LaCie DDS4 Drive, Руководство пользователя

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9. Glossary
Backup – (1) The act of creating at least one additional copy of data onto a
different (and safe) storage device from where it can be retrieved at a later
time if needed.
(2) A copy of a file, directory, or volume on a separate storage
device from the original, for the purposes of retrieval in case the original is
erased, damaged, or destroyed.
Bit – The smallest measure of computerized data, either a 1 or a 0. Eight
bits equal one byte, or one character.
Block – A very small section of the storage media comprised of one or more
sectors. A block is the smallest amount of space allocated on a drive for data
storage. By default, a sector of data consists of 512 bytes.
Buffer – RAM cache that is faster than the data that is being delivered.
Buffers are used so data may be stored and delivered to the receiving item as
it is needed.
Bus – Electronic links that enable data to flow between the processor, RAM
and extension cables (peripherals).
Byte – A sequence of adjacent binary digits, or bits, considered as a unit, 8
bits in length. There are 8 bits in 1 byte. See also MB (Megabyte) or GB
(Gigabyte).
Cache, -ing – This is an area of electronic storage (usually RAM) set aside to
store frequently used data from electro-mechanical storage (hard drives,
floppy disks, CD/DVD-ROM, tape cartridges, etc.) Therefore, storing frequently
used data in RAM can enhance your system’s overall response to disk-
intensive operations significantly.
Configuration – When talking about a PC, configuration is understood to be
the sum of the internal and external components of the system, including
memory, disk drives, the keyboard, the video subsystem and other peripherals,
such as the mouse, modem or printer. The configuration also implies software:
the operating system and various device managers (drivers), as well as
hardware settings and options set by the user via configuration files.
Controller – This is a component or an electronic card (referred to in this
case as a "controller card") that enables a computer to communicate with or
manage certain peripherals. The controller manages the operation of the
peripheral associated with it, and links the PC bus to the peripheral via a
ribbon cable inside the PC. An external controller is an expansion card which