LaCie Ethernet Disk
Glossary
User Manual
page 60
mable read-only memory or an electronically-erasable, pro-
grammable read-only memory chip. Used for controlling the
operation of the computer or tape drive. Distinct from the
software, which is stored in random access memory and can
be altered.
Folder
– A list created on a disk to store files. Creating folders
and sub-folders enables you to organize the storage of your
files in a logical, hierarchical manner so that you can find and
manage them more easily.
Format, -ting, -ted
– This is a process where a device is
prepared to record data. In this process, the hard disk writes
special information onto its own recording surfaces into areas
(blocks) that are ready to accept user data. Since this opera-
tion causes all current user data stored on the hard disk to
be lost, this is an infrequent operation that usually only hap-
pens at the factory that created the hard disk. It is unusual for
something to happen to a hard disk that requires the end-user
to initially perform this operation.
Gigabit
– Unit of measure, commonly used to express the
amount of data in one second between two points. E.g. in the
term Gigabit Ethernet – 1 gigabit per second (1 Gbps) equals
1 billion bits per second and is equivalent to 1000Mb/s.
GB (GigaByte)
– This value is normally associated with data
storage capacity. Basically, it means a thousand million or a
billion bytes. In fact, it equals 1,073,741,824 bytes (or 1,024
x 1,024 x 1,024).
Hardware
– Physical components of a computer system, in-
cluding the computer itself and peripherals such as printers,
modems, mice, etc.
Host Bus Adapter (HBA)
– A printed circuit board that installs in
a standard microcomputer and an interface between the device
controller and the computer. Also called a controller.
http (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
– This is the set of rules
for exchanging files (i.e. text, images, audio, video, etc.) on
the World Wide Web. http is an application protocol, rela-
tive to the TCP/IP suite of protocols that form the basis for
exchanging information on the Internet.
Initialize, -ed, Initialization
– After a hard drive (or other
storage device) is formatted and partitioned, some special
data needs to be written to it that helps the Mac and Windows
create files and save data. The process is called initialization.
This process, like formatting, causes all user data on the stor-
age device to be lost.
Internet
– A collection of networks whose users communicate
with one another. Each communication carries the address
of the source and destination networks and the particular
machine within the network associated with the user or host
computer on each end.
IP (Internet Protocol)
– This is the protocol that controls how
data is sent from one computer to another on the Internet.
IP Address
– This is a number (either 32-bit for Internet Pro-
tocol Version 4, or 128-bit for Internet Protocol Version 6)
that identifies each sender or receiver of information that is
sent in packets across the Internet.
Interface
– The protocol data transmitters, data receivers, logic
and wiring that link one piece of computer equipment to anoth-
er, such as a hard drive to an adapter or an adapter to a system
bus. Protocol means a set of rules for operating the physical
interface, such as: do not read or write before the drive is ready.
I/O (Input/Output)
– Refers to an operation, program or
device whose purpose is to enter data into or to extract data
from a computer.
Kb (Kilobit)
– Equivalent to 1,000 bits.
Kb/s
– Kilobits per second. 480Kb/s is equal to 60KB/s.
KB (KiloByte)
– Basically, this means 1,000 bytes, but it is
actually 1,024 bytes.
KB/s
– Kilobytes per second. A means of measuring throughput.
LAN (Local Area Network)
– A group of computers and
associated devices that share a common communication line
and typically share the resources of a single processor or serv-
er within a small geographic area.
Mb (Megabit
) – Equivalent to 1,000,000 bits.
Mb/s
– Megabits per second. A means of measuring through-
put. 480Mb/s is equal to 60MB/s.
MB (Megabyte)
– Basically means one million bytes, but
is actually 1,024 Kilobytes or 1,024 x 1,024 bytes, which
equals 1,048,576 bytes.
MB/s
– Megabytes per second. A means of measuring
throughput.
Media
– The material or device used to store information in
a storage subsystem, such as a tape cartridge, CD, DVD or
disk drive.
