A NetBIOS name resolution method that relies on WINS servers for NetBIOS name resolution. Client computers register themselves with a WINS server when they come on the network.
packet
The basic unit of information that is transmitted over a network. Packets are also known as frames, datagrams, and cells.
paging
The process of swapping data between RAM and disk-based virtual memory.
paging file
A temporary file that is used to support virtual memory. Paging files are created on one or more hard drives in a computer and can be used to store data that is not currently needed in RAM.
PAP (Password Authentication Protocol)
A clear-text authentication scheme that provides no security for information passed over the connection. PAP is defined in RFC 1334.
parent domain
A domain that has one or more child domains under it that share the same DNS namespace.
partition
A physical subdivision of a disk drive that can be formatted with a file system.
pathping
A command-line tool that provides the equivalent of the tracert command by allowing you to identify which routers are in the path the packets are taking. pathping also acts as the equivalent of the ping command by sending ping requests to all the routers over a specified time period and then computing statistics based on the packets returned from each router. pathping displays the number of packets lost at each router or link, allowing you to determine which routers and links (subnets) might be causes of connectivity troubles.
ping (Packet Internet Groper) utility
A utility that is used to troubleshoot TCP/IP problems. ping sends a packet with data, asking the remote system to echo the packet to the sender.
port, TCP
See TCP port.
PPP (Point to Point Protocol)
A standard transport method for point-to-point links, which are commonly called dial-up connections.
PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol)
A protocol that is used by Microsoft and others to create VPNs.
primary DNS server
The name server that contains the master copy of a zone file. Also called a primary master.
primary master
See primary DNS server.
primary zone
A DNS zone that contains the master copies of resource records for a domain.
principle of least privilege
An administrative principle which states that users are given only the minimum privileges required to perform the specific set of tasks they have been assigned.
private IP address
An IP address range reserved for private (non-Internet-connected) networks. There are private address ranges in the Class A, Class B, and Class C address blocks.
PTR (Pointer) record
In DNS, a host entry that is used in a reverse zone file to allow IP address-to-FQDN resolution.
public IP address
An IP address for use on the Internet or a private network that must be assigned via an organization or ISP so that no duplicates exist.
pull replication
The act of replicating a copy of the WINS database from a WINS replication partner by pulling data from the partner's database to the local database.
push replication
The act of replicating a copy of the WINS database to a WINS replication partner by pushing data from the partner's database to the local database.
push/pull replication
The act of replicating a copy of the WINS database to a WINS replication partner by allowing the replication partners to push and/or pull.
