RGFN User's Guide

Glossary

access privileges:: The ability to open and modify directories, files, and programs located on another computer in a computer network.
anonymous FTP:: A service provided to make files available to the general Internet community.
ANSI:: The American National Standards Institute disseminates basic standards like ASCII, and acts as the United States' delegate to the ISO. Standards can be ordered from ANSI by writing to the ANSI Sales Department, 1430 Broadway, New York, NY 10018, or by telephoning (212) 354-3300.
Archie:: A program that allows users to search an index of files (over 2 million files) available by anonymous FTP on publicly accessible servers (over 1000 servers worldwide).
archive:: 1. A compressed file designed for space-efficient storage and transfer that contains one or more files.; 2. A allotted area reserved for storing files.; 3. A software program for compressing and decompressing files.
ARPAnet:: An early pioneer long-haul network funded by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). It served as the basis for early networking research as well as a central backbone during the development of the Internet. ARPAnet no longer exists.
ASCII:: Pronounced ask-ee, an acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange is a standard computer character set designed to achieve compatibility among different computer devices. ASCII files are files that were created by and contain only characters drawn from the ASCII character set.
asynchronous:: A method of data communication in which transmission of bits of data is not sychronized by a clock signal but by sending the bits one after another.
asterisk:: In DOS, the asterisk is a wildcard symbol that stands for one or more characters,--- in contrast to the question mark wildcard which stands for only one character.
backbone:: A high-speed connection within a network that connects shorter, usually slower circuits. Also used in reference to a system that acts as a hub for activity (although those are becoming much less prevalent now than they were ten years ago).
bandwidth:: Ameasurement of the amount of information that can flow through a channel or medium. Bandwidth is expressed in cycles per second (hertz) or bits per second (bps). Some people view certain kinds of traffic as a "waste of bandwidth" and complain about it.
binary file:: A file containing data or program instructions in a computer-readable format (compiled). If you open such a file and see an assortment of spades, clubs, happy faces, and other odd symbols, you opened a binary file. Just close the file and locate a text file that tells you what do with the binary file.
BITNET (Because It's Time Network):: An international educational network that links over a thousand colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
bounce:: The return of a piece of Email because of an error in its delivery. Often the error is an illegimate or improperly formed address.
btw:: An abbreviation for the expression- by the way.
buffer:: A unit of memory given the task of holding information temporarily.
CFV (Call For Votes):: Initiates the voting period for a Usenet newsgroup. One or more Email address is customarily included as a repository for the votes.
client:: In a network, a client is a computer that relies upon another computer for some or all of its resources.
configuration:: The choices made in setting up a computer system or application program so that it meets the user's needs.
Cyberspace:: A term coined by William Gibson in his fantasy novel Neuromancer to describe the world of computers and the society that gathers around them.
database:: A collection of related information about a subject organized in a (hopefully) useful manner.
default:: An option that a computer program or system uses unless you specify a different option. Users change default settings so the computer or program works the way they want. Learning a programs default settings is a sign of mastery.
DNS (Domain Name System):: The method used to convert Internet names to their corresponding Internet numbers.
domain:: A part of the naming hierarchy. Syntactically, a domain name consists of a sequence of names or other words separated by dots such as rgfn.epcc.edu.
dotted quad:: A set of four numbers connected with periods that make up an Internet address. For example, 198.213.188.2 is the address for Rio Grande Free-Net.
email:: The vernacular abbreviation for electronic mail. Electronic mail is the ability to send and receive messages through a computer network. It isn't necesary for the receipent to be present when a message is received, nor does the receipent's computer need to be on and operating.
email address:: A domain-based address that a user is referred to with. For example, an address for a rgfn user is aa100@rgfn.epcc.edu
executable file:: A computer application or program that is ready to run on a given computer. In DOS, you can tell whether a file is an executable program by looking at the file ending or extension: EXE,COM, BAT are executable files.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):: Pronounced fak. A file that contains answers to questions that new users frequently ask. Be sure to check for a FAQ before asking questions. FAQs are posted regularly.
FidoNet:: Standards and procedures that privately owned bulletin board systems use to exchange data, files and email internationally.
flame:: A piece of email that uses derogatory, obscene, or inappropriate language written by people who lose self-control. It is unproductive or counter-productive and marked by high emotion and little information.
FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name):: The FQDN is the full site name of a system, rather than just its hostname. For example, the system at El Paso Community College has a FQDN of laguna.epcc.edu.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol):: The Internet standard high-level protocol for transferring files from one computer to another.
FYI:: An abbreviation for the phrase, for your information. Also the Network Information Center (NIC) produces an informative series called FYIs where they address common questions of new users and many other useful things.
gateway:: A device that connects two or more networks and routes packets from one network to the other. Gateways route packets to other gateways until they can be delivered to the final destination directly across one physical network. An Interent gateway may perform protocol and bandwidth conversion.
Gopher:: A menu-based program that helps you find files, programs, and other resources on topics you specify.
GUI:: Pronounced gooey. An acronym for graphical user interface. GUI is usually associated with the part of a computer program that the user interacts with and takes advantage of image support, mousable features like drop-down menus, radio buttons, scroll bars, and check boxes.
header:: The portion of a packet, preceding the actual data, containing source and destination addresses and error-checking fields. Also the first part of a message or news article.
hostname:: The name given to a machine. The hostname for Rio Grande Free-Net can be described two ways: rgfn.epcc.edu or 198.213.188.2
IMHO (In My Humble Opinion):: Acronym. Use of IMHO is risky as it may bring about personal offense or strong disagreement.
Internet:: A system of linked computer networks sharing a common addressing scheme that greatly extends the reach of each participating network site or computer. World-wide in scope and self-governed by canons of user etiquette, Internet has no centralized authority.
Internet number:: The dotted-quad address used to uniquely specify the exact location of computers. The Internet number for the site rgfn.epcc.edu is 198.213.188.2. A resolver is used to translate between hostnames and Internet addresses.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization):: A coordinating body of the main networking standards that are put into use today.
job:: A unit of work to be performed by a computer especially one that does not require human intervention. Also the tasks attached to a paycheck sought by human beings.
JPEG:: Acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group and commonly used to referred to a technique that results in smoothing of a computer image.
kill file:: A file used by newsgroup moderators and mail list owners that contains names or subjects that are unwanted and not allowed. The names of especially obnoxious individuals are added to a kill file and any of their contributions are automatically discarded.
LAN (Local Area Network):: A computer-based communications and data exchange system created by physically connecting two or more computers.
launch:: To start or run a computer program.
link:: A structure that makes a connection between two files or data items and relates each item with a pointer showing the item's physical location in a database.
log in:: A unique name or code assigned by the system administrator that is used as a means of identification.
mail gateway:: A machine that connects to two or more electronic mail systems especially dissimilar mail systems on two different networks, and transfers messages between them.
mailing list:: A possibly moderated discussion group, distributed via email from a central computer that maintains the list of people involved in the discussion.
mail path:: A series of machine names used to direct electronic mail from one user to another.
net citizen:: An inhabitant of Cyberspace that adheres to written and unwritten canons of social culture within that space.
netiquette:: A pun on the word etiquette referring to appropriate behavior on the Internet.
network:: Two or more computers connected together so they can transmit information to one another.
NFS (Network File System):: A method developed by Sun Microsystems to allow computers to share files across a network in a way that makes them appear as if they are local to the system.
NIC:: The Network Information Center.
node:: A computer that is attached to a network.
NSFnet:: The national backbone network funded by the National Science Foundation and operated by the Merit Corporation used to interconnect regional (mid-level) networks to one another.
packet:: An individual message broken into two or more sections and which may travel alternative routes to their destination. Packets are sent by the most efficient route at the moment and then re-assembled and checked for accuracy at their destination.
postmaster:: The person responsible for taking care of mail problems, answering queries about users, and other related work at a site.
prompt:: A symbol or phrase that appears on a computer screen to inform you that the computer is ready for input.
protocols:: A formal description of message formats and the rules two computers must follow to exchange those messages. Protocols can describe low-level details of machine-to-machine interfaces (e.g., the order in which bits and bytes are sent across a wire) or high-level exchanges between allocation programs (e.g., the way in which two programs transfer a file across the Internet).
resolve:: To translate an Internet name into its equivalent IP address or other DNS information.
RFD (Request For Discussion):: Usually a two- to three-week period in which the particulars of newsgroup creation are determined.
RGFN:: Acronym for Rio Grande Free-Net.
route:: The path that network traffic takes from its source to its destination.
router:: A computer or device that sends packets from one place to another, paying attention to the current state of the network.
RTFM (Read The Fantastic Manual): .: This acronym is often used when someone asks a simple or common question. The word 'Fantastic' is usually replaced with a more vulgar f-word.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol):: The Internet standard protocol for transferring electronic mail messages from one computer to another. SMTP specifies how two mail systems interact and the format of control messages they exchange to transfer messages.
server:: A computer that shares its resources, such as printers and files, with other computers on the network.
signal-to-noise ratio:: When used in reference to Usenet activity, signal-to-noise ratio describes the relation between amount of actual information in a discussion compared to their quantity. More often than not, there's substantial activity in a newsgroup and a very small number of those articles actually contain useful information.
signature:: The small usually four-line message at the bottom of a piece of email or a Usenet article. In Unix, it's added by creating a file signature in the user's home directory. Large signatures are a considered rude and a no-no.
smilie:: A symbol used to portray mood in the very flat medium of computers. Hundreds of them have been created. The following example expresses happiness. :-) Don't see it? Tilt your head left 90 degrees.
snail mail:: A term used to describe mail sent through the U.S. postal service.
synchronous:: Data communications in which transmissions are sent at a fixed rate with the sending and receiving devices are synchronized by an electronic clock.
SYSOP:: Pronounced siss-op. Acronym for system operator. A SYSOP is a person who runs a bulletin board or network.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol):: A set of protocols used by the Internet to support services such as remote login (telnet), file transfer (FTP) and mail (SMTP).
Telnet:: A program that allows users to access distant computers.
terminal server:: A small, specialized, networked computer that connects many terminals to a LAN through one network connection. Any user on the network can then connect to various network hosts.
UUCP (Unix to Unix Copy Program):: A store-and-forward system, primarily for Unix systems but currently supported on other platforms (e.g. VMS and personal computers).
WAN (Wide-Area Network):: A network spanning hundreds or thousands of miles.
workstation:: A networked personal computer or device with more power than a standard IBM PC or Macintosh. Typically, a workstation has an operating system such as unix that is capable of running several tasks at the same time. It has several megabytes of memory and a large, high-resolution display.
worm:: A computer program which replicates itself. The Internet worm was perhaps the most famous; it successfully (and accidentally) duplicated itself on systems across the Internet.

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