R

Rack Unit –

A vertical shelving system to mount servers.

RAID (Redundant Array of Independent (or Inexpensive) Disks) –

A system designed to link the capacity of two or more hard drives that are then viewed as a single large virtual drive by the RAID management system. This allows for improved data storage reliability and fault tolerance.

RAM (Random Access Memory) –

Computer data storage that comes in the form of chips that can be accessed randomly, i.e., any byte of a chip can be accessed without touching the preceding bytes. RAM is the most common memory found in computers, printers, etc.

RDBMS (Relational DataBase Management System) –

A program that enables one or more people to simultaneously create, update and administer a relational database.

Real-Time –

Occurring immediately (as opposed to simultaneously as in real time). The data is processed the moment it enters a computer, as opposed to BATCH processing, where the information enters the system, is stored and is operated on at a later time.

Request for Proposal (RFP) –

A formal request to a third-party outsourcer describing everything you want the outsourcer to accomplie and requesting the outsourcer to write a proposal outlining how he or she would go about meeting your demands and the costs thereof.

RFP –

See Request for Proposal.

RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) –

A microprocessor that is designed to favor the speed at which individual instructions execute over the robustness of the instructions; i.e., it performs a smaller simpler set of operating commands so that the computer can operate at a higher speed.

Router –

A high intelligent device that connects like and unlike LANs (Local Area Networks), MANs (Metropolitan Area Networks) and WANS (Wide Area Networks), which are protocol sensitive and which can forward packets between the connected networks. As software, it is a system level function that directs a call to an application.

RSS –

An acronym that stands for either “Really Simple Syndication” or “RFD (Resource Description Framework) Site Summary.” RSS is a protocol that provides an open method of syndicating and aggregating web content. It is the code that underlies a weblog.