Copyright: Glossary
Citation: Glossary


Glossary - A
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

account

See user account.

Account policy

Controls the way passwords must be used by all user accounts of a domain, or of an individual computer.

administrative alerts

Relate to server and resource use; warn about problems in areas such as security and access, user sessions, server shutdown because of power loss (when UPS is available), directory replication, and printing. When a computer generates an administrative alert, a message is sent to a predefined list of users and computers. See also Alerter service.

Alerter service

Notifies selected users and computers of administrative alerts that occur on a computer. Used by the Server and other services. Requires the Messenger service. See also administrative alerts.

archive bit

Backup programs use the archive bit to mark files after backing them up, using the normal or incremental backup types.

ASCII file

See text file.

associate

To identify a filename extension as “belonging” to a certain application so that when you open any file with that extension, the application starts automatically.

Audit policy

For a domain or for an individual computer, defines the type of security events that are logged; determines what Windows NT will do when the security log becomes full.

auditing

Tracking activities of users by recording selected types of events in the security log of a server or a workstation.

authentication

Validation of a user’s logon information. When a user logs on to an account on a Windows NT computer, the authentication is performed by that computer. When a user logs on to an account on a Windows NT Server domain, that authentication may be performed by any server of that domain. See also server, trust relationship.


Glossary - B
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

backup domain controller

For Windows NT Server domains, refers to a computer that receives a copy of the domain’s security policy and domain database, and authenticates network logons. See also primary domain controller.

batch program

An ASCII file (unformatted text file) that contains one or more Windows NT commands. A batch program’s filename has a .BAT or .CMD extension. When you type the filename at the command prompt, the commands are processed sequentially.

boot loader

Defines the information needed for system startup, such as the location for the operating system’s files. Windows NT automatically creates the correct configuration and checks this information whenever you start your system.

boot partition

The volume, formatted for either an NTFS, FAT, or HPFS file system, that contains the Windows NT operating system and its support files. The boot partition can be (but does not have to be) the same as the system partition.

branch

A segment of the directory tree, representing a directory and any subdirectories it contains.

browse

To look through lists of directories, files, user accounts, groups, domains, or computers.

buffer

A temporary storage place for information.

built-in groups

The default groups provided with Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server. Built-in groups have been granted useful collections of rights and built-in abilities.

In most cases, a built-in group will provide all the capabilities needed by a particular user. For example, if a domain user account belongs to the built-in Administrators group, logging on with that account gives a user administrative capabilities over the domain and the servers of the domain. To provide a needed set of capabilities to a user account, assign it to the appropriate built-in group. See also group, User Manager, User Manager for Domains.


Glossary - C
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

check box

A small, square box in a dialog box that can be selected or cleared, representing an option that you can turn on or off. When a check box is selected, an X appears in the box.

choose

To pick an item that begins an action in Windows NT. You often choose a command on a menu to perform a task, and you choose an icon to start an application.

click

To quickly press and release a mouse button.

client

A computer that accesses shared network resources provided by another computer (called a server). See also server.

Clipboard

A temporary storage area in memory, used to transfer information. You can cut or copy information onto the Clipboard and then paste it into another document or application, or into the ClipBook. See also ClipBook

ClipBook

Permanent storage of information you want to save and share with others. This differs from the Clipboard, which temporarily stores information. You can save the current contents of the Clipboard by using the ClipBook Viewer to copy it into your local ClipBook. You can then share that information, allowing others to connect to the ClipBook on your computer.See also ClipBoard, ClipBook page.

ClipBook page

A unit of information pasted onto a local ClipBook. The ClipBook page is permanently saved. Information on a ClipBook page can be copied back onto the Clipboard and then pasted into documents. You can share ClipBook pages on the network.

Clipbook service

Supports the ClipBook Viewer application, allowing pages to be seen by remote ClipBooks.

Computer Browser service

Maintains an up-to-date list of computers and provides the list to applications when requested. Provides the computer lists displayed in the Select Computer and Select Domain dialog boxes, and for Windows NT Server only, the lists in the Server Manager window.

computer name

A unique name of up to 15 characters that identifies a computer to the network. The name cannot be the same as any other computer or domain name in the network.

configuration registry

A database repository for information about a computer’s configuration.

connected user

A user accessing a computer or a resource across the network.

Control menu

A menu that contains commands you can use to manipulate a window.

Control-menu box

The icon at the left of the title bar. This icon opens the Control menu for a window.

controller

See domain controller.


Glossary - D
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

DDE

See dynamic data exchange.

default printer

The printer that is used if you choose the Print command without first specifying which printer you want to use with an application. You can have only one default printer; it should be the printer you use most often.

default profile

See system default profile, user default profile.

dependent service

A service that requires the support of another service. For example, the Alerter service is dependent on the Messenger service.

desktop

The background of your screen, on which windows, icons, and dialog boxes appear.

destination directory

The directory to which you intend to copy or move one or more files.

destination document

The document into which a package or a linked or embedded object is being inserted. For an embedded object, this is sometimes also called the container document.

device contention

The way Windows NT allocates access to peripheral devices, such as a modem or a printer, when more than one application is trying to use the same device.

device driver

A program that enables a specific piece of hardware (device) to communicate with Windows NT. Although a device may be installed on your system, Windows NT cannot recognize the device until you have installed and configured the appropriate driver.

dimmed

Unavailable, disabled, or grayed. A dimmed button or command is displayed in light gray instead of black, and it cannot be chosen.

directory

Part of a structure for organizing your files on a disk. A directory can contain files and other directories (called subdirectories). See also directory tree.

directory replication

The copying of a master set of directories from a server (called an export server) to specified servers or workstations (called import computers) in the same or other domains. Replication simplifies the task of maintaining identical sets of directories and files on multiple computers, because only a single master copy of the data must be maintained. Files are replicated when they are added to an exported directory and every time a change is saved to the file. See also Directory Replicator service.

Directory Replicator service

Replicates directories, and the files in those directories, between computers. See also directory replication

directory tree

A graphical display of a disk’s directory structure. The directories on the disk are shown as a branching structure. The top-level directory is the root directory.

directory window

A File Manager window that displays the contents of a disk. The window shows both the directory tree and the contents of the current directory.

disabled user account

A user account that does not permit logons. The account appears in the user account list of the User Manager window and can be restored to enabled status at any time. See also user account.

disk configuration information

The Windows NT Registry includes information on the configuration of your disk(s):  assigned drive letters, stripe sets, mirror sets, volume sets, and stripe sets with parity.

disk duplexing

Establishing a mirrored copy on a disk with a different controller.

disk mirroring

Maintaining a fully redundant copy of a partition on another disk.

disk striping

Writing data in stripes across a volume that has been created from areas of free space on from 2 to 32 disks.

domain

For Windows NT Server, a collection of computers that share a common domain database and security policy. Each domain has a unique name. See also workgroup.

domain controller

For a Windows NT Server domain, the server that authenticates domain logons and maintains the security policy and the master database for a domain. See also backup domain controller, server.

domain database

See SAM database.

domain name

The name by which a domain is known to the network.

domain synchronization

See synchronize.

double-click

To rapidly press and release a mouse button twice without moving the mouse. Double-clicking carries out an action, such as starting an application.

downloaded fonts

Fonts that you send to a printer either before or during the printing of a document. When you send a font to a printer, it is stored in printer memory until it is needed.

drive icon

An icon in a directory window in File Manager that represents a disk drive on your system. Different icons depict floppy disk drives, hard disk drives, network drives, RAM drives, and CD-ROM drives.

drivebar

Allows you to change drives by selecting one of the drive icons.

dynamic data exchange

A form of interprocess communication (IPC) implemented in the Microsoft Windows family of operating systems. Two or more programs that support dynamic data exchange (DDE) can exchange information and commands.


Glossary - E
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

embedded object

Presents information created in another application. Information in the embedded object does not exist in another file outside your document.

encapsulated PostScript (EPS) file

A file that prints at the highest possible resolution for your printer. An EPS file may print faster than other graphical representations. Some Windows NT and non-Windows NT graphical applications can import EPS files.

environment variable

A string consisting of environment information, such as a drive, path, or filename, associated with a symbolic name that can be used by Windows NT. You use the System option in Control Panel or the set command from the Windows NT command prompt to define environment variables.

event

Any significant occurrence in the system or in an application that requires users to be notified, or an entry to be added to a log.

Event Log service

Records events in the system, security, and application logs.

export path

In directory replication, a path from which subdirectories, and the files in those subdirectories, are automatically exported from an export server. See also directory replication.

export server

In directory replication, a server from which a master set of directories is exported to specified servers or workstations (called import computers) in the same or other domains. See also directory replication.

extended partition

Created from free space on a hard disk, it can be subpartitioned into zero or more logical drives. Only one of the four partitions allowed per physical disk can be an extended partition, and no primary partition needs to be present to create an extended partition.

extension

The period and up to three characters at the end of a filename. An extension usually indicates the type of file or directory.

external command

A command that is stored in its own file and loaded from disk when you use the command.


Glossary - F
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

family set

A collection of related tapes containing several backup sets.

FAT

File allocation table; a table or list maintained by some operating systems to keep track of the status of various segments of disk space used for file storage.

file allocation table (FAT)

See FAT.

file system

In an operating system, the overall structure in which files are named, stored, and organized.

font set

A collection of font sizes for one font, customized for a particular display and printer. Font sets determine what text looks like on screen and on paper.

free space

An unused and unformatted portion of a hard disk that can be partitioned or subpartitioned. Free space within an extended partition is available for the creation of logical drives. Free space that is not within an extended partition is available for the creation of a partition, with a maximum of four partitions allowed.

full name

A user’s complete name, usually consisting of the last name, first name, and middle initial. The full name is information that can be maintained by User Manager as part of the information identifying and defining a user account. See also user account.


Glossary - G
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

global account

For Windows NT Server, a normal user account in a user’s home domain. Most user accounts are global accounts. If there are multiple domains in the network, it is best if each user in the network has only one user account, in only one domain, and each user’s access to other domains is accomplished through the establishment of domain trust relationships. See also local account.

global group

For Windows NT Server, a group that can be used in its own domain, servers and workstations of the domain, and trusting domains. In all these places it can be granted rights and permissions and can become a member of local groups. However, it can contain only user accounts from its own domain. Global groups provide a way to create handy sets of users from inside the domain, available for use both in and out of the domain.

Global groups cannot be created or maintained on Window NT computers. However, for Windows NT computers that participate in a domain, domain global groups can be granted rights and permissions at those computers, and can become members of local groups at those computers. See also group, local group.

group

In User Manager, an account containing other accounts that are called members. The permissions and rights granted to a group are also provided to its members, making groups a convenient way to grant common capabilities to collections of user accounts. For Windows NT, groups are managed with User Manager. For Windows NT Server, groups are managed with User Manager for Domains. See also built-in groups, global group, local group, user account.

group memberships

The groups to which a user account belongs. Permissions and rights granted to a group are also provided to its members. In most cases, the actions a user can perform in Windows NT are determined by the group memberships of the user account the user is logged on to. See also group.

group name

A unique name identifying a local or global group to Windows NT. A group’s name cannot be identical to any other group name or user name of its own domain or computer. See also global group, local group.

group window

In Program Manager, a window that displays the program-item icons in a group.


Glossary - H
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

high-performance file system

See HPFS.

home directory

A directory that is accessible to the user and contains files and programs for that user. A home directory can be assigned to an individual user or can be shared by many users.

HPFS

High-performance file system (HPFS); primarily used with the OS/2 operating system version 1.2 or later. It supports long filenames but does not provide security.


Glossary - I
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

import computers

In directory replication, the servers or workstations that receive copies of the master set of directories from an export server. See also directory replication.

import path

In directory replication, the path to which imported subdirectories, and the files in those subdirectories, will be stored on an import computer. See also directory replication.

internal command

Commands that are stored in the file CMD.EXE and that reside in memory at all times.

interrupt request lines (IRQ)

Hardware lines over which devices can send signals to get the attention of the processor when the device is ready to accept or send information. Typically, each device connected to the computer uses a separate IRQ.


Glossary - K
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

kernel driver

A driver that accesses hardware.


Glossary - L
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

linked object

A representation or placeholder for an object that is inserted into a destination document. The object still exists in the source file and, when it is changed, the linked object is updated to reflect the changes.

list box

In a dialog box, a box that lists available choices — for example, a list of all files in a directory. If all the choices do not fit in the list box, there is a scroll bar.

local account

For Windows NT Server, a user account provided in a domain for a user whose global account is not in a trusted domain. Not required where trust relationships exist between domains. See also global account, user account.

local group

For Windows NT Workstation, a group that can be granted permissions and rights only for its own workstation. However, it can contain user accounts from its own computer, and (if the workstation participates in a domain) user accounts and global groups both from its own domain and from trusted domains. Local groups provide a way to create handy sets of users from both inside and outside the workstation, to be used only at the workstation.

For Windows NT Server, a group that can be granted permissions and rights only for the servers of its own domain. However, it can contain user accounts and global groups both from its own domain and from trusted domains. Local groups provide a way to create handy sets of users from both inside and outside the domain, to be used only at servers of the domain. See also global group, group.

local printer

A printer that is directly connected to one of the ports on your computer.

logical drive

A subpartition of an extended partition on a hard disk.

logon hours

For Windows NT Server, a definition of the days and hours during which a user account can connect to a server. When a user is connected to a server and the logon hours are exceeded, the user will either be disconnected from all server connections or will be allowed to remain connected but denied any new connections.

logon script

Typically a batch file, a logon script runs automatically every time the user logs on. It can be used to configure a user’s working environment at every logon, and it allows an administrator to affect a user’s environment without managing all aspects of it. A logon script can be assigned to one or more user accounts.

logon script path

When a user logs on, the computer authenticating the logon locates the specified logon script (if one has been assigned to that user account) by following that computer’s local logon script path (usually \systemroot\SYSTEM32\REPL\IMPORT\SCRIPTS). See also logon script.

logon workstations

For Windows NT Server, the computers from which a user is allowed to log on.


Glossary - M
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

mandatory user profile

For Windows NT Server, a user profile created by an administrator and assigned to one or more users. A mandatory user profile cannot be changed by the user and remains the same from one logon session to the next. See also personal user profile, user profile.

maximum password age

The period of time a password can be used before the system requires the user to change it. See also Account policy.

Messenger service

Sends and receives messages sent by administrators or by the Alerter service.

minimum password age

The period of time a password must be used before the user can change it. See also Account policy.

minimum password length

The fewest characters a password can contain. See also Account policy.

MS-DOS – based application

An application that is designed to run with MS-DOS, and therefore may not be able to take full advantage of all Windows NT features.


Glossary - N
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

named pipe

An interprocess communication mechanism that allows one process to communicate with another local or remote process.

Net Logon service

For Windows NT Server, performs authentication of domain logons, and keeps the domain’s database synchronized between the domain controller and the other servers in the Windows NT Server domain.

Network DDE service

The Network DDE (dynamic data exchange) service provides a network transport and security for DDE conversations.

Network DDE DSDM service

The Network DDE DSDM (DDE share database manager) service manages shared DDE conversations. It is used by the Network DDE service.

network device driver

Software that coordinates communication between the network adapter card and the computer’s hardware and other software, controlling the physical function of the network adapter cards.

network directory

See shared directory.

non-Windows NT application

Refers to an application that is designed to run with Windows 3.x, MS-DOS, OS/2, or POSIX, but not specifically with Windows NT and that may not be able to take full advantage of all Windows NT features (such as memory management).

NT

See Windows NT.

NT file system

See NTFS.

NTFS

Windows NT file system, an advanced file system designed for use specifically within the Windows NT operating system. It supports file system recovery, extremely large storage media, and various features for the POSIX subsystem. It also supports object-oriented applications by treating all files as objects with user-defined and system-defined attributes.


Glossary - O
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

object

Any piece of information, created by using a Windows-based application with object linking and embedding capabilities, that can be linked or embedded into another document.

object linking and embedding

A way to transfer and share information between applications.

option button

A small, round button that appears in a dialog box. Within a group of related option buttons, you can select only one button.

orphan

A member of a mirror set or a stripe set with parity that has failed in a severe manner, such as a loss of power or a complete head crash. When this happens, the fault-tolerance driver determines that it can no longer use the orphaned member and directs all new reads and writes to the remaining members of the fault-tolerance volume.


Glossary - P
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

package

An icon that represents an embedded or linked object. When you choose the package, the application used to create the object either plays the object (for example, a sound file) or opens and displays the object.

page

In ClipBook, one complete entry that has been pasted in. In memory, a fixed-size block.

paging file

See swap file.

partition

A portion of a physical disk that functions as though it were a physically separate unit. See also system partition.

password

A unique string of characters that must be provided before a logon or an access is authorized. A password is a security measure used to restrict logons to user accounts and access to computer systems and resources. For Windows NT, a password for a user account can be up to 14 characters, and is case-sensitive. See also Account policy.

password uniqueness

The number of new passwords that must be used by a user account before an old password can be reused. See also Account policy.

path

Specifies the location of a file within the directory tree. For example, to specify the path of a file named README.WRI located in the WINDOWS directory on drive C, you would type c:\windows\readme.wri.

permission

A rule associated with an object (usually a directory, file, or printer) to regulate which users can have access to the object and in what manner. See also right.

personal groups

In Program Manager, a program group you have created and that contains program items. Personal groups are stored with your logon information and appear each time you log on. See also group.

personal user profile

For Windows NT Server, a user profile created by an administrator and assigned to one user. A personal user profile retains changes the user makes to the per-user settings of the Windows NT environment, and reimplements the newest settings each time that user logs on at any Windows NT computer. See also mandatory user profile, user profile.

plotter font

A font created by a series of dots connected by lines. Plotter fonts can be scaled to any size and are most often printed on plotters. Some dot-matrix printers also support plotter fonts.

port

A connection or socket used to connect a device, such as a printer, monitor, or modem, to your computer. Information is sent from your computer to the device through a cable.

primary domain controller

For a Windows NT Server domain, the server that authenticates domain logons and maintains the security policy and the master database for a domain. See also backup domain controller, server.

primary partition

A portion of a physical disk that can be marked for use by an operating system. There can be up to four primary partitions (or up to three, if there is an extended partition) per physical disk. A primary partition cannot be subpartitioned.

printer driver

A program that controls how your computer and printer interact.

printer fonts

Fonts that are built into your printer. These fonts are usually located in the printer’s read-only memory (ROM).

printer window

Shows information for one of the printers that you have installed or to which you are connected. For each printer, you can see what documents are waiting to be printed, who owns them, how large they are, and other information.

program file

A file that starts an application or program. A program file has an .EXE, .PIF, .COM, or .BAT filename extension.

program group

In Program Manager, a collection of applications. Grouping your applications makes them easier to find when you want to start them.

program information file (PIF)

A file that provides information about how Windows NT should run a non-Windows NT application. PIFs contain such items as the name of the file, a start-up directory, and multitasking options for applications running in 386 enhanced mode.

program-item icon

An application, accessory, or document represented as an icon in a group window.

protocol

Software used to communicate over a network, such as NetBEUI, TCP/IP, and NWLink.


Glossary - Q
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

quick format

Deletes the file allocation table and root directory of a disk but does not scan the disk for bad areas.


Glossary - R
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

refresh

To update displayed information with current data.

registry

See configuration registry.

remote administration

Administration of one computer by an administrator located at another computer and connected to the first computer across the network.

remote procedure call

RPC, a message-passing facility that allows a distributed application to call services available on various computers in a network. Used during remote administration of computers.

Remote Procedure Call service

See RPC service.

replication

See directory replication.

resource

Any part of a computer system or a network, such as a disk drive, printer, or memory, that can be allotted to a program or a process while it is running.

right

Authorizes a user to perform certain actions on the system. Rights apply to the system as a whole, and are different from permissions, which apply to specific objects. See also permission.

root directory

See directory tree.

RPC

See remote procedure call.

RPC Locator service

The Remote Procedure Call Locator service allows distributed applications to use the RPC Name service. The RPC Locator service manages the RPC Name service database.

The server side of a distributed application registers its availability with the RPC Locator service. The client side of a distributed application queries the RPC Locator service to find available compatible server applications.

RPC service

The Remote Procedure Call service is the RPC subsystem for Windows NT. The RPC subsystem includes the endpoint mapper and other miscellaneous RPC services.


Glossary - S
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

SAM

Security accounts manager. A Windows NT protected subsystem that maintains the SAM database and provides an application programming interface (API) for accessing the database.

SAM database

A database of security information that includes security information (such as user account names and passwords) and the settings of the security policies. For a Windows NT Workstation computer, it is managed with User Manager. For a Windows NT Server domain, it is managed with User Manager for Domains.

Schedule service

Supports and is required for use of the at command. The at command can schedule commands and programs to run on a computer at a specified time and date.

screen buffer

The size reserved in memory for the command prompt display.

screen fonts

Fonts displayed on your screen. Soft-font manufacturers often provide screen fonts that closely match the soft fonts for your printer. This ensures that your documents look the same on the screen as they do when printed.

scroll

To move through text or graphics (up, down, left, or right) in order to see parts of the file that cannot fit on the screen.

scroll bar

A bar that appears at the right and/or bottom edge of a window or list box whose contents are not completely visible. Each scroll bar contains two scroll arrows and a scroll box, which enable you to scroll through the contents of the window or list box.

security accounts manager

See SAM.

security database

See SAM database.

security ID

A unique name that identifies a logged-on user to the security system. Security IDs (SIDs) can identify one user or a group of users.

security identifier

See security ID.

security log

Records security events. This helps track changes to the security system and identify any possible breaches to security. For example, depending on the Audit settings in User Manager, attempts to log on to the system may be recorded in the security log. See also event.

security policies

For a Windows NT Workstation computer that is not a member of a domain, the security policies consist of the Account, User Rights, and Audit policies, and are managed with User Manager. For a Windows NT Server domain, the security policies consist of the Account, User Rights, Audit, and Trust Relationships policies, and are managed with User Manager for Domains.

selection cursor

The marking device that shows where you are in a window, menu, or dialog box and what you have selected. The selection cursor can appear as a highlight or as a dotted rectangle around text.

server

In general, refers to a computer that provides shared resources to network users. See also client.

In some specific cases, refers to a computer that runs Windows NT Server but is not a primary domain controller or backup domain controller of a Windows NT domain.

Server Manager

In Windows NT Server, an application used to view and administer domains, workgroups, and computers.

Server service

Provides RPC (remote procedure call) support, and file, print, and named pipe sharing.

service

A process that performs a specific system function and often provides an application programming interface (API) for other processes to call. Windows NT services are RPC-enabled, meaning that their API routines can be called from remote computers.

share

To make resources, such as directories, printers, and ClipBook pages, available to network users.

share name

The name of a shared resource.

shared directory

A directory that network users can connect to.

shared network directory

See shared directory.

shared page

In ClipBook, a page that has been made available for others to access.

shared resource

Any device, data, or program that is used by more than one other device or program. For Windows NT, shared resources refer to any resource that is made available to network users, such as directories, files, printers, and named pipes.

shortcut key

A key or key combination, available for some commands, that you can press to carry out a command without first selecting a menu. Shortcut keys are listed to the right of commands on a menu.

SID

See security ID.

source directory

The directory that contains the file or files you intend to copy or move.

source document

The document where a linked or embedded object was originally created.

split bar

Divides a directory window in two parts:  the directory tree is displayed on the left, and the contents of the current directory are on the right.

status bar

A line of information related to the application in the window. Usually located at the bottom of a window. Not all windows have a status bar.

string

A data structure composed of a sequence of characters, usually representing human-readable text.

subdirectory

A directory within a directory.

swap file

A special file on your hard disk. With virtual memory under Windows NT, some of the program code and other information is kept in RAM while other information is temporarily swapped to virtual memory. When that information is required again, Windows NT pulls it back into RAM and, if necessary, swaps other information to virtual memory. Also called a paging file.

synchronize

To replicate the domain database from the domain controller to one server of the domain, or to all the servers of a domain. This is usually performed automatically by the system, but can also be invoked manually by an administrator.

syntax

The order in which you must type a command and the elements that follow the command. Windows NT commands have up to four elements:  command name, parameters, switches, and values.

system default profile

For Windows NT Server, the user profile that is loaded when Windows NT is running and no user is logged on. When the Welcome dialog box is visible, the system default profile is loaded. See also user default profile, user profile.

system partition

The volume that contains the hardware-specific files needed to load Windows NT. See also partition.


Glossary - T
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

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Task List

A window that shows all running applications and enables you to switch between them. You can open Task List by choosing Switch To from the Control menu or by pressing CTRL+ESC.

text file

A file containing only letters, numbers, and symbols. A text file contains no formatting information, except possibly linefeeds and carriage returns. A text file is an ASCII file.

text-only

An ASCII file; contains no formatting.

time-out

If a device is not performing a task, the amount of time the computer should wait before detecting it as an error.

time slice

The amount of processor time allocated to an application, usually measured in milliseconds.

toolbar

A series of shortcut buttons providing quick access to commands. Usually located directly below the menu bar. Not all windows have a toolbar.

trust

See trust relationship.

trust relationship

Trust relationships are links between domains that enable pass-through authentication, in which a user has only one user account in one domain, yet can access the entire network. User accounts and global groups defined in a trusted domain can be given rights and resource permissions in a trusting domain, even though those accounts don’t exist in the trusting domain’s database. A trusting domain honors the logon authentications of a trusted domain.


Glossary - U
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

uninterruptible power supply (UPS)

See UPS

UPS

Uninterruptible power supply; a battery-operated power supply connected to a computer to keep the system running during a power failure.

UPS service

Manages an uninterruptible power supply connected to a computer. See also UPS.

user account

Consists of all the information that defines a user to Windows NT. This includes such things as the user name and password required for the user to log on, the groups in which the user account has membership, and the rights and permissions the user has for using the system and accessing its resources. For Windows NT Workstation, user accounts are managed with User Manager. For Windows NT Server, user accounts are managed with User Manager for Domains. See also group.

user account database

See SAM database.

user default profile

For Windows NT Server, the user profile that is loaded by a server when a user’s assigned profile cannot be accessed for any reason, when a user without an assigned profile logs on to the computer for the first time, or when a user logs on to the Guest account. See also system default profile, user profile.

User Manager

A Windows NT Workstation tool used to manage the security for a computer. Administers user accounts, groups, and security policies.

User Manager for Domains

A Windows NT Server tool used to manage security for a domain or an individual computer. Administers user accounts, groups, and security policies.

user name

A unique name identifying a user account to Windows NT. An account’s user name cannot be identical to any other group name or user name of its own domain or workgroup. See also user account.

user profile

Configuration information can be retained on a user-by-user basis, and is saved in user profiles. The information includes all the per-user settings of the Windows NT environment, such as the desktop arrangement, personal program groups and the program items in those groups, screen colors, screen savers, network connections, printer connections, mouse settings, window size and position, and more. When a user logs on, the user’s profile is loaded and the user’s Windows NT environment is configured according to that profile.

User Profile Editor

For Windows NT Server, a tool used to create, edit, and save personal user profiles, mandatory user profiles, the user default profile, and the system default profile. See also user profile.

user right

See right.

User Rights policy

Manages the assignment of rights to groups and user accounts.


Glossary - V
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

virtual memory

Space on a hard disk that Windows NT uses as if it were actually memory. Windows NT does this through the use of swap files. The benefit of using virtual memory is that you can run more applications at one time than your system’s physical memory would otherwise allow. The drawbacks are the disk space required for the virtual-memory swap file and the decreased execution speed when swapping is required.

virtual printer memory

In a PostScript printer, a part of memory that stores font information. The memory in PostScript printers is divided into banded memory and virtual memory. The banded memory contains graphics and page-layout information needed to print your documents. The virtual memory contains any font information that is sent to your printer either when you print a document or when you download fonts.

volume

A partition or collection of partitions that have been formatted for use by a file system.


Glossary - W
Microsoft NT Server Glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

wildcard

A character that represents one or more characters. The question mark (?) wildcard can be used to represent any single character, and the asterisk (*) wildcard can be used to represent any character or group of characters that might match that position in other filenames.

Windows NT

The portable, secure, 32-bit, preemptive multitasking member of the Microsoft Windows operating system family.

Windows NT Server

The Windows NT product that provides centralized management and security, advanced fault tolerance, and additional connectivity.

Windows NT Workstation

The Windows NT product that provides operating system and networking functionality for computers without centralized management.

workgroup

For Windows NT, a workgroup is a collection of computers that are grouped for viewing purposes. Each workgroup is identified by a unique name. See also domain.

workstation

In general, a powerful computer having considerable calculating and graphics capability. For Windows NT, computers running the Windows NT Workstation operating system are called workstations, as distinguished from computers running Windows NT Server. See also domain controller, server.

Workstation service

Provides network connections and communications.