Users Guide

238 Glossary
virtual memory
A method for increasing addressable RAM by using the hard drive. For example,
in a system with 16 MB of RAM and 16 MB of virtual memory set up on the hard
drive, the operating system would manage the system as though it had 32 MB of
physical RAM.
virus
A self-starting program designed to inconvenience you. Virus programs have been
known to corrupt the files stored on a hard drive or to replicate themselves until
a computer system or network runs out of memory. The most common way that
virus programs move from one system to another is via "infected" diskettes, from
which they copy themselves to the hard drive. To guard against virus programs,
you should do the following:
• Periodically run a virus-checking utility on your system's hard drive
• Always run a virus-checking utility on any diskettes (including commercially sold
software) before using them
VMS
Acronym for Virtual Media Server.
VNC
Acronym for Virtual Network Computing. In a VNC system, servers provide
applications, data, and the desktop environment, all of which may be accessed
through the Internet.
VRAM
Acronym for video random-access memory. Some video adapters use VRAM chips
(or a combination of VRAM and DRAM) to improve video performance. VRAM
is dual-ported, allowing the video adapter to update the screen and receive new
image data at the same time.
W
Abbreviation for watt(s).
Wakeup on LAN
The ability for the power in a client station to be turned on by the network. Remote
wake-up enables software upgrading and other management tasks to be performed
on users' machines after the work day is over. It also enables remote users to gain
access to machines that have been turned off. Intel calls remote wake-up "Wake-
on-LAN."