IBM Netfinity 3000, User Handbook Manual

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does inventory control or payroll.
(3) A program used to connect and
communicate with stations on a
network, enabling users to perform
application-oriented activities.
architecture . See computer
architecture.
asynchronous transmission . Data
transmission in which transmission
of a character or a block of
characters can begin at any time but
in which the bits that represent the
character or block have equal time
duration. Contrast with
synchronous transmission.
attenuation . A decrease in
magnitude of current, voltage, or
power of a signal in transmission
between points.
AWG . American Wire Gauge.
B
back up . To copy information,
usually to diskette or tape, for
safekeeping.
backup . Pertaining to a system,
device, file, or facility that can be
used in the event of a malfunction
or loss of data.
bank . An aggregation of similar
devices, such as single inline
memory modules, connected to each
other and used cooperatively.
baud rate . In remote
communications, the transmission
rate that is synonymous with signal
events. The baud rate is usually
expressed in bits per second.
BBS . Bulletin board system.
binary . (1) Pertaining to a
selection, choice, or condition that
has two possible different values or
states. (I) (A)
(2) Pertaining to a
fixed radix numeration system
having a radix of 2. (I) (A)
(3) Pertaining to a system of
numbers to the base two; the binary
digits are 0 and 1. (A)
BIOS . Basic Input/Output System.
BIOS (Basic Input/Output
System)
. Code that controls basic
hardware operations such as
interactions with diskette drives,
hard disk drives, and the keyboard.
bit . Either of the digits 0 or 1 when
used in the binary numeration
system. Synonymous with binary
digit. (T)
bridge . A functional unit that
interconnects two local area
networks that use the same logical
link control protocol but may use
different medium access control
protocols.
buffer . (1) A routine or storage
used to compensate for a difference
in rate of flow of data, or time of
occurrence of events, when
transferring data from one device to
another. (A) (2) A portion of
storage used to hold input or output
data temporarily.
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Netfinity 3000 User's Handbook