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101
- Glossary
DC
Direct current. A voltage or current that does not fluctuate periodically with time.
Default Value
A pre-programmed value to be used if you fail to set your own.
DHCP
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. A protocol used to automatically acquire parameters required
for the communication, such as IP address. The sender of IP address is called a DHCP server, and the
receiver is called a DHCP client.
DIMM
Dual-in-line memory module.
Disk
A spinning platter of magnetic data storage media. If the platter is very stiff it is a hard drive, if it is
highly flexible it is a floppy disk, if it is a floppy disk in a hard housing with a shutter it is commonly
called a diskette.
Disk Drive
The hardware which spins the disk and has the heads and control circuitry for reading and writing the
data on the disk.
Diskette
A floppy disk in a hard housing with a shutter.
DMA
Direct Memory Access. Special circuitry for memory to memory transfers of data which do not require
CPU action.