Glossary terms provided by TechTerms.com.
| Word | Description |
| MAC | 1. Media Access Control. See also MAC Address. 2. Apple Macintosh computer |
| MAC Address | Media Access Control address. Hardware serial number that uniquely identifies a device on a local area network (commonly a NIC). (Sometimes also referred to as a NIC's "physical address".) A MAC address is 6 bytes in length (i.e. 48 bits) and is normally written as a 12 digit hexadecimal number, with dashes or colons between each pair of hexadecimal digits. The first three bytes identifies the manufacturer and the second three bytes represent a unique serial number generated by that manufacturer. MAC addresses should therefore always be unique (although some cards and switches allow the MAC address to be cloned). |
| Mac OS | This is the operating system that runs on Macintosh computers. It is pronounced, "mack-oh-es." The Mac OS has been around since the first Macintosh was introduced in 1984. Since then, it has been continually updated and many new features have been added to it. Each major OS release is signified by a new number (i.e. Mac OS 8, Mac OS 9). Since the core of the Mac OS was nearly decades old, Apple decided to completely revamp the operating system. In March of 2001, Apple introduced a completely new version of the Mac OS that was written from the ground up. The company dubbed it "Mac OS X," correctly pronounced "Mac OS 10." Unlike earlier versions of the Mac OS, Mac OS X is based on the same kernel as Unix and has many advanced administrative features and utilities. Though the operating system is much more advanced than earlier versions of the Mac OS, it still has the same ease-of-use that people have come to expect from Apple software. |
| Mac OS X | Mac OS X, pronounced "Mac Oh-Es Ten," is the current version of the operating system used on Apple Macintosh computers. If you happen to pronounce it "Mac OS X," computer nerds and dedicated Mac users will be quick to correct you. While the name may be a bit confusing, Mac OS X is an advanced, user-friendly operating system. Previous versions of the Mac OS, were based on the original Macintosh operating system, released in 1984. In the late 1990's, many computer users felt Windows had "caught up" to the Mac OS and Apple's operating system began to appear a bit dated. So Apple completely revamped the Mac OS and created a new operating system from the ground up. While much of the code used to build Mac OS X was written from scratch, a lot was taken from the NEXTSTEP operating system. NEXTSTEP was a Unix-based system that ran on NeXT computers, which are no longer in production. NeXT was acquired by Apple in 1997 and Steve Jobs was hired as interim CEO. Apple developers took the Unix-based code from NEXTSTEP and combined it with the graphical user interface (GUI) of Mac OS 9. The result was a stable, high-performance operating system that had the stability of Unix and the intuitive interface of the Macintosh. Mac OS X 10.0 was released in 2001. Since the initial release, Apple has released several major updates to Mac OS X, at a pace of roughly one update a year. The list of OS X versions include 10.0 Cheetah, 10.1 Puma, 10.2 Jaguar, 10.3 Panther, and 10.4 Tiger. Mac OS X 10.5 is expected to be called Leopard. |
| Mac OS X Leopard | Mac OS X Leopard (version 10.5) is the sixth major release of Mac OS X, Apple’s desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Leopard was released on 26 October 2007 as the successor of Mac OS X Tiger (version 10.4), and is available in two variants: a desktop version suitable for personal computers, and a server version, Mac OS X Server. Steve Jobs stated at Macworld 2008 that over 20% of Macs use Leopard as their operating system.[1] Leopard was superseded by Mac OS X Snow Leopard (version 10.6). Leopard is the final version of Mac OS X to support the PowerPC architecture as Snow Leopard solely functions on Intel based Macs. With the release of Snow Leopard, Leopard will only be maintained with security updates until the next shipping version of Mac OS X. According to Apple, Leopard contains over 300 changes and enhancements over its predecessor, Mac OS X Tiger,[2] covering core operating system components as well as included applications and developer tools. Leopard introduces a significantly revised desktop, with a redesigned Dock, Stacks, a semitransparent menu bar, and an updated Finder that incorporates the Cover Flow visual navigation interface first seen in iTunes. Other notable features include support for writing 64-bit graphical user interface applications, an automated backup utility called Time Machine, support for Spotlight searches across multiple machines, and the inclusion of Front Row and Photo Booth, which were previously included with only some Mac models. Apple missed Leopard's release time frame as originally announced by Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs. When first discussed in June 2005, Jobs had stated that Apple intended to release Leopard at the end of 2006 or early 2007.[3] A year later, this was amended to Spring 2007;[4] however on 12 April 2007, Apple issued a statement that its release would be delayed until October 2007 because of the development of the iPhone.[5] |
| Mac OS X Server | Mac OS X Server is a Unix[1] server operating system from Apple Inc. The server edition of Mac OS X is architecturally identical to its desktop counterpart, except that it includes work group management and administration software tools. These tools provide simplified access to key network services, including a mail transfer agent, a Samba server, an LDAP server, a domain name server, and others. Also included (particularly in later versions) are numerous additional services and the tools to manage them, such as web server, wiki server, chat server, calendar server, and many others. Mac OS X Server is the operating system of Xserve computers, rack mounted server computers designed by Apple. Also, it is optionally preinstalled on the Mac mini and Mac Pro and is sold separately for use on any Macintosh computer meeting its minimum requirements. Overview Mac OS X Server is a server operating system which enables organizations to collaborate, communicate, and share information. It is based on an open source foundation called Darwin and uses open industry standards and protocols. Mac OS X Server includes services and applications for file sharing, sharing contact information and calendars, schedule events, send secure instant messages, conduct live video conferences, send and receive email, contribute to and comment in wikis, publish a companywide blog, produce and distribute podcasts, and set up websites. |
| Macintosh | This is the name of the computers that are made by Apple Computer. The first Macintosh was introduced in 1984 and was seen as a major innovation in computing ease-of-use. The Macintosh was the first personal computer to use a graphical user interface (GUI), which allowed the user to interact with the operating system by using a mouse to click and drag objects. Since 1984, Apple has continually revised and upgraded the Macintosh product line and now makes both laptop and desktop versions of the Macintosh. Apple also makes other equipment such as displays, MP3 players, and networking hardware, but the Macintosh is the heart and soul of the company. Macintosh computers run the Macintosh operating system, creatively named the "Mac OS." |
| Macro | Macro has two computer-related definitions, both of which involve making your computer experience more efficient. 1. A Keyboard Shortcut The term "macro" is often used synonymously with "keyboard shortcut." Keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that perform commands, such as saving a file, closing a window, or copying and pasting data. 2. A Small Program A macro can also be a small program, or script, that automates common tasks. These scripts are usually run within programs and can often be created by the user. For example, a user might record a macro for Microsoft Word that inserts his entire address when he presses a custom key combination. A Microsoft Excel user might record a macro to format the data in the selected column of a spreadsheet. While Word and Excel both make it easy to create custom macros, many other programs allow users to create macros as well. However, not all programs refer to the automated commands as macros. For example, Photoshop allows users to record changes made to an image and saves the series of steps as an "action." These actions can then by applied to other images. Regardless of what they are called, macros can save you a lot of time by automating repetitive tasks. If you find yourself doing the same thing over and over again when using a certain program, you may want to simplify the process by recording a macro. |
| Magnetic stripe | A piece of plastic coated with ferromagnetic particles to hold a magnetic flux. In human speak: a strip of audiotape glued onto a card to hold a bit of information. Every credit card has one on the back–it’s the black/brown stripe. It usually holds the stuff that’s imprinted on the card, like the account number and the expiration date. |
| Magnetic stripe unit | A device to read and encode cards with a magnetic stripe. |
| main memory | The amount of memory physically installed in your computer. Also referred to as "RAM". |
| Mainframe | A mainframe is an ultra high-performance computer made for high-volume, processor-intensive computing. They are typically used by large businesses and for scientific purposes. You probably won't find a mainframe in any household. In the hierarchy of computers, mainframes are right below supercomputers, the most powerful computers in the world. (Which is why they are aptly named "supercomputers.") Yet a mainframe can usually execute many programs simultaneously at a high speed, whereas supercomputers are designed for a single process. Currently, the largest manufacturers of mainframes are IBM and Unisys. |
| male connector | A cable connector that has pins and plugs into a port or interface to connect one device to another. |
| Malicious Code | Software (e.g., Trojan horse) that appears to perform a useful or desirable function, but actually gains unauthorized access to system resources or tricks a user into executing other malicious logic. |
| Malware | hort for "malicious software," malware refers to software programs designed to damage or do other unwanted actions on a computer system. In Spanish, "mal" is a prefix that means "bad," making the term "badware," which is a good way to remember it (even if you're not Spanish). Common examples of malware include viruses, worms, trojan horses, and spyware. Viruses, for example, can cause havoc on a computer's hard drive by deleting files or directory information. Spyware can gather data from a user's system without the user knowing it. This can include anything from the Web pages a user visits to personal information, such as credit card numbers. It is unfortunate that there are software programmers out there with malicious intent, but it is good to be aware of the fact. You can install anti-virus and anti-spyware utilities on your computer that will seek and destroy the malicious programs they find on your computer. So join the fight against badware and install some protective utilities on your hard drive! |
| MANET | Stands for "Mobile Ad Hoc Network." A MANET is a type of ad hoc network that can change locations and configure itself on the fly. Because MANETS are mobile, they use wireless connections to connect to various networks. This can be a standard Wi-Fi connection, or another medium, such as a cellular or satellite transmission. Some MANETs are restricted to a local area of wireless devices (such as a group of laptop computers), while others may be connected to the Internet. For example, A VANET (Vehicular Ad Hoc Network), is a type of MANET that allows vehicles to communicate with roadside equipment. While the vehicles may not have a direct Internet connection, the wireless roadside equipment may be connected to the Internet, allowing data from the vehicles to be sent over the Internet. The vehicle data may be used to measure traffic conditions or keep track of trucking fleets. Because of the dynamic nature of MANETs, they are typically not very secure, so it is important to be cautious what data is sent over a MANET. |
| Masking | To conceal a web site's URL in some manner, normally by using a domain name. For example, if a URL shows up as "http://www.example.com/" but the web site is actually located at "http://www.somewhere-else.com/example/", that URL is said to be "masked". See Also: Domain Name, URL |
| Masquerade Attack | A type of attack in which one system entity illegitimately poses as (assumes the identity of) another entity. |
| Master | When two IDE or EIDE devices are put on the same cable, one must be master and the other slave. The master/slave configuration is used not only to allow communications to work properly for two devices on one channel, but also so that there is a specific boot order when two or more IDE hard drives are encountered on a system. The master hard drive on the first IDE channel will be the first IDE drive checked for a master boot record when the system attempts to boot from an IDE device. |
| Max | Abbreviation for Maximum. Some programming languages have a "max" function that will return the larger of the values supplied to it. Similarly SQL includes a "max" function that returns the maximum matching value found as part of a query. cf Min. |
| Maximize | aximizing a window makes it larger. In Windows, a maximized window fills the entire screen, while on a Mac, it takes up only as much space as needed. The maximize button in Windows is located in the upper-right corner of the window, next to the close button. If you double-click the title bar, it will also maximize the window. On a Mac, the maximize button is three green button located next to the red and yellow buttons in the upper-left corner of the window. To hide an open window, you can click the minimize button, which is located next to the maximize button on both Macintosh and Windows computers. |
| MB | 1. Megabyte. A unit of storage, 1024 KBs, see megabyte for details. 2. Abbreviation for MotherBoard, the main board in a computer that other boards plug into. |
| mbps | Mega-bits per second. Strictly 1mbps = 128KB per second, but when measuring network/modem throughput a figure of 1mbps = 100 KB per second is probably closer to the real throughput after other networking overheads are taken into consideration. See also bps and kbps. |
| MBR | Master Boot Record. Record located at the beginning of a bootable disk on Intel based systems, containing the boot loader. |
| MBSA | Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer. Tool from Microsoft to scan for security vulnerabilities. |
| MCA | Stands for "Micro Channel Architecture." It is an expansion bus created by IBM that was used in the company's PS/2 desktop computers. An expansion bus allows additional cards to be connected to the computer's motherboard, expanding the number of I/O ports. These include SCSI, USB, Firewire, AGP, and DVI connections, as well as many others. The MCA standard was designed to take the place of the AT and ISA buses used in previous IBM PC/AT compatible computers. While the MCA bus architecture was an improvement in both size and speed over AT and ISA, it was kept as a proprietary standard by IBM. This discouraged other manufacturers from adopting the standard, since the MCA architecture was not compatible with other standards. Most PC companies incorporated the more universal PCI and AGP expansion buses into their computers, which are both widely used today. |
| MD | Make Directory command. On many operating systems (OS), md is a command-line command to make a sub-directory. |
| Md5 | A one way cryptographic hash function. Also see "hash functions" and "sha1" |
| MDI | 1. Multiple Document Interface. A GUI interface for an application that allows more than one document to be visible at a time. 2. Medium Dependent Interface. Provides the physical connection to a cable. 3. Microsoft Document Imaging Format. A file format based on TIFF that is designed to store images by page layout. |
| MDI/MDI-X | etwork hub crossover switch. An MDI/MDI-X switch on a network hub typically allows a port on a network hub to connect to either a network peripheral (such as a pc) or another hub/switch. |
| Measures of Effectiveness (MOE) | Measures of Effectiveness is a probability model based on engineering concepts that allows one to approximate the impact a give action will have on an environment. In Information warfare it is the ability to attack or defend within an Internet environment. |
| Mebibyte | A mebibyte is a unit of data storage that equals 2 to the 20th power, or 1,048,576 bytes. While a megabyte can be estimated as 10^6 or 1,000,000 bytes, a mebibyte is exactly 1,048,576 bytes. This is to avoid the ambiguity associated with the size of megabytes. A mebibyte is 1,024 kibibytes and precedes the gibibyte unit of measurement. A mebibyte is a unit of data storage that equals 2 to the 20th power, or 1,048,576 bytes. While a megabyte can be estimated as 10^6 or 1,000,000 bytes, a mebibyte is exactly 1,048,576 bytes. This is to avoid the ambiguity associated with the size of megabytes. A mebibyte is 1,024 kibibytes and precedes the gibibyte unit of measurement. For a list of other units of measurements, view this Help Center article. Abbreviation: MiB |
| Mechanical Control | A dial or knob whose physical setting directly affects some measurement. For example, the power button in early PCs was a mechanical control, as were the huge, hand-controlled electrical switches in old horror movies and light switches on your wall. By pushing the power button you used to physically make an electrical contact so that power could flow to your PC. Nowadays most power buttons only send signals to the motherboard and are no longer mechanical controls. |
| Media | In general, "media" refers to various means of communication. For example, television, radio, and the newspaper are different types of media. The term can also be used as a collective noun for the press or news reporting agencies. In the computer world, "media" is also used as a collective noun, but refers to different types of data storage options. Computer media can be hard drives, removable drives (such as Zip disks), CD-ROM or CD-R discs, DVDs, flash memory, USB drives, and yes, floppy disks. For example, if you want to bring your pictures from your digital camera into a photo processing store, they might ask you what kind of media your pictures are stored on. Are they on the flash memory card inside your camera or are they on a CD or USB drive? For this and many other reasons, it is helpful to have a basic understanding of what the different types of media are. |
| Meg | Short for mega, meaning a million. Depending on the context in IT meg is typically used to refer to mega-bytes (MB) or mega-hertz (MHz). |
| Megabyte | Unit of storage, often abbreviated to simply MB. Million bytes. Normally abbreviated to MB. Strictly, 1 megabyte = 2 to the twentieth power (220) bytes = 1,048,576 bytes = 1024 kilobytes. See also gigabyte. Computer memory (RAM) is normally measured in megabytes, as is disk space. Note: Storage devices sold by manufacturers normally assume 1MB = 1,000,000 bytes. |
| megabyte (Meg or MB) | 1,024 x 1,024 (2 to the 20th power) bytes; it's usually sufficient to think of a megabytes as one million bytes. |
| Megapixel | A megapixel is one million pixels. It is commonly used to describe the resolution of digital cameras. For example, a 7.2 megapixel camera is capable of capturing roughly 7,200,000 pixels. The higher the megapixel number, the more detail the camera can capture. Therefore, the megapixel count is a significant specification to look for when buying a digital camera. A camera's megapixel number is calculated by multiplying the number of vertical pixels by the number of horizontal pixels captured by the camera's sensor, or CCD. For example, the original Canon Digital Rebel captures 2048 vertical by 3072 horizontal pixels, for a total of 6,291,456 pixels (2048 x 3072). Therefore, it is estimated to be a 6.3 megapixel camera. The Sony T10 captures 3072 x 2304 pixels, totaling 7,077,888, which makes it a 7.2 megapixel camera (because not all the pixels are used). Megapixels are helpful in marketing digital cameras, because it is easier to say, "6.3 megapixels" than "6,291,456 pixels." It is also a little easier to remember. However, while megapixels are important, it is helpful to know the other specifications of a camera as well. For example, shutter speed, shooting modes, start-up time, flash quality, and color accuracy can also make a big difference in the camera's performance. After all, it doesn't matter how many megapixels your camera has if all your pictures turn out blurry and have poor color. Therefore, while you should check the megapixel count on a camera before buying it, make sure you check the other specs too. |
| Memory Leak | A memory leak is like a virtual oil leak in your computer. It slowly drains the available memory, reducing the amount of free memory the system can use. Most memory leaks are caused by a program that unintentionally uses up increasing amounts of memory while it is running. This is typically a gradual process that gets worse as the program remains open. If the leak is bad enough, it can cause the program to crash or even make the whole computer freeze. The most common reason programs have memory leaks is due to a programming error where unused memory is not allocated back to the system. This means the amount of RAM the program uses is always growing. Therefore, the program is constantly "leaking" memory. A memory leak may also be caused by a program that requests new memory too frequently, instead of using available memory. This means each time more memory is requested, the program takes up additional RAM instead of using memory that has already been made available to the program. Fortunately, memory leaks are not as messy as oil leaks and can be more easily fixed. Software development applications often include debuggers that can check programs for memory leaks. Once the source of the leak is found, the programmer can modify the code so that the program uses memory more efficiently. If you are using a program that has a memory leak, you can temporarily fix the problem by simply quitting the program and opening it again. Once the program has been quit, the memory is automatically allocated back to the system. Of course, if the leak continues to be a problem, the best solution is to let the developer know about the issue so it can be fixed. |
| Memory Module | A memory module is another name for a RAM chip. It is often used as a general term used to describe SIMM, DIMM, and SO-DIMM memory. While there are several different types of memory modules available, they all serve the same purpose, which is to store temporary data while the computer is running. Memory modules come in different sizes and have several different pin configurations. For example, the original SIMMs had 30 pins (which are metal contacts that connect to the motherboard). However, newer SIMM chips have 72 pins. DIMMs commonly come in 168-pin configurations, but some DIMMs have as many as 240 pins. SO-DIMMs have a smaller form factor than standard DIMM chips, and come in 72-pin, 144-pin, and 200-pin configurations. While "memory module" is the technical term used to describe computer memory, the terms "RAM," "memory," and "RAM chip" are just as acceptable. But remember, while memory terms may be interchangeable, the memory itself is not. This is because most computers only accept one type of memory. Therefore, if you decide to upgrade you computer's RAM, make sure the memory modules you buy are compatible with your machine. |
| Memory Stick | Memory Stick is a type of flash memory developed by Sony. It is used to store data for digital cameras, camcorders, and other kinds of electronics. Because Memory Stick is a proprietary Sony product, it is used by nearly all of Sony's products that use flash media. Unfortunately, this also means Memory Stick cards are incompatible with most products not developed by Sony. Memory Stick cards are available in two versions: Memory Stick PRO and Memory Stick PRO Duo. Memory Stick PRO cards are 50mm long by 21.5mm wide and are 2.8mm thick. Memory Stick PRO Duo cards are 31mm long by 20mm wide and are only 1.6mm thick. High-speed versions of Memory Stick media support data transfer rates up to 80Mbps, or 10 MB/sec, which is fast enough record high-quality digital video. |
| menu | In a graphical user interface, a bar containing a set of titles that appears at the top of a window. Once you display the contents of a menu by clicking on its title, you can select any active command (e.g., one that appears in bold type and not in a lighter, gray type). |
| Menu Bar | A menu bar is a horizontal strip that contains lists of available menus for a certain program. In Windows programs, the menu bar resides at the top of each open window, while on the Mac, the menu bar is always fixed on the top of the screen. Despite this major difference, the menu bar serves the same purpose on each platform. Nearly all programs have a menu bar as part of their user interface. It includes menu items and options specific to the particular program. Most menu bars have the the standard File, Edit, and View menus listed first. The File menu includes options such as Save and Open File..., the Edit menu has items such as Undo, Copy, Paste, and Select All, while in the View menu you'll find viewing options such as changing the layout of open windows. Word processing programs, such as Microsoft Word, also include menu options such as Insert, Format, and Font which you will most likely not find in a Web browser's menu bar. But a Web browser may contain menu options such as History and Bookmarks, which you will not find in a word processing program. Many items located within the menu bar often have keyboard shortcuts that enable you to choose menu options by just pressing a key combination. For example, to copy an object or text selection, most programs allow you to press Control-C (Windows) or Command-C (Mac) instead of selecting Copy from the Edit menu. When browsing through the items in a program's menu bar, you should see the keyboard shortcuts located next to each option that has a shortcut available. The menu bar is a fundamental part of the graphical user interface (GUI), so it is worth you time to get familiar with it. You may even discover features you did not know about before. |
| MER | MAC Encapsulated Routing. |
| Metadata | Data (or information) about data. Metadata describes the structure and attributes of data, it may also include any license or copyright terms, origin of the data, cautions about the robustness of the data and perhaps suitability for different types of purpose. |
| Metafile | A device independent file containing both Raster and Vector data, such as a vector plan with a Bitmap embedded. |
| MHz or mHz | Megahertz; a measurement of a microprocessor's speed; one MHz represents one million cycles per second. The speed determines how many instructions per second a microprocessor can execute. The higher the megahertz, the faster the computer. |
| Micron | The length of one millionth of a meter, or 1/1,000,000 meters. This length is also referred to as a micrometer. There is also a microchip company called Micron. See also nanometer. |
| Microprocessor (MPU) | This term is commonly used to describe the CPU. More specifically, it refers to the part of the CPU that actually does the work, since many CPUs now contain L1 and L2 caches on-chip. |
| Microsoft Servers | Microsoft Servers (previously called Windows Server System) is a brand that encompasses a line of Microsoft server products. This includes the server editions of Microsoft Windows operating system itself, as well as products targeted at the wider business market. Unlike Microsoft's Dynamics or Office product lines, most of the products sold under this brand are not intended to be line-of-business services in and of themselves. |
| Middleware | Software that is used to tie an application to a network, thus the “middle” terminology. Often the middleware is a type of network authentication or directory of network resources. When Microsoft bundled Internet Explorer into Windows IE began acting as middleware for many operations, and that was the crux of the Department of Justice’s anti-trust case. |
| MIDI | Musical Instrument Digital Interface. |
| MIFD | Management Information Format Database. See Desktop Management Interface (DMI). |
| Millisecond (ms) | One thousandth of a second. It is often associated with the access speed of hard drives. |
| MIME | (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) Originally a standard for defining the types of files attached to standard Internet mail messages. The MIME standard has come to be used in many situations where one cmputer programs needs to communicate with another program about what kind of file is being sent. For example, HTML files have a MIME-type of text/html, JPEG files are image/jpeg, etc. See also: HTML, JPEG |
| MIMO | Multiple Input, Multiple Output. A technique for faster wireless communication. MIMO allows for the use of multiple transmitter and receiver antennas to increase throughput. |
| Min | Short for Minimum. Some programming languages have a "min" function that will return the smaller of the values supplied to it. Similarly SQL includes a "min" function that returns the minimum matching value found as part of a query. cf Max. |
| Mini DV | Most digital camcorders record video and audio on a Mini DV tape. The cassettes measure 2.6 x 1.9 x 0.5 inches (L x W x H), while the tape itself is only .25 inches thick. A Mini DV tape that is 65 meters long can hold an incredible 11GB of data, or 80 minutes of digital video. The small size of Mini DV tapes has helped camcorder manufacturers reduce the size of their video cameras significantly. Some consumer cameras that use Mini DV tapes are smaller than the size of your hand. Because Mini DV tapes store data digitally, the footage can be exported directly to a computer using a Firewire (IEEE 1394) cable. So if you want to record video and edit it on your computer, avoid the SVHS and Hi-8 options and make sure to get a camera that uses Mini DV. |
| Minicomputer | This term refers to “mini” mainframe computers that are a step smaller than a large corporate mainframe. They were once popular in small businesses that couldn’t afford real mainframes, but now you only find reference to them in free subscription surveys for computer industry print magazines (”Do you work with mini-computers, microcomputers, etc.?”) or in some college campuses or large business networks. |
| Minimize | Minimizing a window temporarily hides it from view without closing it. In Windows, a button for the minimized window is added to the taskbar. In Mac OS X, a small icon for the window is added to the dock. Clicking the window's button or icon will reopen the window. You can then click the maximize button to increase the window's size. To minimize a window in Windows, click the button with a horizontal line icon in the upper-right corner of a window. In Mac OS X, click the yellow button in the upper-left corner of the window or double-click the title bar. |
| MIPS | Stands for "Million Instructions Per Second." It is a method of measuring the raw speed of a computer's processor. Since the MIPS measurement doesn't take into account other factors such as the computer's I/O speed or processor architecture, it isn't always a fair way to measure the performance of a computer. For example, a computer rated at 100 MIPS may be able to computer certain functions faster than another computer rated at 120 MIPS. The MIPS measurement has been used by computer manufacturers like IBM to measure the "cost of computing." The value of computers is determined in MIPS per dollar. Interestingly, the value of computers in MIPS per dollar has steadily doubled on an annual basis for the last couple of decades. |
| Mirrored Volume | A mirrored volume is a hard drive or other form of storage media that stores an exact copy of the data from another volume. It is used for fault tolerance, which means mirrored volume serves as a backup device in case the primary device fails. Companies and organizations that store critical information typically "mirror" the data on another drive. Using a mirrored volume decreases the chance of losing data exponentially. For example, if the odds of a hard drive going bad is 1 out of 200, the odds of two drives going bad at the same time is 1 out of 40,000. Mirroring data can be done using various backup software programs or may be enabled within operating systems that support disk mirroring. While using a mirrored volume helps keep data safe, it also slows down data transfers because the data must always be written twice. It also costs more, since mirroring data requires twice as much disk storage than what would otherwise be required. However, the cost of an extra hard drive is usually well worth the security of having important data backed up. Mirroring may also be referred to as "duplexing" or RAID 1. |
| Mirroring | A fault-tolerance disk strategy in which two identical copies of disk partitions are maintained on different disks (or sets of disks). The theory is that if one disk fails then the system can continue operating because reads and writes to the second disk can continue. |
| Mission Critical Application | Any application that is critical to the proper running of a business. If this application fails for any length of time you may be out of business. For example, an order-entry system may be considered mission critical if your business relies on taking lots of orders. You don’t want your mission critical apps running on junky hardware … or software for that matter. |
| MMC | Microsoft Management Console. The Microsoft Management Console provides an open, extensive, common console framework for management applications. The intent is for it to provide a common style of user interface for administering networks, computers, services and other system components. Snap-ins that can be loaded into the Microsoft Management Console have the .msc file extension. |
| MME | Microsoft Mobile Explorer. Mobile phone/WAP emulator, allowing you to see what a web site would look like on a WAP capable phone. |
| MMI | Man Machine Interface. Same as HMI but an older term and generally regarded as being less politically correct than HMI. |
| MOBO | Abbreviation for Motherboard - the main circuit board in a computer or other electronic system. |
| Modem | Short for Modulator/Demodulator. A modem allows allows data to be transmitted over an analogue stream (typically a phone line) to another modem where the data is reconstituted. |
| moderator | A person who reviews and has the authority to block messages posted to a supervised or "moderated" network newsgroup. |
| MOM | Microsoft Operations Manager. Microsoft Operations Manager provides event management, fault detection, altering, reporting, trend analysis and applications monitoring. |
| Monitor | The term "monitor" is often used synonymously with "computer screen" or "display." The monitor displays the computer's user interface and open programs, allowing the user to interact with the computer, typically using the keyboard and mouse. Older computer monitors were built using cathode ray tubes (CRTs), which made them rather heavy and caused them to take up a lot of desk space. Most modern monitors are built using LCD technology and are commonly referred to as flat screen displays. These thin monitors take up much less space than the older CRT displays. This means people with LCD monitors have more desk space to clutter up with stacks of papers, pens, and other objects. "Monitor" can also be used as a verb. A network administrator may monitor network traffic, which means he watches the traffic to make sure the bandwidth usage is within a certain limit and checks to see what external sources may be attempting to access the network. Software programs may monitor the system's CPU performance as well as RAM and hard disk usage. Finally, monitors also refer to speakers used for monitoring sound. Audio engineers typically use "studio monitors" to listen to recordings. These high-end speakers allow the engineers to accurately mix and master audio tracks. So a sound mixer could be monitoring a recording visually using a computer monitor, while monitoring the sound using audio monitors at the same. As you can tell, "monitor" serves as a rather multipurpose word. |
| Monoculture | Monoculture is the case where a large number of users run the same software, and are vulnerable to the same attacks. |
| Moore’s Law | Former Intel chairman Gordon Moore is credited with predicting the trend that transistor counts in processors double every 18 months. This law has held true since the 1970s. The law can also be applied to other technologies, and works frighteningly well with hard drive and memory chip density, processor speeds, processor power, and processor size (micron process). More than ever the end of Moore’s Law is being discussed, as smaller, more compact designs and electrical leakage threaten to throw Moore’s Law off track. |
| Morris Worm | A worm program written by Robert T. Morris, Jr. that flooded the ARPANET in November, 1988, causing problems for thousands of hosts. |
| Mount | In order for a hard disk or disk partition to be accessible by a computer, it must first be mounted. This is a software process that "activates" the disk, which makes the folders and files on the disk readable by the computer. If a hard drive is physically connected, but not mounted, the computer will not recognize it. Fortunately, most operating systems, such as Windows and Mac OS X, mount newly connected disks by default. In Windows, the disk will appear in the "My Computer" window. In Mac OS X, the disk will appear on the desktop. This is true for all types of disks, such as internal and external hard drives, optical media, such as CDs and DVDs, and USB flash drives. Disk image files may have to be mounted manually using a program like Nero or WinImage (Windows) or Apple Disk Utility (Mac OS X). If a disk is not being used, it can be unmounted. Optical disks are typically unmounted automatically when they are ejected. However, before you disconnect an external hard drive or a USB flash drive, you should unmount the disk to avoid possible data corruption. |
| Mouse | A mouse, along with the keyboard, is one of the two main input devices used by computers. It is a small handheld device that tracks the user's motion and is used for moving the cursor on the screen. It also has buttons that are used for clicking and right-clicking objects. While early mice used a mouse ball to track the movement of the mouse, modern mice use a beam of light or an actual laser. This optical technology is more accurate than the rolling ball method and also keeps mice from getting dirty inside. |
| Mozilla | 1. The original name for Netscape Navigator. The name is derived from "Mosaic" (the dominant browser at the time) + "Godzilla". The term "Mozilla" is still used by both Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer to identify the type of browser. Mozilla has been superseded by Firefox. |
| MP3 | Stands for "MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3." MP3 is popular compressed audio file format that helped popularize digital music downloads beginning in the late 1990s. MP3 files are typically about one tenth the size of uncompressed WAVE or AIFF files, but maintain nearly the same CD-quality sound. Because of their small size and good fidelity, MP3 files have become a popular way to store music files on both computers and portable devices like the iPod. Several websites, like MP3.com and GarageBand.com, maintain extensive archives of MP3 files that users can download. To listen to MP3s on your computer, you'll need an MP3 player like Nullsoft Winamp (for Windows) or Apple iTunes (for Mac and Windows). Most MP3 players also allow you to create MP3 files from CD audio tracks or other from other audio file types. Once you have converted your favorite songs to MP3 files, you can transfer them to a portable music player, like the Apple iPod, Microsoft Zune, or a music-enabled cell phone. You can also burn the MP3 files to a CD, which can be played in MP3-compatible CD players. File extension: .MP3 |
| MPEG | Stands for "Moving Picture Experts Group." The MPEG organization, which works with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), develops standards for digital audio and video compression. The group constantly works to develop more efficient ways to digitally compress and store audio and video files. The term MPEG also refers to a type of multimedia file, which is denoted by the file extension ".mpg" or ".mpeg." These files are compressed movies that can contain both audio and video. Though they are compressed, MPEG files maintain most of the original quality of the uncompressed movie. This is why many videos on the Web, such as movie trailers and music videos, are available in the MPEG format. File extensions: .MPG, .MPE, .MPEG |
| MS | 1. Common abbreviation for "Microsoft". 2. Millisecond, 1/1000th of a second. Usually expressed as "ms", i.e. in lower case. |
| MS-DOS | Microsoft DOS (Disk Operating System). A command line operating system produced by Microsoft which pre-dates Windows. See DOS for further information. |
| MSIE | 1. Microsoft Internet Explorer. Abbreviation used to refer to any version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser. Also frequently abbreviated to simply IE. |
| MSS | 1. Microsoft Speech Server. 2. Maximum Segment Size. The maximum amount of data that a single (unfragemented) TCP message may contain. The MSS is the maximum data size, and does not include the size of the header. The relationship between MSS and MTU is: MSS + header ≤ MTU. |
| MSSQL | Microsoft SQL Server. The professional relational database management system from Microsoft. |
| MTBF | Mean Time Between Failures. This is an estimate of the average time between failures of a component. cf MTBR. |
| MTBR | Mean Time Between Repair. Similar in meaning to Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), and the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. MTBR is normally quoted for components which are economically viable to repair should they fail. Whereas MTBF is normally quoted for components for which it is not economically viable to repair and which would therefore normally be replaced once they have failed. For example a hard disk would not normally be considered repairable should it fail, and thus manufacturers may quote a MTBF figure. Whilst a RAID array (which consists of multiple individual hard disks) would normally have a MTBR figure quoted, because should any individual disk fail then that disk can be replaced (and thus the array repaired). |
| MTTR | Mean Time To Repair. The average length of time it takes to repair something. |
| MTU | Maximum Transmission Unit. The maximum amount of data that can be sent across an interface without being broken up into more than one message or packet. cf MSS. |
| MU | Microsoft Update. MU refers to the updating and patching of Microsoft Windows, either by automatic updates or from the Microsoft Update website. Over time updates are typically rolled up and included as part of a service pack. Microsoft Update is also referred to as Windows Update. |
| Multi-Cast | Broadcasting from one host to a given set of hosts. |
| Multi-Homed | You are "multi-homed" if your network is directly connected to two or more ISP's. |
| Multi-tier client server | A form of client/server application that uses the multi-tiered architecture. |
| Multicast IP | A form of TCP/IP being proposed that will allow for high-bandwidth transmissions (like television channels) to be broadcast over the Internet to all the routers in the world (possibly) that are connected to someone watching that channel. To see the benefit, think of 1,000 people making separate connections to the USA network (if it were an Internet TV channel–give us some leeway!). Each packet of data sent out would have to be sent to 1,000 people. Thus, you have 1,000 conversations active among the USA network server and people’s machines, each one saying the same thing. That’s poor scalability. Now imagine that in this fantasy network we only have 10 routers with these 1,000 people connected to them. In simplistic terms, you only have to send each packet to 10 places, and each machine downloads packets directly from the router it is connected to. Thus the USA network server doesn’t have to do much work to keep Gary Busey movies going to 1,000 people at once, and the rest of the network isn’t clogged with all 1,000 conversations. However, there are lots of minute details that must be considered, such as how many channels are offered and how much router memory that takes. How about if no one is watching? That’s wasted traffic. |
| Multimedia | As the name implies, multimedia is the integration of multiple forms of media. This includes text, graphics, audio, video, etc. For example, a presentation involving audio and video clips would be considered a "multimedia presentation." Educational software that involves animations, sound, and text is called "multimedia software." CDs and DVDs are often considered to be "multimedia formats" since they can store a lot of data and most forms of multimedia require a lot of disk space. Due to the advancements in computer speeds and storage space, multimedia is commonplace today. Therefore, the term doesn't produce the same excitement is once did. This also means it is not as overused as it was back in the late '90s. |
| Multiplatform | If a software program is developed for mulitple operating systems, it is considered to be "multiplatform." Since Microsoft Word runs on both the Windows and Macintosh platform, it is a mutliplatform application. In the consumer gaming market, mutliplatform games run on more than one gaming machine. For example, a sports game developed for Xbox, Playstation, GameCube, and PC would be a multiplatform game. If a game is developed exclusively for one system, i.e. "The Legend of Zelda," for Nintendo, it is not multiplatform. Gaming hardware manufacturers use exclusive software as a reason for consumers to buy their system. |
| Multiplexing | To combine multiple signals from possibly disparate sources, in order to transmit them over a single path. |
| Multiprocessing | For many years, the speed of computer processors increased through improvements in the architecture and clock speed of processors. However, in recent years, chip manufacturers have reached a limit in how small they can make the transistors inside CPUs without them overheating. Therefore, using multiple processors, or multiprocessing, has become the next step in increasing computing performance. Multiprocessing can be implemented in two different ways: 1) using more than one physical processor, or 2) using a processor with multiple cores. For example, early Power Mac G5 computers had multiple physical processors, each with their own heat sink and frontside bus. When Apple switched to using Intel processors in 2006, they began using dual-core processors. These chips look like a single processor, but act as two. Now, some machines like the Mac Pro, have quad-core processors, which include four processing cores. Some Mac Pros even have two physical quad-core processors, giving the computer a total of eight processors. Most Windows and Linux-based PCs now use multi-core processors as well. While multiprocessing sounds like a logical choice for improving computing performance, it must be supported by the computer's operating system in order to work correctly. Fortunately, current versions of both Windows and Mac OS X fully support multiprocessing. This means they can manage multiple processors as one CPU, dividing the processing load between them. Still, not all tasks can be split equally between two or more processors. Therefore, while multiprocessing may increase a computer's speed, it does not typically improve performance by the exact factor of processors in the machine. |
| Multitasking | Multitasking is processing multiple tasks at one time. For example, when you see someone in the car next to you eating a burrito, taking on his cell phone, and trying to drive at the same, that person is multitasking. Multitasking also refers to the way a computer works. Unlike the phone and burrito juggling driver, a computer's CPU can handle many processes at one time with complete accuracy. However, it will only process the instructions sent to it by the computer's software. Therefore, to make full use of the CPU's capabilities, the software must be able to process more than one task at a time, or multitask. Early operating systems could run multiple programs at one time, but did not fully support multitasking. Therefore, a single program could consume the computer's entire CPU while performing a certain operation. Basic operating system processes, such as copying files, prevented the user from performing other tasks, such as opening or closing windows. Fortunately, since modern operating systems include full multitasking support, multiple programs can run at the same time without affecting each other. Also, multiple operating system processes can take place simultaneously. Since multitasking can handle several tasks at once, it also improves the stability of the computer. For example, if one process crashes, it will not affect the other running programs, since the computer handles each process separately. In other words, if you are in the middle of writing a paper in a word processing program and your Web browser unexpectedly quits, you won't lose your work. That's when you can really be thankful for multitasking. |
| Multithreading | Multithreading is similar to multitasking, but enables the processing of multiple threads at one time, rather than multiple processes. Since threads are smaller, more basic instructions than processes, multithreading may occur within processes. By incorporating multithreading, programs can perform multiple operations at once. For example, a multithreaded operating system may run several background tasks, such as logging file changes, indexing data, and managing windows at the same time. Web browsers that support multithreading can have multiple windows open with JavaScript and Flash animations running simultaneously. If a program is fully multithreaded, the different processes should not affect each other at all, as long as the CPU has enough power to handle them. Similar to multitasking, multithreading also improves the stability of programs. However, instead of keeping the computer from crashing, multithreading may prevent a program from crashing. Since each thread is handled separately, if one thread has an error, it should not affect the rest of the program. Therefore, multithreading can lead to less crashes, which is something we can all be thankful for. |
| Mung | "Mash Until No Good" or "Mung Until No Good". To make changes to to words in a string so that the string is no longer recognisable. The changes may be (but do not have to be) reversible and obvious to a human reader. |
| MVLS | Microsoft Volume Licensing Services. |
| MX Record | MX Record Mail eXchange Record. An MX record indicates which mail server will receive e-mails for an internet domain. Each domain can have more than one MX record, allowing e-mail to be routed to a backup mail server should the primary be unavailable. MX records are assigned a priority number and the one with the lowest number will be the one used, unless it is unavailable in which case the one with the next lowest priority will be used and so on. |
| MySQL | MySQL A very popular open source database system. MySQL is a multi-user, multi-threaded database server, which is suitable for office database uses and for on web-servers. cf LAMP. |
