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patch files: Temporary logs that store transactions while a backup is taking place. Transactions in these logs are committed when the backup is finished.
pathping: A new command that is a mix of both ping and tracert . The pathping command provides the ability to determine the packet loss along each link in the path and at each router in the path to the destination, which can be particularly helpful when troubleshooting problems where multiple routers and links are involved.
Performance Monitor: See Performance snap-in.
Performance snap-in: A utility used to log and chart the performance of various hardware and software components of a system. In various documentation, the Performance snap-in is also referred to as Performance Monitor, Performance tool, and System Monitor.
Performance tool: See Performance snap-in.
perimeter network: A network formed by using two firewalls to separate an internal network from the Internet and then placing certain servers, such as an Exchange front-end server, between the two firewalls. This is also referred to as a demilitarized zone (DMZ).
permission: Provides specific authorization or denial to a user to perform an action on an object.
Personal Address Book (PAB): An address book created by a user and stored on that user ‚ s computer or a server.
Personal STore (PST) folder: Folder created by a user and used for message storage instead of using their mailbox in the private store. PSTs can be located on a user ‚ s computer or on a server.
Pickup folder: Used for outbound messages on some SMTP hosts . Exchange Server 2003 creates, but does not normally use, this folder.
PING: Packet Internet Groper. The basic network connectivity troubleshooting tool that works by sending a series of ICMP Echo Request datagrams to a destination and waiting for the corresponding ICMP Echo Reply datagrams to come back. The return packets are then used to determine how many datagrams are getting through, the response time, and the TTL (time to live).
plaintext: Unencrypted data. Synonymous with clear text.
Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP): An Internet protocol used for direct communication between two nodes. Commonly used by Internet users and their Internet Service Provider on the serial line point-to-point connection over a modem.
policy: A collection of configuration settings that you can apply across any number of objects in the Active Directory at once. System policies affect server objects such as servers, mailbox stores, and public stores. Recipient policies affect objects such as users and groups.
polling: Process that queries a server-based mailbox for new mail.
POP3: See Post Office Protocol version 3 (POP3).
port number: A numeric identifier assigned to an application. Transport protocols such as TCP and UDP use the port number to identify to which application to deliver a packet.
Post Office Protocol version 3 (POP3): An Internet protocol used for client retrieval of mail from a server-based mailbox.
predecessor change list: A list of all of the Information Stores that have made changes to a message and the most recent change number assigned by each Information Store on the list.
previous logs: A log file that has filled to its 5-MB limit and has been renamed so that a new current log file can be created. Previous logs may contain uncommitted transactions.
Primary Domain Controller (PDC) emulator: An operations master role server that is responsible for authenticating non ‚ Active Directory clients, such as Windows 95 or Windows 98 clients. The PDC emulator is responsible for processing password changes from these clients and is also the responsible server for time synchronization within the domain.
private folder: See mailbox.
private key: The half of a key pair that is known by only the pair ‚ s user and is used to decrypt data and to digitally sign messages.
private store: A folder used to hold mailboxes on an Exchange server; normally accessible only by a specified user.
property: A characteristic of an object. Properties of a mailbox include display name and storage limits. The terms property and attribute are synonymous.
public folder: A folder stored in a public store on an Exchange server and accessible to multiple users.
public folder hierarchy: The relative position of all of the folders in a public folder tree.
public folder replication: The transferring of public folder data to replicas of that folder on other servers.
Public Folder Replication Agent (PFRA): The Exchange service that governs the public folder replication process.
public folder referral: The process by which a client can locate a requested public folder outside of their home Exchange server.
public folder tree: A hierarchy of public folders associated with a particular public store.
public key: The half of a key pair that is published for anyone to read and is used when encrypting data and verifying digital signatures.
public-key encryption: An encryption method that employs a key pair consisting of a public and a private key.
public key infrastructure (PKI): A system of components working together to verify the identity of users who transfer data on a system and to encrypt that data if needed.
public store: A set of two databases that hold public folders on an Exchange server. See also store.
pull: Procedure in which a user finds and retrieves information, such as when browsing a public folder. Users accessing a public folder containing a company ‚ s employee handbook is a type of pull communication.
pull feed: Procedure in which a newsgroup server requests newsfeed information from another newsgroup server. The opposite of a push feed.
public folder: A folder used to store data for a group of users. Some of the features of a public folder are permissions, views, and rules.
purging: The process of deleting a user ‚ s mailbox in System Manager.
push: Procedure in which information is sent ( pushed ) to users. Users do not need to find and retrieve (pull) the information. Exchange Server pushes incoming messages to MAPI-based Exchange clients.
push feed: Procedure in which a newsgroup server sends information to another newsgroup server without requiring the receiving server to request it. The opposite of a pull feed.