Installation guide

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GLOSSARY
Access – The ability to use computer information in some manner. Specific access can be granted to each
individual user.
Application services - Services that leverage bandwidth to deliver increased functionality and value to
subscribers.
ASP – Application Service Provider. A third party entity that manages and distributes software-based
services and solutions to customers across a wide area network from a central data centre.
Biometrics - The technique of studying physical characteristics of a person, such as fingerprints, hand
geometry, eye structure or voice pattern.
Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) - National authority for signals intelligence and information security.
DMZ – Demilitarised Zone - A firewall configuration for securing local area networks (see LAN)
DNS – The Domain Name Server is a system that translates domain names into IP addresses.
Encryption – A procedure used to convert plaintext into ciphertext in order to prevent any but the intended
recipient from reading that data. There are many times of data encryption, and they are the basis of network
security.
Failover – A backup operation, which will automatically switch to a standby system if and when a primary
system fails. These standby systems may include databases, server, and networks.
Firewall – Systems used to prevent unauthorised access. The firewall may be hardware, software or both.
Firmware - Software stored in the computers read only memory (ROM) and cannot be changed.
FTP – File Transfer Protocol. A protocol which allows a user on one host to access, and transfer files to
and from, another host over a network.
Hardware - The physical equipment of a computer system, including the monitor, keyboard, central
processing unit, and storage devices.
HTTP - Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. The WWW protocol that performs the request and retrieve functions
of a server. Commonly seen as the first part of a website address.
Internet - An interconnected system of networks that connects computers around the world via the TCP/IP
protocol.
IP address - Internet Protocol Address. A series of four numbers between one and 3 digits in length,
numbers separated by periods. It is used to identify a computer connected to the Internet. For example,
212.6.125.76 is an IP address.
IPsec – Short for IP Security. A set of protocols to support secure exchange of packets at the IP level.
IP spoofing – Using a legitimate IP address or packet to gain unauthorised access to a computer.
ISP - Internet Service Provider. A company that provides an Internet connection.
LAN - A local area network (LAN) is a computer network covering a local area, for example a home, general
practice or small group of buildings such as a health centre. The topology of a network dictates its physical
structure.
Load Balancing – The distribution of processing and communications activities evenly across a computer
network to avoid a single device becoming overwhelmed.
Malware - Malicious code, in the form of viruses, worms, and Trojan Horses.
Modem - This is short for modulator-demodulator devices. Modems allow computers to transmit information
to one another via an ordinary telephone line.
Network – Two or more computers linked together.