Users Guide

Glossary 163
backup
A copy of a program or data file. As a precaution, you should back up your system's
hard drive on a regular basis. Before making a change to the configuration of your
system, you should back up important start-up files from your operating system.
baud rate
A measurement of data transmission speed. For example, modems are designed
to transmit data at one or more specified baud rate(s) through the COM (serial)
port of a system.
beep code
A diagnostic message in the form of a pattern of beeps from your system's speaker.
For example, one beep, followed by a second beep, and then a burst of three beeps
is beep code 1-1-3.
BGA
Abbreviation for ball grid array, an integrated circuit (IC) package that uses an
array of solder balls, instead of pins, to connect to a system board.
binary
A base-2 numbering system that uses 0 and 1 to represent information. The system
performs operations based on the ordering and calculation of these numbers.
BIOS
Acronym for basic input/output system. Your system's BIOS contains programs
stored on a flash memory chip. The BIOS controls the following:
• Communications between the microprocessor and peripheral devices, such as
the keyboard and the video adapter
• Miscellaneous functions, such as system messages
bit
The smallest unit of information interpreted by your system.
BMC
Abbreviation for baseboard management controller, which is a controller that
provides the intelligence in the IPMI structure.