User's Manual

102 Glossary
directory
Directories help keep related files organized on a disk in
a hierarchical, "inverted tree" structure. Each disk has
a "root" directory; for example, a C:\
> prompt normally
indicates that you are at the root directory of hard drive
C. Additional directories that branch off of the root
directory are called subdirectories. Subdirectories may
contain additional directories branching off of them.
DKS
Abbreviation for dynamic kernel support.
DMA
Abbreviation for direct memory access. A DMA
channel allows certain types of data transfer between
RAM and a device to bypass the microprocessor.
DRAC 4
Acronym for Dell ™ OpenManage™ Remote Access
Controller, version 4.
DRAM
Acronym for dynamic random-access memory.
A system's RAM is usually made up entirely of DRAM
chips. Because DRAM chips cannot store an electrical
charge indefinitely, your system continually refreshes
each DRAM chip in the system.
EEPROM
Acronym for electrically erasable programmable
read-only memory.
EIDE
Abbreviation for enhanced integrated drive electronics.
EIDE devices add one or more of the following
enhancements to the traditional IDE standard:
• Data transfer rates of up to 16 MB/sec
• Support for drives other than just hard drives, such
as CD and tape drives
• Support for hard drives with capacities greater
than 528 MB
• Support for up to two controllers, each with up to
two devices attached
EMM
Abbreviation for expanded memory manager. A utility
that uses extended memory to emulate expanded
memory on systems with an Intel386™ or higher
microprocessor.
EMS
Abbreviation for Expanded Memory Specification.
EPROM
Acronym for erasable programmable read-only
memory.
ERA
Abbreviation for embedded remote access.
ERA/MC
Abbreviation for embedded remote access modular
computer. See modular system.
ERA/O
Abbreviation for embedded remote access option.
ESM
Abbreviation for embedded systems management,
which is a set of instruction coding in system software
and firmware that notifies a user about potential
hardware problems on a system.
expanded memory
A technique for accessing RAM above 1 MB. To enable
expanded memory on your system, you must use an
EMM. You should configure your system to support
expanded memory only if you run application programs
that can use (or require) expanded memory.
extended memory
RAM above 1 MB. Most software that can use it, such
as the Windows operating system, requires that
extended memory be under the control of an XMM.