Product guide

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Appendix C Glossary
ACPI: Advanced Configuration Power Interface. A standard that
regulates all Plug-and-Play devices.
ACPI Function: This options enables / disables ACPI
functionality.
AGP: Accelerated Graphics Port. A high-performance bus for
graphics-intensive applications which operates independently of
the PCI bus.
API: Advanced Program Interface. A language and message
format used by an application program to communicate with
another program that provides services for it. APIs, are usually
implemented by writing function calls. Examples of APIs are the
calls made by an application program to such programs as an
Operating System, messaging system or database management
system (DBMS).
Application: A complete, self-contained program that performs a
specific function directly for the user.
AUI Connector: Attachment Unit Interface. A transceiver cable
used in networks or telecommunications. The 15-pin shielded
twisted-pair ethernet cable provides a path between a node's
ethernet interface and the media access unit (MAU). Also called
thicknet connector.
Bandwidth: The difference between the highest and lowest
frequencies of transmission channel. A measure of the
information capacity of the transmission channel. Bandwidth is
expressed in bits per second (bps).
BIOS: Basic Input / Output System. Programs that are
permanently stored in the system board’s EEPROM chips
providing functions such as the power-on self test (POST). Also
see, EEPROM.
BMC: Baseboard Management Controller.
Boot: To start the computer system and load the operating
system.
Bridge: A device that interconnects local or remote networks
across all higher level protocols. Bridges form a single logical
network, centralizing network administration. Bridges operate at
the physical and link layers of the Open Systems Interconnect
(OSI) reference model.
Bus: The set of address or data lines used to transfer information
between different components within a computer (such as
memory, the microprocessor, and the expansion slots). The
width of the bus or the number of parallel connectors, determines
the size in bits of the largest data item that it can carry.
Cache: Small, fast, local storage for frequently accessed
instructions and data to provide the processor with the fastest
stream of information possible, while keeping main memory
current. Can also used for a local copy of data accessible over a
network, and more.
Cache DRAM or Cached DRAM: Combines an SRAM cache
with 4 or 16 MB of DRAM within a single IC chip. Depending on
whether the application needs serial or random access, this