cannot be modified.

Hard Disk: One or more rigid metal platters, coated with magnetic material. Contrast with floppy disk, or diskette, which is made of plastic. Also used to refer to the physical unit that makes up a disk drive.

Hardware: The physical parts of a computer system, including devices such as printers and disk drives. Contrast with software.

Head : Read/Write Head. A device which reads (senses) and writes (records) data on a magnetic disk (hard disk or floppy disk, for example) or tape. When writing, the surface of the disk or tape is moved past the read/write head. By discharging electrical impulses at the appropriate times, bits are recorded as tiny, magnetized spots of positive or negative polarity. When reading, the surface is moved past the read/write head, and the bits that are present induce an electrical current across the gap.

Hive : A section of the registry stored in a file on the computer's hard disk. Hives are located on a specified volume or in the user profiles.

Hook : Programming instructions that provide breakpoints for future expansion. Hooks may be changed to call some outside routine or function, or may be placed where additional processing is added.

Host : A computer which acts as a source of information or signals. The term can refer to nearly any type of computer, such as a centralized mainframe which is a host to its terminals, a server which is acting as a host to its clients, or a desktop PC which is acting as a host to its peripherals. In network architectures, a client station (the user's machine) is considered to be a host, because it's a source of information to the network (in contrast to a device such as a router or switch which directs traffic).

Hotfix: A hotfix is a single cumulative package composed of one or more files used to correct a problem in a product. Hotfixes address a specific customer situation and may not even be distributed outside a customer organization. The terms patch and update have been used in the past as synonyms for hotfix.

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I

I-FAAST™: A Diskeeper exclusive, Intelligent File Access Acceleration Sequencing Technology (I-FAAST) improves file access and creation on NTFS volumes by up to 80% (average 10%-20%) above and beyond the improvement provided by defragmentation alone. This is the first industry implementation of "Disk Performance Calibration", the modern evolution of the outdated and inconclusive disk optimization strategies of the past.

I/O Smart: The Diskeeper I/O Smart feature intelligently monitors drive access during defragmentation to ensure top system speed. When this option is selected, Diskeeper will temporarily suspend defragmentation whenever other disk activity needs to occur (I/O throttling). This proprietary technology detects whether or not the disk is busy with other I/O requests and pauses defragmentation to eliminate any potential interference with user or system needs at the "disk" level.

IDC: International Data Corporation, Framingham, MA (www.idcresearch.com). A major market research, analysis and consulting firm in the information field. Founded in 1964, it provides annual briefings and in-depth reports on all aspects of the industry.

IDE: Integrated Device Electronics. One of several types of interfaces between a disk drive and a computer, where the controller is built into the disk drive, which eliminates the need for a separate controller card in the computer. See also ATA and SCSI.

Integrated circuit: Also called a chip. A collection of electronic parts with a specific purpose, built into a single physical package. See also central processing unit.

Intel: Manufacturer of processor chips, known especially for the Pentium and x86 processors.

Interface: The connection and interaction between hardware, software and/or the user. For example, a disk controller provides a physical interface between a computer and a disk drive. The keyboard, mouse and display are an interface between a computer and the user.

Internet: A global network that links millions of computers. One popular section of the Internet is the World Wide Web, which allows computer users to view text and pictures with the aid of a browser, such as Internet Explorer. E-mail (electronic mail) is another popular part of the Internet, which allows computer users to send and receive written messages.

Internet Explorer: A software package developed by Microsoft for browsing the Internet, but increasingly used with other applications.

Interrupt: A signal that gets the attention of the CPU and is usually generated when I/O is required. Software interrupts are generated by a program requiring disk input or output. Hardware interrupts are generated when a key is pressed or when the mouse is moved. When an interrupt occurs, control is transferred to the operating system, which determines the action to be taken. Interrupts are prioritized, and the higher the priority, the faster it will be serviced.

Inventory Reporting: The Inventory Reporting module maintains data on all the software and hardware devices installed on licensed computers.

I/O: Input/Output. Transferring data between the CPU and a peripheral device. Every transfer of data is an output from one device and an input into another.

I/O Express: I/O Express is Executive Software's Automatic Data Caching utility for Open VMS.

I/O Wait Monitor Utility: A utility available from Executive Software used to determine I/O bottlenecks on an Open VMS system.

IT: Information Technology. Processing information by use of a computer, and currently used to refer to the information processing industry, coming after other titles such as electronic data processing (EDP), management information systems (MIS) and information systems (IS).

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J

Job: A request to have the computer or its peripherals perform some activity. In relation to Diskeeper, it is a request to have a disk defragmented.

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L

License Compliance Tracking: License compliance is employing software or hardware according to the license as granted by the copyright owner of that product. Examples of violation of software license and copyright include counterfeiting, corporate copying and hard disk loading. License compliance tracking software, such as Executive Software's Sitekeeper, makes license compliance easy to manage and takes the worry out of staying legal.

Licensed computer: A licensed computer is one you specify to be included in a Sitekeeper function. For example, when you include a computer to be included in an inventory report, that computer becomes a licensed computer.

Local computer A local computer is one that is always connected to the network. Local refers to the network connectivity rather than the actual physical location of the computer. A local computer does not need to be in the same physical location as the computer on which Sitekeeper is installed - it needs only be connected to the same network.

Log file: A file that keeps track of certain events as they occur. The Windows NT/2000/XP operating system maintains several log files that can be viewed with the Event Viewer. On Windows 98/Me systems, Diskeeper uses a specially created text file for the same purpose. See also Event Logging.

Logical drive: That portion of the space on a disk drive that is considered by the software to be a single unit. In this context, logical means "conceptual." because there is no direct relationship between the name and a physical object. See also partition, volume.

Long filenames: In the DOS operating system, filenames were limited to a maximum of eight characters, followed by a period and up to three characters to indicate the type of file. This is also referred to as the 8.3 file naming convention. The Windows 98/Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 operating systems allow filenames that are over 200 characters long. In addition, these filenames may contain a mixture of upper- and lowercase characters and embedded spaces.

Lost Cluster: Disk records that have lost their identification with a file name. This can happen when a file is closed improperly, for example when the computer is turned off without quitting the application first.

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M

Manual installation (agent): On computers running Windows NT, 2000, or XP, the Software Deployment module can be used to automatically install the agent. However, because computers running Windows 9.x, Millennium Edition, and XP Home require the agent to enable the Software Deployment module, the agent must be manually installed on them.

Master file table (MFT): On an NTFS volume, the master file table is a file, which contains information about all other files in that volume. This includes the name of each file, its physical location on the disk, and other information.

Media: A collective word for the physical material on which computer-based information is stored, such as a CD-ROM or floppy disk. Media is the plural of medium, but like data is often used in the singular form.

Medium: See media.

Memory: The computer's temporary working storage, where program instructions and data are kept, permitting the CPU to process the instructions.

MFT: See master file table.

MHz: MegaHertz. One million cycles per second. It is used to measure the transmission speed of electronic devices. A gigahertz (GHz) means one billion times. When used to refer to the computer's clock, it is used to measure the speed of the CPU. For example, an 800MHz machine processes data internally twice as fast as a 400MHz machine.

Microsoft: A computer software company, with its head office in the state of Washington; creators of the MS-DOS and Windows operating systems.

MMC: Microsoft Management Console. MMC can be used to create, save and open administrative tools (called snap-ins), such as Diskeeper. MMC provides a common user interface for system tools, as well as a system for managing hardware, software and network components.

Mount: In computers, to mount is to make a group of files in a file system structure accessible to a user or user group. In some usages, it means to make a device physically accessible. For instance, in data storage, to mount is to place a data medium (such as a tape cartridge) on a drive in a position to operate. Macintosh calls it mounting when a user inserts a disc into the machine.

In a Unix environment, the mount command attaches discs, or directories logically rather than physically. The Unix mount command makes a directory accessible by attaching a root directory of one file system to another directory, which makes all the file systems usable as if they were subdirectories of the file system they are attached to. Unix recognizes devices by their location, as compared to Windows, which recognizes them by their names (C: drive, for example). Unix organizes directories in a tree-like structure, in which directories are attached by mounting them on the branches of the tree. The file system location where the device is attached is called a mount point.

Mounts may be local or remote. A local mount connects disc drives on one machine so that they behave as one logical system. A remote mount uses Network File System (NFS) to connect to directories on other machines so that they can be used as if they were all part of the user's file system.

MS-DOS: Microsoft Disk Operating System. An operating system designed for a small computer with a single user running one application program at a time.

Multitasking: A feature of an operating system, where the computer can work on more than one task at a time. See also background processing.

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N

Nanosecond: One billionth of a second.

Network: A group of computers that are connected together and capable of exchanging data with each other. See also server, client.

NSTL: National Software Testing Lab, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. An independent organization that evaluates computer hardware and software. It adheres to controlled testing methods to ensure objective results, and publishes its findings in Software Digest Ratings Report and PC Digest.

NTFS: New Technology File System. A file system designed specifically for use with Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003.

NTLDR: Short for NT Loader. A program that is loaded from the hard drive boot sector which displays the Microsoft Windows NT startup menu and helps Windows NT load.

NTLDR'S $DATA Attribute: This attribute contains the actual data for a file.

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O

OEM: Acronym for original equipment manufacturer. The term is misleading, because an OEM typically buys computers from another manufacturer, customizes them for a particular application, and then sells them under the OEM's own brand name.

Offline: Not connected. For example, all printers have a switch that allows you to turn them offline. While the printer is offline, you can perform certain commands like advancing the paper (form feed), but you cannot print documents sent from the computer. The opposite of offline is online.

Online: Turned on and connected. For example, printers are online when they are ready to receive data from the computer. You can also turn a printer offline. While the printer is offline, you can perform certain tasks such as advancing the paper, but you cannot send data to it. Most printers have an online button you can press to turn the machine on- or offline.

Users are considered online when they are connected to a computer service through a modem. That is, they are actually on the line.

Open VMS: Open VMS is an operating system that started out on Digital Equipment Corporation's first produced systems (such as the PDP). The migration through the years was to VAX and Alpha systems. VMS has a file system that supports fairly long names, is hierarchical in directory structure and supports multiple versions of the same file with the same name.

Operating system: A collection of programs, which perform system functions and control the running of application programs and the allocation of resources.

OSR 2: Acronym for OEM Service Release 2, a version of Windows 95 released in late 1996, which features an improved file system, called FAT32, while the original version of Windows 95 used FAT16.

OS, O/S: Operating System. The master control program running the computer. The OS is the first program loaded when the computer is turned on. The applications "talk to" the operating system for all user interface and file management operations.

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P

Page file or paging file: An area of a disk that is set aside to hold data intended to reside in the computer's memory. Portions of the paging file are copied to memory as needed. This mechanism requires a much smaller amount of physical memory than would be required if the entire program were to be loaded into memory all at once. See also swap file.

Partition: A subdivision of the space on a disk drive that is treated as though it were a separate physical unit. A computer with only one hard disk drive can have a single partition, often called drive C:, or it can have several partitions, such as drive C:, drive D:, and drive E:. See also volume, drive letter, primary partition, extended partition, logical drive.

PATA: Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment. Originally called ATA, but retroactively renamed PATA with the introduction of Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) interfaces. One of several methods of interfacing disk drives and other devices to computers. See also ATA, IDE, SATA and SCSI.

Patch: The definition of patch can vary widely. Usually, a patch is considered a widely released fix for a product-specific security-related vulnerability. Microsoft rates security vulnerabilities based on their severity, critical, important, moderate, or low.

PDC: Primary Domain Controller. A Windows NT service which manages security for its local domain. Every domain has one PDC, which contains a database of usernames, passwords and permissions. A domain in a local area network (LAN) is a subnetwork comprised of a group of clients and servers under the control of one security database.

Pentium The name of a type of processor, introduced by Intel in 1993. It is the successor to the 80486 and equivalent to the 80586 chip in the x86 series.

Peripheral device: (Related to periphery, roughly meaning "on the outside.") A device, such as a disk drive, printer, keyboard or mouse, connected to and used by a computer.

Permission: The ability of a user on a computer system to access or modify files, especially those that he or she did not create. Permissions exist for security reasons, to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. The system administrator assigns permissions, or "who has access to what."

Platform: The environment, in which a computer system operates, either based on the computer's CPU or its operating system. For example: the x86 platform, or the Windows Server 2003 platform.

Platter: A disk drive consists of one or more platters, each of which can receive magnetic recordings on both sides. The platter spins like a phonograph record on a turntable.

Primary partition: In Windows and MS-DOS operating systems, the disk space on a disk drive may be divided into a maximum of four primary partitions; or three primary partitions plus an extended partition, which in turn can contain one or more logical drives.

Priority: On a Windows system, several programs can appear to be running at once, even though the CPU can only process one instruction at a time. With the help of the operating system, the CPU processes a few instructions from one program, then a few instructions of the next program, and so on, over and over. Without priority assignments, each program would be given about the same amount of time in each "time slot." but by assigning priorities, the more important programs can be given longer time intervals than the less important ones, allowing them to complete faster.

Proactive: Taking action by causing change rather than only reacting to change when it happens.

Process: A program, along with the system resources the program requires to run. A process represents a unit of resource ownership and work to be done. The operating system creates processes to keep track of resources and to ensure the proper scheduling of tasks.

Processor: See central processing unit.

Program: A set of instructions that tell a computer what to do. Synonym: software.

Push install : Push install is to install software to multiple machines by a click of the mouse, by using the push install software it saves a lot of time and effort of not having to go to individual machines.

PushInstaller: The Software Deployment module uses the PushInstaller to install or uninstall programs, updates, upgrades and patches.

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R

RAID: Redundant Array of Independent Disks. A method of combining several disk drives to make one large volume. Typically used on a network file server to achieve faster access, greater protection against disk failure, or both.

RAM: Random Access Memory. A group of memory chips, typically of the dynamic RAM (DRAM) type, functioning as the computer's primary workspace. RAM chips require power to maintain their content, which is why you must save your data onto disk before you turning the computer off.

Realtime: Indicating an immediate response. It refers to process control and embedded systems; for example, space flight computers must respond instantly to changing conditions. It also refers to fast transaction processing systems as well as any electronic operation fast enough to keep up with its real-world counterpart (such as transmitting live video).

Record: A collection of related data items, treated as a unit. For example, in a file containing information about a company's customers, one record would consist of the particulars (name, address, phone number, etc.) of one customer. See also field.

Recover deleted file: Using Undelete, allows to recover deleted files that were erased on your system.

Registry: A database that contains information about current hardware settings, installed software, user preferences and associations between file types, and applications that access those files.

Remote computer: Remote computers are computers that are not always connected to the network. These may include laptop computers that are sometimes taken off site, or computers that may not always be connected to the network for security reasons.

Resource: Any part of a computer system, such as a disk drive, printer, or memory, which can be used by a program.

ROM: Read Only Memory. A memory chip that permanently stores instructions and data. ROM chips are used to store control routines in PCs (ROM BIOS), peripheral controllers and other electronic equipment.

Root: The highest level in an index. The very top level (Ex. C:\ is the root of the disk).

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S

Scandisk: A program (supplied with Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me) that checks the integrity of a disk and corrects disk errors such as lost clusters. See also CHKDSK.

SCSI: Small Computer System Interface. One of several methods of interfacing disk drives and other devices to computers. See also ATA, IDE, PATA, and SATAI.

SATA: Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. A successor to ATA (which was later renamed PATA). One of several methods of interfacing disk drives and other devices to computers. See also ATA, IDE, PATA and SCSI.

Secure delete : Secure delete is the process used by Undelete to permantely delete a file so it's unrecoverable. By using the secure delete feature it allows confidential documents to be erased fromyour system.

Sector : The smallest unit of storage read or written on a disk.

Selected licensed computers: Before performing Sitekeeper tasks, you must select the computers the task will affect. Any combination of computers can be selected, including all of them. Each selected computer is considered a licensed computer at that point, and requires a Sitekeeper license.

Server: On a computer network, a computer that makes resources available to other computers (clients or workstations.) For example, all the computers on a network can be set up to share a single high-speed printer, which is connected to the server. Usually, the server is faster and more powerful than the client computers connected to it.

Service: A process that performs a specific system function and often provides an application programming interface (API) for other processes to call. Diskeeper uses a Windows service, which allows Diskeeper to run in the background while other applications are running.

Service Pack: A collection of software used to issue corrections and updates to software between major releases. Usually refers to compilations of corrections and updates to a Windows operating system.

Set It and Forget It: A term that was created by Diskeeper Corporation, which is a registered trademark and hallmark of the company. A "Set It and Forget It" product can operate transparently (unseen by the user) and in the background (concurrent with other applications). After a schedule is set up for its operation, it thereafter performs its functions at predetermined times, without further intervention or attention from the user or administrator.

Silent installation: A silent installation updates a machine while a user is working on the machine without interrupting the user. All software and update deployments and are done silently unless a reboot is required by the software or update.

Sitekeeper: A software product that makes the essentials of systems management quick, affordable and as easy as clicking your mouse.

Smart Scheduling: A feature, introduced with Diskeeper 6.0, which has a built-in mechanism to determine how frequently a disk volume needs to be defragmented. With Smart Scheduling, Diskeeper automatically schedules defragmentation runs to occur more often when a disk volume becomes more fragmented, or less often when it becomes less fragmented.

SMS: System Management Server. A software product from Microsoft, which permits the system administrator on a Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003 network to do such things as install and run new software on different computers on the network, all from a single location.

Snap-in: A program, such as Diskeeper, that can be used with the Microsoft Management Console (MMC). For more information, see the MMC Help facility.

Software: A generic term for computer programs, taken collectively. Contrast with hardware. Software can be categorized into application software and system software.

Software update: Microsoft refers to a software update as any update, update rollup, service pack, feature pack, critical update, security update, or hotfix that is used to improve or to fix a software product that is released by Microsoft.

Solid State: An electronic component or circuit made of solid materials, such as transistors, chips and bubble memory. There is no mechanical action in a solid state device, although a lot of electromagnetic action takes place within. For data storage, solid state devices are much faster and more reliable than mechanical disks and tapes, but cost more.

Sparse files: A method of storing large files - that contain mostly empty space and not much data - in a way that uses much less disk space than would otherwise be used. Sparse file support allows an application to create very large files without committing disk space for every byte.

Spindle: A rotating shaft in a disk drive. In a fixed disk, the platters are attached to the spindle. In a removable disk, the spindle remains in the drive.

Swap file: A file on a disk drive that Windows 98/Me uses to hold temporary data that will not fit into memory. When needed, the operating system moves data from the swap file to memory. See also paging file.

System: The collection of one or more computers and peripheral devices. Sometimes used as a synonym for operating system, or the combination of hardware and software, as a logical unit.

System administrator: The person in charge of maintaining a multi-user computer system.

System file: In general, a file that is part of, or accessed by, the operating system. The Diskeeper Drive Map display shows certain system files in green, particularly the master file table (MFT) and several other files that cannot be moved safely by Diskeeper (or any other defragmenter). These are not the files that make up the Windows operating system, but the files that make up the NTFS file system.

Systems Management: Software that manages computer systems in an enterprise, which may include any and all of the following functions: software distribution and upgrading, version control, user profile management, backup and recovery, job scheduling, printer spooling, virus protection and performance and capacity planning. Executive Software's Sitekeeper is a highly efficient systems management application and even allows users to manage Patches (downloaded fixes) for software on their network.

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T

Target console: Multiple instances of Sitekeeper can be present on the same network. A target console refers to the console to which a specific remote machine reports its information. A remote machine is one that may not always be connected to a network.

Task: A program or portion thereof that is run as an independent entity.

Terabyte: A measure of computer storage capacity equal to 2 to the 40th power or approximately a thousand billion bytes (or a thousand gigabytes).

Trialware: A free software package from Diskeeper Corporation, such as Diskeeper, that has the same functionality as the official version of the software, but which works for a limited time period, after which it expires. Trialware allows you to try the software before making a buying decision.

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U

Undelete: A software product that instantly recovers deleted files and provides a data protection safety net for all future deleted files.

Undelete files: Undelete files is the process of recovering files that have been deleted on a system.

Unerase: Unerase is the process of recovering files that have been deleted on a system.

Update: Microsoft refers to a software update as any update, update rollup, service pack, feature pack, critical update, security update, or hotfix that is used to improve or to fix a software product that is released by Microsoft.

Utility: A program that provides basic services or functions.

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V

VAX: Virtual Address Extension. A family of 32-bit computers from HP (via Digital and Compaq) first introduced in 1977. VAX models ranged from desktop units to mainframes, which all ran the same VMS operating system. Large VAX multiprocessing clusters served thousands of users.

Virtual Memory: Virtual Address Extension. A family of 32-bit computers from HP (via Digital and Compaq) first introduced in 1977. VAX models ranged from desktop units to mainframes, which all ran the same VMS operating system. Large VAX multiprocessing clusters served thousands of users.

Volume: A subdivision of the space on a disk drive that is treated as though it were a separate physical unit, or a combination of physical disks treated as a single unit. A computer with only one hard disk drive can have a single volume, often called drive C:, or it can have several volumes, such as drive C:, drive D:, and drive E:. See also drive letter, logical drive, partition.

Volume set: In Windows, a single logical drive, which is composed of up to 32 areas of free space on one or more disk drives. Volume sets can be used to combine small areas of free space on one or more disk drives into a larger logical drive, or to create a single large logical drive out of two or more small disks.

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W

Windows: A family of operating systems, first introduced by Microsoft in 1983, with a graphical user interface and which ran on MS-DOS based computers. See also Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

Windows 2000: Originally named Windows NT 5.0, Windows 2000 is a family of operating systems for desktop computers and network servers, announced by Microsoft in 1998. Windows 2000 resembled Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 98, but had many enhancements and new features. Windows 2000 is available in several editions, ranging from Windows 2000 Professional to Windows 2000 Advanced Server.

Windows 95: A version of Windows released in 1995. New features in Windows 95 with regard to its predecessor, Windows 3.1, included a new user interface and support for 32-bit applications. See also OSR 2.

Windows 98: Successor to the Windows 95 operating system, Windows 98 featured support for the FAT32 file system, greater Internet integration, and support for the latest (at the time) hardware developments.

Windows Me: Short for Windows Millennium Edition, an operating system released by Microsoft in September 2000. Successor to Windows 98 and designed for home use, Windows Me offers enhancements in the areas of digital media, user interface, home networking, and the Internet.