Users Guide

128 Glossary
FAT
Acronym for file allocation table. FAT and FAT32 are
file systems that are defined as follows:
• FAT — A file system used by MS-DOS,
Windows 3.x, Windows 95, and Windows 98.
Windows NT
®
and Windows 2000 also can use the
FAT file system. The operating system maintains a
table to keep track of the status of various segments
of disk space used for file storage.
• FAT32 — A derivative of the FAT file system. FAT32
supports smaller cluster sizes than FAT, thus providing
more efficient space allocation on FAT32 drives.
FCC
Abbreviation for Federal Communications
Commission.
FEPROM
Acronym for flash erasable programmable read-only
memory. Flash memory is a kind of nonvolatile storage
device similar to EEPROM, but the erasing is done only
in blocks or the entire chip.
Fibre Channel
A data transfer interface technology that allows for high-
speed I/O and networking functionality in a single
connectivity technology. The Fibre Channel Standard
supports several topologies, including Fibre Channel
Point-to-Point, Fibre Channel Fabric (generic switching
topology), and Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC_AL).
firmware
Software (programs or data) that has been written onto
read-only memory (ROM). Firmware can boot and
operate a device. Each controller contains firmware
which helps provide the controller's functionality.
flash bios
A BIOS that is stored in flash memory rather than in
ROM. A flash BIOS chip can be updated in place,
whereas a ROM BIOS must be replaced with a
newer chip.
flash memory
A type of EEPROM chip that can be reprogrammed
from a utility on diskette while still installed in a
system; most EEPROM chips can only be rewritten
with special programming equipment.
format
To prepare a hard drive or diskette for storing files. An
unconditional format deletes all data stored on
the disk.
FPBGA
Abbreviation for field programmable gate array, a
programmable logic chip (PLD) with a high density
of gates.
FRU
Abbreviation for field replaceable unit.
ft
Abbreviation for feet.
FTP
Abbreviation for file transfer protocol.
g
Abbreviation for gram(s).
G
Abbreviation for gravities.
GB
Abbreviation for gigabyte(s). A gigabyte equals
1024 megabytes or 1,073,741,824 bytes.
gcc
Abbreviation for gnu C compiler.
graphics coprocessor
See coprocessor.
graphics mode
A video mode that can be defined as x horizontal by
y vertical pixels by z colors.