E-F | MCSA/MCSE 2003 JumpStart

EDIT: A DOS text editor.
effective permission: A user's effective permission is the permission that they are actually able to use on an object after all permission elements have been added together (or denied, as the case may be).
electron gun: The device that shoots electrically charged particles called electrons toward the back of the monitor screen.
encryption: The process of encoding data to prevent unauthorized access.
Enhanced IDE (EIDE): An extended version of the IDE standard. The benefits of EIDE include the support of hard drives over 528MB, the capability to chain devices other than drives (for example, CD-ROM drives and tape drives), faster access time, and the capability to chain up to four devices.
Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP): The standard developed for parallel communication by Intel, Xircom, and Zenith Data Systems to allow for data-transfer rates of more than 2MBps. It supports bidirectional operation of attached devices and an addressing scheme.
error control: A mechanism for assuring that data received is in the same condition and format that it was sent.
Ethernet: A network communication technology developed by Xerox that encloses data with a destination and source address for delivery, which is called a frame. Additional information for Ethernet is also added to the frame.
expansion card: An add-on device, such as a sound or video card, that is installed directly into an expansion slot built into a motherboard. The card must be of the same bus architecture as the slot on the motherboard.
explicit permission: Occurs when a user is given permissions to a resource without any groups involved.
Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC): The 8-bit character set used by IBM mainframes.
Extended Capabilities Port (ECP): The standard developed for parallel communication by Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft to allow for data-transfer rates of more than 2MBps. In addition to the high data-transfer rates, it allows for bidirectional operation.
extended partition: A non-bootable partition containing DOS logical drives.
FAT32: File Allocation Table 32. A 32-bit version of the FAT file system that will recognize drives larger than 2GB. FAT32 can adjust the size of the clusters (individual cells that are used to organize the data) on a hard drive to accommodate larger-sized drives.
fault tolerance: The use of hardware and software to prevent the loss of data in the event of a system, hardware, or power disruption or failure.
fiber-optic: A type of media that uses glass or plastic to transmit light signals. Single-mode fiber-optic cable contains a single fiber. Multimode fiber-optic cable has two individually protected fibers.
File Allocation Table (FAT): A table stored on the outer edge of the hard drive that indicates the location and order of files on the hard drive.
file server: A computer that is dedicated to the task of centrally sharing files and folders for access by users.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP): An application layer protocol for transferring files between two computers. FTP involves the use of FTP client software and an FTP server.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server: Transfers files between the FTP server and FTP clients. Most web browsers use FTP client software to download and upload files to Internet servers running the FTP service.
flat directory: Used in many simple directory schemes, a structure that does not allow for compartmentalization of resources, users, or other accounts. It also has no hierarchical relation between directory elements.
flow control: A feature of the Transport layer that manages the amount of data being transmitted between sender and receiver. If the receiving computer is unable to accept more data, it notifies the sending computer to pause transmission.
FORMAT: A DOS utility used to prepare a floppy disk or hard disk to store data.
format: To initialize a floppy disk or logical drive and prepare it so that you can store data on it.
frame: Data that has been encapsulated by the Data-Link layer protocol before being transmitted on the wire.
freeware: Software that you can use without payment.
full access: General term meaning that the user has Full Control permissions on the resource.
fully duplexed: Means that simultaneous two-way communication can take place.
fully qualified domain name (FQDN): The complete name registered with InterNIC that is used to identify a computer on the Internet. It includes the computer name (hostname) and the domain name; for example, mycomputer.sybex.com.