Answer mode:-

A function that allows a modem to answer an incoming call, detects the protocol being used by the calling modem, and synchronizes with that protocol. On a Hayes-compatible modem, answer mode is controlled by the command ATS0=n, where n specifies the number of rings that the modem waits before answering.

Anti-virus program:-

A program that detects or eliminates a computer virus! Some anti-virus programs are terminate- and- stay resident (TSR) programs that can detect suspicious activity on your computer as it happens; others must be run periodically as part of your normal housekeeping activities. An anti-virus program locates and identifies a virus by looking for characteristic patterns or suspicious activity in the system, such as unexpected disk access or .EXE files changing in some unusual way. It recognizes the virus by comparing information from the system against a database of known viruses, which is kept on disk.

Be sure you test an anti-virus program carefully on your network before you employ it everywhere; some programs impose an enormous overhead abnormal network operation.

Apple Talk:-

An Apple Macintosh network, protocol, based on the ISO/OSI model, which gives every Macintosh networking capabilities. AppleTalk can run under several network operating systems, including Apple Computer's AppleShare, Novell NetWare for the Macintosh, and TOPS from Sun Microsystems. Apple Talk includes specifications for the data-link layer as LocalTalk, Ether Talk, or TokenTalk, and the network layer a Datagram Delivery Protocol. The transport layer contains four protocols: Routing Table maintenance Protocol (RTMP),

Apple Talk Echo Protocol (AEP, Apple Talk Transaction Protocol (ATP), and Name Binding Protocol (NBP). The session layer includes Apple Talk Data Stream Protocol (ADSP), Apple Talk Session Protocol (ASP), Printer Access Protocol (PAP), and Zone

Information Protocol (ZIP). The presentation layer adds the AppleTalk Filing Protocol (AFP) for access to remote files on shared disks.

A revision of AppleTalk was released in 1989 to increase support to sixteen million nodes, and add enhancements needed for large networks.

Application:-

Abbreviated app. A computer program designed to perform a specific task, such as accounting, scientific analysis, word processing, or desktop publishing. In general, applications can be distinguished from system soil ware, system utility compilers, and they can be categorized as either stand-alone application run from the hard disk in an independent computer, so only one user at a time can access the application. Network applications run on networked computers and can be shared by many different users. Advanced applications such as groupware and e-mail allow communications between network users.

Archie:-

A system used on the Internet to locate files available by anonymous ftp. Once a week, special programs connect to all the known anonymous ftp sites on the Internet and collect a complete listing of all the publicly available files. This listing of files is kept in an Internet Archive Database, and when you ask Archie to look for a file, it searches this database rather than the whole Internet; you then use anonymous Ftp to retrieve the file.

Archive:-

1. To transfer files to some form of long-term storage, such as magnetic tape or optical disk, when the files are no longer needed on a regular basis but must be maintained for periodic reference.

2. On the Internet, a site containing a collection of files available via anonymous ftp.

ARCnet:-

Acronym for Attached Resources Computing network. A network available from the Data-point Corporation and other vendors that can connect a wide variety of PCs and workstations (up to a maximum of 255) on coaxial, twisted-pair, or fiber-optic cable.

ARCnet uses a proprietary token-passing access method at speeds of up to 2.5 megabits per second (Mbps). ARCnet Plus is Data point's proprietary product that runs at 20 Mbps. ARCnet is very popular for smaller networks, because it is relatively easy to set up and to operate, and also because the components are inexpensive and widely available.

ARPANET:-

Acronym for Advanced Research Projects Agency Network. A research network funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to link universities and government research agencies, originally built by BBN, Inc. in J 969. It was the backbone for the now huge Internet. TCP/IP protocols were pioneered on ARPANET. In 1983, the military communications portion was split off into the MILNET.

Asymmetrical Multiprocessing:-

A multiprocessing design in which the programmer matches a specific task to a certain processor while writing the program. "This design makes for a much less flexible system than symmetrical multiprocessing (SMP).SMP allocates tasks to processors as the program starts up, on the basis of current system load and available resources.

Asynchronous Communications Server:-

A local-area network (LAN) server allows a network user to dial out of the network into the public switched telephone system, or to access leased lines for asynchronous communications. Asynchronous communications servers may also be called dial-in/dial-out servers or modem servers.

Asynchronous Transfer Mode:-

Abbreviated ATM. A method used for transmitting voice, video, and data over high-speed local-area networks (LANs). ATM uses continuous bursts of fixed-length packets called cells to transmit data. The basic packet consists of 53 bytes, 5 of which are used for control functions and 48 for data.

ATM is a connection-oriented protocol, and two kinds of connection are possible : permanent virtual circuits (PVCs), in which connections are created manually, and switched virtual circuits (SVCs), in which connections are made automatically.

Speeds of up to 2,488 gigabits per second have been achieved in testing. TM will find wide acceptance in the LAN and wide-area network (WAN) arenas as a solution to integrating disparate networks over large geographical distances. Also known as cell relay.

Asynchronous Transmission:-

A method of data transmission that uses start bits and stop bits to coordinate the flow of data so the time intervals between individual characters do not need to be equal. Parity also may be used to check the accuracy of the data received. The accompanying illustration shows a single data word sent by asynchronous transmission.

Audit Trail:-

An automatic feature of certain programs or operating systems that creates a running record of all transactions. An audit trail allows you to track a piece of data from the moment it enters the system to the moment it leaves and to determine the origin of any changes to that data.

Authentication:-

In a network operating system or multi-user system, the process that validates a user's login information. Authentication usually involves comparing the user name and passwords to a list of authorized users. If a match is found, the user can log in and access the system in accordance with the right? or permissions assigned to his or her user account.

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