9. Glossary Access Account An Access Account is an assigned userid (user ID) and password that enables Penn State faculty, staff, and students to access information services. The userid is usually your initials followed by a 1-to-3-digit number. Backbone a mechanism for connection of a distributed system of computers. CAC acronym for Center for Academic Computing, principal service unit responsible for academic computing at Penn State. The CAC provides computing and related information technology services to the academic community. CACPPP acronym for the CAC's customized version of the Internet Point-to-Point protocol (PPP), an Internet protocol for transmission of IP packets over serial lines. CACSLIP acronym for the CAC's customized version of the Serial Line Interface Protocol (SLIP), an Internet protocol for transmission of IP packets over serial lines. Client/server technology the capability of using software on one computer to request information from software on another computer. Client software software that enables a computer to communicate with a specific program on another computer in order to access and exchange information. DOS acronym for Disk Operating System for IBM microcomputers and compatibles. Electronic mail (email) messages that are sent electronically from one computer user to another. Ethernet A combination of hardware and software that enables exchange of information between two computers. Ethernet Card a board that can be installed in a computer to add Ethernet capability. Eudora a recommended client software program that enables electronic mail on a Macintosh computer or an IBM/DOS computer running Windows. Freeware software that is free to copy and use without restriction. FTP acronym for File Transfer Protocol, a program that can copy files to and from different computers that are connected via networks that use the TCP/IP protocols. FTP server a computer used for storage of files that can be obtained by using FTP software. The CAC FTP server name is ftp.cac.psu.edu. Gopher software that provides a structured, menu-based interface to Internet information. HGopher software for using Gopher from an IBM/DOS computer running Windows. Individual Backbone Connection (IBC) a high-speed connection to the Penn State backbone provided by request to students who live in residence halls at University Park. Internet connects computers around the world through the TCP/IP protocol. Internet resources include on-line library catalogs, research databases, electronic journals, discussion groups, and much more. IP packet a unit of data, each with the sender and destination address, sent across a network using the Internet Protocol (IP). TCP breaks up large messages into many small IP packets for IP transmission. TCP then reassembles the IP packets at the destination. Modem equipment used to connect a computer to another computer by phone. Netnews an Internet electronic bulletin board and conferencing system, also known as Usenet. Newsgroup an information category in Netnews. Nuntius software for accessing Netnews from a Macintosh computer. NuPOP an IBM DOS software program for electronic mail. Operating System a set of instructions that directs and controls functions on a computer. Office of Telecommunications (OTC) a division of Computer and Information Systems responsible for designing, providing, and supporting the telecommunications systems at Penn State. The telecommunication systems accommodate all aspects of voice, video, and data communications used by Penn State­s academic and administrative offices. Password a security code used to authenticate identity that must be entered before a computer connection can be completed. POPmail a type of software that enables you to use electronic mail on your personal computer. (POP stands for Post Office Protocol). POPmail allows a host computer to act as a mail server, analogous to a post office box. PPP acronym for Point-to-Point protocol (PPP), a protocol for transmission of IP packets over serial lines. Protocol a formal description of message formats and the rules two computers must follow to exchange messages. Protocols can describe low-level details of machine-tomachine interfaces (e.g. the order in which bits and bytes are sent across a wire) or high level exchanges between allocation programs (e.g. the way in which two programs transfer a file across the Internet). [Definition from 2Internet Users­ Glossary by G. Malkin, Xylogics, Inc. and T. LaQuey Parker of the University of Texas, January 1993.] PSUVM the operating system of the ES/9000-740 IBM academic mainframe computer operated by the Center for Academic Computing. Also referred to as VM/CMS, VM, or CMS. Server a computer with software and/or files that provides service to other computers. Shareware software that can be copied and used with the stipulation that a fee be paid with continued use after a specified trial period. SLIP acronym for the Serial Line Interface Protocol (SLIP), a protocol for transmission of IP packets over serial lines. SMTP acronym for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, a protocol used for transferring mail between computers. TCP/IP the networking protocol that is the fundamental building block of the Internet. Telnet software for creating a terminal connection for logging into a remote Internet-connected computer. Trumpet software for accessing Netnews from an IBM/DOS computer. TurboGopher software for using Gopher from a Macintosh computer. Userid (user ID) a unique identifier associated with the person assigned to it by the Director of the Center for Academic Computing or designee. On some computer systems it may be called an account. The userid is usually your initials followed by a 1-to 3-digit number. WinTrumpet software for accessing Netnews from an IBM/DOS computer running Windows. World Wide Web (WWW) Similar to Gopher, WWW servers provide a network of information delivered with "hypertext" and "hypermedia."