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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Acronym for "Frequently Asked Questions". FAQs are widely available on the Internet and usually take
the form of large, instructional text files. They are written on a wide variety of topics, and are usually the
most up-to-date source for specialized information.
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Fast Ethernet
Fast Ethernet is a new Ethernet standard that supports 100 Mbps using category 5 twisted pair or fiber optic cable.
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FAT (File Allocation Table)
DOS uses the FAT to manage the disk data area. The FAT tells DOS which portions of the disk belong to each file.
The FAT links together all of the clusters belonging to each file, no matter where they are on disk. The FAT is
a critical file: you should be sure to back it up regularly. FAT32 is a newer type of FAT that was designed to
handle large hard disks. The older FAT (FAT16) can only support partitions up to two gigabytes in size. FAT32 can
handle partitions that are thousands of gigabytes. So, in the FAT file system, the file allocation table is a table
in the system area of the disk that identifies each cluster as free (available), belonging to a file, or bad (defective).
Disks formatted for the FAT file system contain two copies of the file allocation table, in case one should become
corrupted. The FAT structure is central to the way MS-DOS and Windows provide file input and output services.
NOTE: CONVERTING FAT16 INTO FAT32:
Windows95 versions 4.00950 and 4.00.950a do NOT support FAT32 filesystems. ONLY versions 4.00.1111 and 4.00.1212
are supported for FAT32 filesystem conversion. FAT16 can make a partition up to 2GB (gigabyte) with the maximum
of 65 336 clusters.
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FCC (Federal Communications Commission)
The regulatory body for U.S. interstate telecommunications services as well as international service originating
in the U.S.
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FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface)
FDDI is a network protocol that is used primarily to interconnect two or more local area networks, often over large
distances.
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FDISK
FDISK is the disk-partitioning program used in DOS and several other operating systems to create the master boot
record and allocate partitions for the operating system's use.
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Fiber Optic Cable
Fiber Optic Cable is a cable, consisting of a center glass core surrounded by layers of plastic, that transmits
data using light rather than electricity. It has the ability to carry more information over much longer distances.
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File
File is a collection of data grouped into one unit on a disk.
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File server
A computer running on a network that stores files and provides access to them. Also called server. So, File Server
is a computer connected to the network that contains primary files/applications and shares them as requested with
the other computers on the network. If the file server is dedicated for that purpose only, it is connected to a
client/server network. An example of a client/server network is Novell Netware. All the computers connected to
a peer-to-peer network are capable of being the file server. Two examples of peer-to-peer networks are LANtastic
and Windows for Workgroups.
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File System
File System is a system for organizing directories and files, generally in terms of how it is implemented in the
disk operating system.
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Finger
A UNIX command that shows information about a user or group of users on the Internet. When executed, the Finger
command usually returns the user's real name, whether or not they have unread mail, and the time and date of their
last login. Finger also displays two files (if they exist) located in the home directory of the user you fingered.
These two files (the .PLAN and the .PROJECT files.) are simply ASCII text files that can be entered by the user
to display any information upon being fingered. With present-day privacy concerns, this protocol is becoming more
and more rare.
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Firewall
A security-oriented network node set up as a boundary to prevent one segment's traffic from crossing over to another
segment. Firewalls are often used to protect LANs from hackers on the Internet. A method of protecting the files
and programs on one network from users on another network. A firewall blocks unwanted access to a protected network
while giving the protected network access to networks outside of the firewall. A company will typically install
a firewall to give users access to the Internet while protecting their internal information. FrontPage allows users
to author FrontPage webs on the Internet even from within a protected network. Special computers or computer
programs that are set up on a network to prevent intruders from stealing or destroying confidential files.
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FireWire
A type of cabling technology for transferring data to and from digital devices at high speed. Some professional
digital cameras and memory card readers connect to the computer over FireWire. FireWire card readers are typically
faster than those that connect via USB. Also known as IEEE 1394, FireWire was invented by Apple Computer but is
now commonly used with Windows-based PCs as well.
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Firmware
Firmware is a software contained in a read-only memory
(ROM) device. Many devices can be updated with a firmware software to include better features and to correct functionality.
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Flame
A reply to an email or newsgroup posting that continues
the conversation or idea, known as a "thread".
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Flash Memory
A nonvolatile type of semiconductor memory developed by Intel. Like EEPROMs, flash memory is electronically erasable,
so it can be reprogrammed without removing it from the computer. Because this type of memory must be erased in
blocks, and cannot be altered one byte at a time, it is not suitable as a replacement for a computer’s main RAM,
however flash memory is often used in PC cards as a memory supplement for portable computers. One example of the
use of flash memory is for system BIOS. This type of BIOS flash BIOS can be updated via software, whereas older,
ROM BIOS chips would have to be physically replaced in order to update the computer’s BIOS.
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Floating-point unit
A chip that performs floating-point calculations, which greatly enhances the speed of specialized applications
such as graphics.
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Flow Control
The procedure for regulating the flow of data between
two devices; it prevents the loss of data once a device's buffer has reached its capacity.
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Folder
Folder is commonly used as a standard Windows 95/98/NT
term, equivalent to the Windows 3.x term directory. So, folder is a storage place for a collection of related files
for user friendly storage.
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Form
A form is a Web page element into which a user inputs data, and then the form processes the input data.
A set of data-entry fields on a page that are processed on a server. The data is sent to the server when a user
submits the form by clicking on a button or, in some cases, by clicking an image.
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Format
The DOS format program that performs high-level formatting on a hard disk, and both high- and low-level formatting
on a floppy disk.
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Form field
A data-entry field on a page. A user supplies information in a field either by typing text or by selecting a field.
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FRAD (Frame Relay Assembler/Disassembler)
A communications device that formats outgoing data
into the format required by a Frame Relay network.
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Fragmentation
Fragmentation is the state of having a file scattered
around a disk in pieces rather than existing in one contiguous area of the disk. Fragmented files are slower to
read than unfragmented files.
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Frame
Frame is a named sub-window of a frames page. Frames divide parts of a Web page into two or more independent parts.
Each frame displays a separate HTML file. A frame appears in a Web browser as one of a number of window regions
in which pages can be displayed. A frame may be scrollable and resizable, and may have a border. You display a
page in a frame by creating a hyperlink to the page and specifying the frame as part of the hyperlink.
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Frames page
A page that subdivides a Web browser's window into regions called frames that can independently display pages.
See also frame.
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Frame Relay
A packet-switched network similar to X.25 but with
end-to-end error checking and high-speed transmission rates.
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Freenet
A network system made up of community-based bulletin board system with email, information services, interactive
communications, and conferencing. They are usually funded and operated by individuals or organizations much like
public television. Freenet providers are part of the National Public Telecomputing Network (NPTN), a Cleveland-based
organization that works to make computer networking services as freely available as public libraries.
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Freeware
Freeware is a software developed for free usage to the end user. If the users really like the program, they might
take a moment to send the author a Thank You note or support them in other means, but there are no strings attached
to these programs which would render them useless or limit their main functions.
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FT-1 (Fractional T1)
Digital service with data rates between 56 kbps and 1.544 Mbps (full T1 speed). Typically provided via 4-wire copper
cable.
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FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
FTP is an Internet service that transfers files from one computer to another, over standard phone lines. (ftp://)
The File Transfer Protocol is the common command set that is used to upload and download files from Web sites.
The most widely-used way of downloading and uploading (getting and putting) files across an Internet connection.
The File Transfer Protocol is a standardized way to connect computers so that files can be shared between them
easily. There is a set of commands in FTP for making and changing directories, transferring, copying, moving, and
deleting files. Formerly, all FTP connections were text based, but graphical applications are now available that
make FTP commands as easy as dragging and dropping. Numerous FTP clients exist for a number of platforms.
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Full Duplex (FDX)
Simultaneous, independent transmission in both directions.
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