Appendix B. Glossary

Active Directory

A centralized resource and security management, administration, and control mechanism in Windows 2000, which is used to support and maintain a Windows 2000 domain. The Active Directory is hosted by domain controllers.

answer file

A text file that provides answers to questions during an unattended installation.

AppleTalk

The Apple Macintosh network protocol stack.

Application Mode

A mode of Windows Terminal Server operation in which an unlimited number of connections are supported. However each connection requires a license, called a Terminal Server Client Access License (TSCAL).

attended installation

A manual installation setup process. Typically this requires a person be at the system to install software and answer setup questions posed by the installation program.

auditing

The recording of an occurrence of a defined event or action. For example, you might want to audit a failed login attempt after four invalid tries for security purposes; such an incident could indicate someone trying to break into the system.

basic disk

A Windows definition for a standard hard disk that can contain up to four primary partitions, or three primary partitions and one extended partition, and unlimited logical drives .

binding

The OS level association of NICs, protocols, and services to maximize performance through the correlation of related components .

boot disks

A set of floppy disks used to launch Windows. These disks are sometimes used to start a failed system.

boot partition

The partition where the Windows 2000 operating system files are stored. These files are commonly found in a folder called WINNT.

certificate

A digital signature issued by a third party (called a certificate authority, or CA) that claims to have verified the identity of a server or an individual.

CHKDSK

The utility that checks the file and folder structure of your hard disk. You can also have CHKDSK check the physical structure of your hard disk. CHKDSK can perform repairs as required.

client

A computer on a network that requests resources or services from some other computer, usually referred to as a server.

Client Access License( CAL )

The number of authorized connections to a server. Options for client licensing include per seat and per server. Per server licensing is a connection-based license model. In it, you purchase one license for every connection made to a specific machine. Per seat licensing effectively licenses a user to make connections to all servers.

Client Services for NetWare( CSNW )

A Windows service that provides a Windows 2000 client computer the ability to interact with NetWare servers.

compression

The process of compacting data to save disk space.

computer account

An account representing a specific (Windows 2000) computer that is a member of a domain.

defragment

The process of reorganizing files so they are stored contiguously on the hard drive.

Device Manager

A Windows 2000 administrative tool used to install, configure, and manage hardware devices.

digital signature

An electronic certificate that verifies the identity of a client.

Disk Cleanup

A tool used to regain access to hard drive space through deleting temporary, orphaned, or downloaded files; emptying the Recycle Bin; compressing little-used files; condensing index catalog files.

Disk Defragmenter

The application built in to Windows 2000 for defragmenting hard disks.

See also [defragment]

Disk Management

A tool that allows you to manage storage devices in Windows 2000.

disk quota

A configuration setting that allows you to limit the amount of storage space a user can consume .

Distributed file system( Dfs )

A Windows 2000 Server service that manages shared network resources in a single hierarchical system.

domain controller

A computer that authenticates domain logons . It also maintains a Windows 2000 domain's Active Directory, which stores all directory information and relationships about users, groups, policies, computers, and resources.

Domain Name Service( DNS )

A naming system used to translate host names to IP addresses, and to locate resources on a TCP/IP-based network.

Domain Users and Groups

This default built-in group in Active Directory contains the following groups: Account Operators, Administrators, Backup Operators, Guests, Print Operators, Replicator, Server Operators, Users.

driver

A device-specific software component used by an operating system to communicate with a device.

driver signing

A signed driver is one whose integrity is verified by Microsoft and digitally approved for installation. Windows 2000 can be configured to refuse to install any unsigned drivers. All drivers from Microsoft and approved vendors are signed.

dynamic disk

A Windows 2000 hard disk that can only house dynamic volumes created through the Disk Management administrative tool. Dynamic disks do not include partitions or logical drives, and they cannot be accessed by DOS.

Emergency Repair Disk( ERD )

A disk that can be used to repair a failed system; it is created through the Backup utility.

Encrypting File System( EFS )

A file system supported by Windows 2000 that provides encryption of data stored on NTFS volumes.

Event Viewer

A utility built in to Windows 2000 that is used to view and manage the Windows 2000 event logs. Event Viewer logs include the Application log for application-related events, Security log for security- and audit-related events, and System log for events related to hardware and software issues in Windows 2000 Server itself and any installed drivers.

File Allocation Table( FAT )

The file system originally introduced with DOS; it does not provide file system security features.

File and Print Services for NetWare

The Windows 2000 service that enables NetWare clients to access Windows 2000 file and print resources.

File Replication Service( FRS )

A service that provides multimaster file replication between designated servers running Windows of login scripts and policies stored in designated directory trees.

File Service for Macintosh

The Windows 2000 service that enables Macintosh clients to access Windows 2000 file-based resources.

File Services for Unix

The Windows 2000 service that enables Unix clients to access Windows 2000 resources.

Gateway Services for NetWare( GSNW )

A Windows 2000 service that provides a connectivity service between Windows 2000 Server and NetWare, which allows Windows 2000 clients to occasionally access NetWare resources by connecting natively to a Windows 2000 server.

Group Policy Object( GPO )

A security mechanism that provides granular control over the who, what, when, where, how, and why of configuring network settings. By using a GPO, you can easily configure security settings for each group on your network.

Hardware Compatibility List( HCL )

A list of hardware devices that are supported by Windows. A version of the HCL is found on the Windows 2000 Server distribution CD, but a Web site version is updated regularly at http://www.microsoft.com/hwdq/hcl/.

Internet Connection Sharing( ICS )

A basic proxy server built in to Windows 2000 that is used to grant Internet access to a small network through a single Internet connection without requiring additional hardware or applications. Network clients are automatically configured to use the shared connection by configuring the default gateway to point to the ICS server's internal NIC.

Internet Information Services( IIS )

A server platform for building and sharing distributed, dynamic Web sites.

Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange( IPX/SPX )

The proprietary protocol developed by Novell for communication on NetWare networks. Microsoft reverse engineered this protocol for use with Microsoft networks and called it NWLink.

Last Known Good Configuration

The system and Registry settings from the last working system configuration. Last known good configurations are loadable at boot time.

licensing

A Windows 2000 utility used to configure and manage licenses of Windows 2000 and installed applications.

Local Users and Groups

A utility in the Computer Management MMC console that enables management of users and groups on the local computer.

MAKEBOOT

The command used to create boot disks for Windows, designed to run under 16-bit operating systems, such as DOS and Windows 3.1.

MAKEBT32

The command used to create boot disks for Windows, designed to run under 32-bit operating systems, such as Windows NT and 2000.

member server

A server on a Windows network that does not participate in authenticating network users.

Microsoft Management Console( MMC )

A standardized management interface for Microsoft operating systems. The MMC enables you to create a custom console for Windows administration through the use of snap-ins.

mirrored volume

A fault tolerant disk configuration in which data is written to two hard disks, rather than one, so that if one disk fails then the data remains accessible.

NetBIOS Enhanced User Interface( NetBEUI )

A native Microsoft networking protocol that is being phased out with Windows 2000 due to its use of non-routable network broadcasts to locate resources, making it unusable for enterprise networks.

network adapter

A hardware device that enables a computer to communicate with a network.

Network Address Translation( NAT )

An Internet standard that enables a LAN to use one set of IP addresses for internal traffic and a second set of addresses for external traffic. The NAT server maintains a table and maps internal IP addresses to the external addresses used to connect them to the Internet.

Network Monitor

A Windows 2000 utility used to view and troubleshoot data packets.

NT File System( NTFS )

The preferred Windows 2000 file system, which supports file level security, encryption, compression, auditing, and more.

NTFS compression

A utility for reducing the amount of disk space data consumes on an NTFS partition.

NWLink

The Microsoft implementation of Novell's IPX/SPX protocol suite.

partition

A logical separation of space on a hard disk.

performance

The measurement of how efficiently a system runs.

Plug and Play

A technology that allows an operating system to recognize a device, install the correct driver, and enable the device automatically.

policy

A component that automatically configures user settings.

print device

The physical hardware device that produces printed output.

print server

The computer that manages print services on the network.

Print Services for Unix

The Windows 2000 service that enables Unix clients to access Windows 2000 print resources.

printer

The software component running on the print server that hosts the print service on a network.

printer driver

The piece of software that enables communication with a print device and the operating system and applications.

protocol

A defined set of rules for communication across a network. Most protocols confine themselves to one or more layers of the OSI Reference Model. Examples are the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), used to transfer files over a network, and the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), used to deliver Web pages.

RAID-5 array

A drive configuration of three or more drives in which data is written to all drives in equal amounts to spread the workload. For fault tolerance, parity information is added to the written data to allow for drive failure recovery.

Recovery Console

A command-line control system used in system recovery in the event of a failure of a core system component or driver. Through the Recovery Console, simple commands can be used to restore the operating system to a functional state.

Registry

The hierarchical database that stores all system information in the form of values for a Windows system.

Registry editor

The tool used to edit the Registry directly, which should be done only by seasoned administrators, and only after a full Registry backup has been performed and verified.

Remote Access Service( RAS )

Remote Access Service enables remote clients to dial in to a Windows 2000 server to access network resources as though they were physically attached to the network.

Remote Administration Mode

The Windows Terminal Server mode that allows you to connect remotely to a server and manage it just like you were sitting in front of the console.

Safe Mode

A recovery tool that allows a system to start with a minimal set of device drivers and services loaded. Safe Mode helps ease diagnosis by minimizing the number of factors that need to be considered when problems occur.

security template

A file that contains built-in guide for configuring security settings on a system.

service

Any action performed by a server, whether through the operating system or upon request of a client.

Service Pack

An executable that provides for the replacement of one set of files with another. In the case of an operating system (like Windows 2000), Service Packs have been a way to distribute bug fixes and fixes.

setup disks

A set of four disks that perform the actions carried out by booting from the Windows 2000 CD-ROM.

Setup Manager

A utility used to create an answer file for unattended installations.

simple volume

A storage volume that is essentially the same as a basic storage partition; disk space is only used from one physical disk.

slipstreaming

A process by which the most up-to-date service packs, fixes, and files are applied as part of a Windows Server installation.

spanned volume

A storage volume that can take disk space from 2 to 32 physical disks to create one large apparently contiguous volume. Spanned volumes offer you no fault tolerance, thus if one disk should fail the entire set is lost.

striped volume (with parity)

A fault-tolerant disk configuration in which parts of several physical disks are linked together in an array, and data and parity information written to all disks in this array. Should one disk fail, then the data may be reconstructed from the parity information written. A striped volume without parity is not fault-tolerant but does increase write speed to the disk.

symmetric multiprocessing( SMP )

The capability of an operating system to allow any process to be run on any processor of a multiprocessor server machine, ensuring that the operating system uses all available processor resources.

SysPrep

A utility that automates the operating system software installation process by creating a duplicate of one system and replicating it on other, identical systems.

System Monitor

An MMC snap-in that lets you view real-time performance data contained in the counters from your server or other servers or workstations on your network.

system partition

The active partition; in other words, the partition from which your computer's BIOS begins the boot process.

System State

A collection of settings for backup purposes that includes the Registry, the COM+ Class Registration database, and the system boot files. For a Windows 2000 Server that is operating as a certificate server, the System State data also includes the Certificate Services database.

Terminal Services

Windows 2000 includes native Terminal Services (previously available to Windows NT only as an add-on), which allows thin clients to be employed as network clients. Terminal Services grants remote access to applications and offers limitation controls over application access.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol( TCP/IP )

The most popular protocol suite in use today, due to the widespread use of the global Internet. TCP/IP consists of many protocols that work together to provide communication among differing systems.

Troubleshooter

The Windows Help utility that asks questions about a device or service that isn't working properly to help you diagnose the problem.

unattended installation

A method that allows for installation of Windows 2000 Server to be performed with little or no user intervention.

Uniqueness Database File( UDF )

A file used in conjunction with an answer file during an unattended installation that provides the answers to computer-specific questions which will change from machine to machine (for example, the computer name).

User Rights

The actions that the user of a particular account is permitted to perform on a system or on network resources.

virtual private network( VPN )

An extension of a network that can be accessed securely through a public network, such as the Internet.

Windows 2000 Readiness Analyzer

A utility that can be used to determine the compatibility of hardware in an existing computer on which you want to install Windows 2000.

Windows Internet Naming Service( WINS )

A service that dynamically maps IP addresses to NetBIOS computer names used by Microsoft operating systems older than Windows 2000. Most modern operating systems use DNS rather than WINS for IP address-to-computer name translations.

WINNT

The command that launches an installation of Windows 2000 on a MS-DOS or Windows 3.x computer.

WINNT32

The command that launches an installation of Windows 2000 on a computer running a 32-bit operating system, such as Windows NT.