Glossary of Web Terms
Apache is
one of the more popular web servers that run on a Unix system.
ASP 1.
An applicant service provider (ASP) is a company that provides
an application (such as Exchange) over the internet to be used
by the client.
2. An active server page (ASP) is an HTML page that includes
scripts processed on a server before the page is sent to the
user.This is similar to a CGI or a server-side include.
ATM Asynchronous
transfer mode is a dedicated switching technology that transmits
small packets of data using digital switch technology. It is
implemented with hardware so it can be done faster than other
methods of data transmission.
Backbone The
backbone of a web hosting company is a set of paths that connect
local or regional networks for communication.
Bandwidth Bandwidth
is a measure of the amount of data transmitted over a measured
period of time. For example, it takes longer to download a picture
than it does to download text because it required more bandwidth.
Broadband Telecommunication
that provides multiple channels of data over a single communication
medium.
Burst In
web hosting, burst is when a client suddenly uses more bandwidth
than is expected under its contract. Typically, the web hosting
company expects this to happen occasionally and has set fees
for the client depending on the bandwidth used.
CGI Common
Gateway Interface (CGI) is a standard way to pass a user’s
request to a web server and to receive data back for the user
on an interactive web page. It is not dependent on the type of
machine (e.g.,Mac or PC) that is being used to request the information.
Clustered A
group of several servers that share work and may be able to back
each other up if one server fails is considered clustered.
Collocation More
typically spelt ‘co-location’, it is a service whereby
a company that owns a server houses it in another company’s
data center due to the greater security, stronger backbone or
other technological reasons.
Database
server A database server is specifically
configured to run database software. Typically, a company
will use a database server combined with other servers to
run a powerful web application such as e-commerce.
Dedicated A
dedicated server is one that a web hosting company has dedicated
to a single client. In other words, only one client can
access that server and that company’s site is the only
one residing on that server. (back
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DNS Domain
name system (DNS) is the way internet site names are translated
into IP addresses.
Domain A
domain is a series of network addresses that constitute a site
or set of sites.
DSL A
digital subscriber line (DSL) is a technology that brings high-bandwidth
information to homes and small businesses by using an existing
telephone line.
Ethernet Ethernet
is the most used local area network (LAN) technology. It
was originally developed by Xerox and is based on co-axial cables – the
same type of cables used by telephone lines. (back
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Fault
tolerance The ability of a system to respond
to unexpected hardware or software failure is its fault tolerance.
File
transfer protocol File transfer protocol
(FTP) is the simplest way to transfer files between
computers over the internet. It is an application protocol
that uses TCP/IP protocols and is typically used to upload web
pages to a server or to download software from a site to a user’s
own computer.
Firewall A
firewall is a program or set of programs that protects a private
network from outsiders. For example, a company’s
intranet would be made unavailable to outsiders using a firewall.
Flash Created
by Macromedia, Flash is a program used to created animation on
a web page that can stream to a user. (back
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FrontPage A
web site development tool created by Microsoft, FrontPage is
designed for optimal performance on Windows NT servers. Also
used by many do-it-yourselfers to create amateur looking web
sites.
FTP File
transfer protocol (FTP) is the simplest way to transfer files
between computers over the internet. It is an application
protocol that uses TCP/IP protocols and is typically used to
upload web pages to a server or to download software from a site
to a user’s own computer.
GB A
gigabyte is a measure of storage capacity and is roughly a billion
bytes. Specifically, it is 230 bytes, which is 1,073,741,824
bytes.
HTTP Hypertext
transfer protocol (http) is the set of rules for exchanging files
on the world wide web. It is an application protocol. (back
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IDC An
internet data center (IDC) is a facility where multiple servers
are connected to the internet through a powerful backbone.
Index
server Index Server is an advanced search
engine. Index Server allows for an efficient search of your
web site since it is fully customizable and can be set not
to require constant re-indexing.
Internet
data center An internet data center (IDC)
is a facility where multiple servers are connected to the
internet through a powerful backbone.
Internet
service provider An internet service provider
(ISP) is a company that provides businesses and individuals
with access to the internet. Typically, these companies
also provide low-level web design tools and web hosting. (back
to index)
IP
addresses An IP address identifies each user
on the internet with a unique number. Each packet of
information sent from a computer has its user’s IP
address.
ISDN ISDN
is a set of standards that provide users faster access to the
internet over standard telephone lines. The user must have
a special modem adapted to ISDN as must the ISP.
ISP An
internet service provider (ISP) is a company that provides businesses
and individuals with access to the internet. Typically,
these companies also provide low-level web design tools and web
hosting.
LAN A
local area network (LAN) is a group of computers that share a
common communications line and, typically, share some common
resources over a small geography. (back
to index)
Linux Linux
is an operating system that is similar to UNIX, but was originally
a free system.
Load
balancing Load balancing divides the amount of work
to be done between at least two computers to that the work
is done faster and more efficiently.
Local
area network A local area network (LAN) is
a group of computers that share a common
communications line and, typically, share some common resources
over a small geography.
Log
file A log file is a file created for a web
site that shows traffic information. Using various software
packages, a log file can be used to create reports of who
was at the site, how long they stayed there, where they came
from and other information. (back
to index)
Mbps Mbps
is a measure of bandwidth and stands for megabits per second.
Memory Memory
is the holding place for instructions while a user is using an
application. Often, when referencing memory one is actually
referring to random access memory (RAM).
Mirroring In
order to speed up a web site, the entire site can be copied onto
a second server (i.e., mirrored) so that two servers are responding
to the incoming requests. The mirrored servers are frequently
updated so both have the same information at all times.
NOC A
network operations center (NOC) is a physical place where a telecommunications
network is monitored, administrated and maintained. (back
to index)
Operating
system An operating system (OS) is the computer
program that manages all other programs on the machine.
Perl Perl
is a programming language used on UNIX systems. It is similar
to C.
Plug & play Plug
and play is the concept that new hardware can be plugged into
an existing computer and the computer will recognize the hardware
and install it itself.
RAID A
redundant array of independent disks (RAID) is a way of storing
the same data on multiple disks in order to have redundant copies
of that information.
Router A
router connects at least two networks, and directs packets to
the next network point towards its destination. (back
to index)
Sendmail A
popular, UNIX based system for implementing the simple mail transfer
protocol (SMTP) for transmitting email.
Shopping
cart An internet based system designed to
allow an online shopper to collect items and then, when the
user is ready, to purchase the chosen items.
SLA A
service level agreement (SLA) is a contract between a web hosting
company and its client. The SLA defines what services will
and will not be provided and what is expected of both parties.
SQL Structured
query language (SQL) is a standard language for interacting with
a database. (back to index)
Streaming
media With streaming media, a user sees a
continuous, animated image without having to download a large
file. This is achieved by sending the sequence of moving
images in small packets that are displayed as they arrive.
TCP/IP Transmission
Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is the communication
language of the internet.
Transfer
rate The transfer rate is the speed at which
data can be transferred from one device to another. It
is often measured in Mbps (megabytes per second).
UNIX UNIX
is an operating system written in C. It originated in 1969
at Bell Labs and was one of the first open systems. (back
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Unmanaged An
unmanaged server is one where the hosting company is not responsible
for monitoring, administrating or fixing the software that runs
on the client’s server. The hosting company is only
responsible for the hardware.
URL The
uniform resource locator (URL) is the address of a file accessible
on the world wide web. The file may be a web page, a CGI
or any other file supported by HTTP.
Web
server A program that serves files to users
so they can view web pages. (back
to index)
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