Users Guide

Glossary 125
cursor
A marker, such as a block, underscore, or pointer that
represents the position at which the next keyboard or
mouse action will occur.
DAT
Acronym for digital audio tape.
dB
Abbreviation for decibel(s).
dBA
Abbreviation for adjusted decibel(s).
DBS
Abbreviation for Demand Based Switching. DBS is
power management performed by switching to a low
power state (frequency and voltage) when the
processor utilization is low. It maintains application
performance while lowering the average system power.
DC
Abbreviation for direct current.
Also, abbreviation for Dual Channel.
device driver
A program that allows the operating system or some
other program to interface correctly with a peripheral
device, such as a printer. Some device drivers—such as
network drivers—must be loaded from the config.sys
file (with a device= statement) or as memory-resident
programs (usually, from the autoexec.bat file).
Others—such as video drivers—must load when you
start the program for which they were designed.
DHCP
Abbreviation for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol,
a protocol that provides a means to dynamically allocate
IP addresses to computers on a LAN.
DIMM
Acronym for dual in-line memory module. A small
circuit board containing DRAM chips that connects to
the system board.
DIN
Acronym for Deutsche Industrie Norm which is the
standards-setting organization for Germany. A DIN
connector is a connector that conforms to one of the
many standards defined by DIN. DIN connectors are
used widely in personal computers. For example, the
keyboard connector for personal computers is a DIN
connector.
DIP
Acronym for dual in-line package. A circuit board, such
as a system board or expansion card, may contain DIP
switches for configuring the circuit board. DIP switches
are always toggle switches, with an on position and an
off position.
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.
display adapter
See video adapter.
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.
DMTF
Abbreviation for Distributed Management Task Force,
a consortium of companies representing hardware and
software providers.
dpi
Abbreviation for dots per inch.