Mòdul 1: Implantació de Sistemes Operatius / Sistemes informàtics

Unitat Formativa 1: Instal·lació, configuració i explotació del sistema inf.

Pràctica : P1 Glossari informàtic

Finalitat de l'activitat

En aquesta activitat l’estudiant es familiaritzarà amb tota una sèrie de termes relacionats amb
els sistemes informàtics.

Un objectiu d’aquesta activitat és aprofundir i fomentar l’us de l’anglès com a llengua bàsica
del món de la informàtica.

Descripció de l'activitat

La pràctica es realitza a la sala d’ordinadors o aula teòrica, segons disponibilitat. Consisteix en

a lectura i comentari a classe dels termes del glossari proposats.

Desenvolupament de l'activitat

Computing terms

1. Access Point
In a wireless local area network (WLAN), an access point is a station that transmits and receives
data. An access point connects users to other users within the network and also can serve as the
point of interconnection between the WLAN and a fixed wire network.

2. Active Directory
Active Directory is a centralized and standardized data base that automates Microsoft network
management of user data, security, and distributed resources.

3. Back-Up
A second copy of your work, because something should go wrong with the hardware upon which your
files are stored.

4. Bandwidth
Definition of the transmission capacity of a communications channel. Highest for fibre optic, lowest
for copper telephone wire.
"The connection has a high bandwidth"
"That site does not have enough bandwidth to handle the load"

5. Batch or batch processing

A method of providing a computer system with commands which can be run non-interactively. This is
normally the case with long or computer intensive (IO or CPU) applications or programs.

6. BIOS Basic input/output system.

A program usually inside a ROM memory chip called the Bios ROM . The Bios ROM performs test
routines when a system is switched on; it searches for and loads the operating system from disk; and
it contains programs to access the system hardware. Nowadays, the BIOS software has been
replaced by a new software called UEFI.

7. CLI Command-line interface. (vs GUI)

A user interface (the way a computer communicates with users) which simply displays a cursor and
awaits the entry of a textual command, which it then acts on. MSDOS and LINUX SHELL are CLI.

8. Client

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 A client is usually a PC that communicates over a network both with its peers, other clients, and with
a large computer, called a server, which typically stores data that many workers need to use.

9. Cluster
1) In a computer system, a cluster is a group of servers and other resources that act like a single
system and enable high availability and, in some cases, load balancing and parallel processing.

2) In personal computer storage technology, a cluster is the logical unit of file storage on a hard disk;
it's managed by the computer's operating system. Any file stored on a hard disk takes up one or
more clusters of storage.

10. CPU Central processing unit.

The heart of a computer. The CPU works on information in digital form, processing it according to the
steps specified in the program. A micro-processor is a CPU on a single chip.

11. Bit, byte, Kbyte, Mbyte ...

12. DLL Dynamic link library.

A set of functions or routines that provide a programmer with a method of accessing to other
applications programs such as databases. Commonly used by Microsoft Windows applications

13. DNS, Domain Name System, Domain Name Server

Internet or Intranet service/server for converting hostnames to IP addresses

14. Driver
A program that controls a device. Every device, whether it be a printer, disk drive, or keyboard, must
have a driver program. Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with the operating system.

15. FAT File Allocation Table

Placed on a disk by the DOS format program, the Fat contains information about which parts of a disk
are used, which are unused, and which parts can't be used because they're faulty.

16. FireWall
One way to keep hackers out. A firewall is a set of related programs, located at a network gateway
server, that protects the resources of a private network from users from other networks.

17. Gateway
In a communications network, a network node equipped for interfacing with another network that
uses different / same protocols. A gateway is a network point that acts as an entrance to another
network. On the Internet, a node can be either a gateway node or a host (end-point) node.

18. Gui Graphical user interface.

Any system that allows you to control a computer through graphical elements - icons, menus,
dialogue boxes and so on - displayed on screen and selectable by 'pointing and clicking' (normally
using a mouse).

19. Hex Hexadecimal

A system of base-16 notation where the numbers O to 9 and the letters A to F - are used to
represent 16 different digits.. The sense of using hex immediately becomes clear when you compare
the hex and decimal notations of those familiar values which often crop up in computing: 255 is FF
hex; 4,095 is FFF; 65,535 is FFFF

20. Input Device

Anything that relays information from the user, or any electronic equipment (e.g. a tape drive), to the
computer. For most users, relevant input devices are keyboards and mouses.

21. IP

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 The Internet Protocol (IP) is the method or protocol by which data is sent from one computer to
another on the Internet. Each computer (known as a host) on the Internet has at least one IP
address that uniquely identifies it from all other computers on the Internet.
"What is the IP for that computer"
"You need an IP in order to set up a connection to the network"
"The computer must know its IP so it can respond to other computers"

10.0.0.1, 10.0.0.31, 10.0.0.32, 192.168.1.1 ...

22. IRQ Interrupt ReQuest

The microprocessor in a computer is the chip that works on a set of instructions (the program) in
order to perform a desired task. It's important that some means exists for external physical devices
(such a disk controllers and video drivers) to interrupt the micro-processor and request that it
temporarily leaves its present task and diverts to look after, or 'service', the physical device.

The interrupt request takes the physical form of a signal from the external device to one of the pins
on the micro-processor chip (the IRQ pin).

The signal is called a 'request' because the micro-processor can refuse - for example, if it's carrying
out an important task which shouldn't be interrupted. If the interrupt request is accepted, the
microprocessor will make a note of where it's got to in its present task, divert to a 'service routine'
which looks after the device which caused the interruption, and then continue with the original task.
Because some events must be able to interrupt the micro- processor immediately without fail (for
example, a signal from a real-world sensor which is detecting a dangerous state in external
equipment), many micro-processors have a second form of interrupt, called a 'non-maskable
interrupt' (NMI), which is always acknowledged by the micro-processor.

23. Kernel
The central module of an operating system. It is the part of the operating system that loads first, and
it remains in main memory. Because it stays in memory, it is important for the kernel to be as small
as possible while still providing all the essential services required by other parts of the operating
system and applications. Typically, the kernel is responsible for memory management, process and
task management, and disk management.

24. Lan Local-area network. Lawn

A number of computers (in fairly close proximity, e.g. within an office building) connected together so
that sharing of resources such as printers and the passing of information between computers is
possible. Various patterns of connection ('topologies') may be used, such as the 'ring' and the 'star'.
Each point of connection on the network for a computer or peripheral is called a 'node'.

25. LEGACY vs UEFI

Two differents methods of booting the PC.
The main difference between UEFI and LEGACY boot is that the UEFI is the latest method of booting
a computer that is designed to replace BIOS while the legacy boot is the process of booting the
computer using BIOS firmware.

25. Login. Credentials

To make a computer system or network recognize you so that you can begin a computer session.
Some personal computers have no log-on procedure -- you just turn the machine on and begin
working. Combination of username and password.

26. Mainframe
A very large and expensive computer capable of supporting hundreds, or even thousands, of users
simultaneously. In the hierarchy that starts with a simple microprocessor (in watches, for example) at
the bottom and moves to supercomputers at the top, mainframes are just below supercomputers.

27. Modem Modulator/Demodulator

The device which changes the serial digital data from a computer into frequencies suitable for sending
along telephone lines and performs the reverse process at the other end.

28. Multitask
The ability to execute more than one task at the same time, a task being a program. The terms
multitasking and multiprocessing are often used interchangeably, although multiprocessing
sometimes implies that more than one CPU is involved.

29. Multiuser

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 Refers to computer systems that support two or more simultaneous users. All mainframes and
minicomputers are multi-user systems, but most personal computers and workstations are not.
Another term for multi-user is time sharing.

30. OS Operating system.

The program that manages the resources of a computer, such as the input/output devices, the
memory and the storage and retrieval of files.

31. Output Device

Anything that supports the output of information from a computer, for users or to electronic
equipment (e.g. tape unit). The output devices relevant to most users are Monitors, Printers and
Disks.

32. Partition. Disk

To divide memory or mass storage into isolated sections. You can partition a disk, and each partition
will behave like a separate disk drive. Partitioning is particularly useful if you run more than one
operating system. For example, you might reserve one partition for Windows and another for UNIX.

33. Peripheral device

Machine which can be operated under computer control (eg: Printers, Plotters, Disks etc.)

34. Port (phisical/logical)

1) An interface on a computer to which you can connect a device. Personal computers have various
types of ports. Internally, there are several ports for connecting disk drives, display screens, and
keyboards. Externally, personal computers have ports for connecting modems, printers,
mice, and other peripheral devices.

2) In TCP/IP and networks, an endpoint to a logical connection. The port number identifies what type
of port it is. For example, port 80 is used for HTTP traffic.

35. POST Power-On Self-Test, Power-On Start-up Test, Power-On System Test
A series of test routines, held in the BIOS, which are performed automatically by the computer when
it's switched on, or when the Ctrl-Alt-Del re-boot keystrokes are used. The Post was introduced by
IBM with its original PC. Major items are tested (such as the microprocessor, memory chips and disk
drives) and a warning message (the 'problem isolation code', or Pic) displayed if a fault is found.
'Beep codes' - audible signals - may be used if a fault condition is detected before the display device
is initialised.

36. Processor /Core

The brain of the computer - the device capable of performing operations on data; often synonymous
with central processing unit (CPU). Modern processors have two, four ... processing cores.

37. Protocol
Is a set of rules governing the formatting of data transmitted between computers and/or terminals.

38. PROXY
In an enterprise that uses the Internet, a proxy server is a computer/server/software that acts as an
intermediary between a workstation user and the Internet so that the enterprise can ensure security,
administrative control, and caching service.

39. PSU Power supply unit.

The unit in a computer which changes the AC mains electricity input into the lower DC voltages that
the computer requires. The capacity of the PSU is usually quoted in watts (W), 200, 300, 500W being
a typical value.

40. RAID Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks.

Originally, a method of replacing the very large (and very expensive) 14" disk drives used on
mainframe computers with arrays of the smaller (e.g. 5.25") hard disk drives used by PCs. Today, the
Raid system is being used with networked PCs. There are various Raid 'levels' which involve different
hardware configurations, but the basic idea is that the data saved is shared among a number of
drives; if one of the drives should become corrupted or fail, the data can be reconstructed from the
contents of the other drives. It may even be possible to replace a failed drive without turning off the
system or making users aware that anything is wrong. A Raid system provides greater reliability and
security of data than a single, large-capacity hard drive

41. RAM Random-Access Memory.

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 Chip memory whose contents may be read by the system CPU and overwritten when necessary. All
chip memory is best thought of as consisting of boxes, each of which stores digital information. RAM
chips are of many diferent types. You may need a high amount of RAM if you are running a lot of
programs at the same time.

42. Router
A device that forwards data packets along networks. A router is connected to at least two networks,
commonly two LANs or WANs or a LAN and its ISP’s network. Routers are located at gateways, the
places where two or more networks connect.

43. SATA /IDE

Serial ATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment or SATA) is a new standard for connecting hard
drives into computer systems. As its name implies, SATA is based on serial signaling technology,
unlike current IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) hard drives that use parallel Signaling.

Different standards of speed are available: SATA2, SATA3 ... IDE is the old standard for old hard disk.

44. UPS (SAI)

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is a device that allows your computer to keep running for at
least a short time when the primary power source is lost. It also provides protection from power
surges.

45. Server
The machine that offers services to clients. More precisely, anything from a PC to a supercomputer
that shares files, web pages, videos and other services with multiple users.

46. Slots. Bays

An opening in a computer where you can insert a printed circuit board. Slots are often called
expansion slots because they allow you to expand the capabilities of a computer. The boards you
insert in expansion slots are called expansion boards or add-on boards.
Do not confuse slots with bays. Bays are sites within the computer where you can install disk drives.
Typically, slots are in the back of the computer and bays are in the front.

47. Software
That which belongs to the domain of intellectual creation in contrast to the appliances which
facilitates their reproduction. The programmes for computers, CD-ROM and video games are all
software.

48. URL Uniform Resource Locator.

(Formally called Universal Resource Locator) A unique identifier for the type and location of
information available over the Internet. "The best URL for dictionaries is http://www.studytech.com/"

49. USB Universal Serial Bus.

Is an interface between the computer and an external peripheral such as a camera, joystick or
printer. USB devices do not need a dedicated or specific adapter card for the computer. Different
standards of speed are used: USB 1.0, USB 2.0, USB 3.0 ...

50. VM Virtual memory

Today's microprocessors can now generate millions of memory addresses, but there is a limit in the
amount of memory chips that users will be able to install.
Virtual memory is a technique for allowing programs to use memory addresses that don't point to any
real memory locations. Attempts to access a non-existent address are detected and a block of data
stored on hard disk loaded into the appropriate memory locations instead. The micro-processor now
believes it has contacted a new part of memory. A swapping between hard disk and memory storage
appears (slow performance).

51. Workstation
A type of computer used for engineering applications (CAD/CAM), desktop publishing, software
development, and other types of applications that require a moderate amount of computing power
and relatively high quality graphics capabilities.

http://www.webopedia.com/
http://www.wikipedia.org/

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http://whatis.techtarget.com/
http://www.computeruser.com/resources/dictionary/dictionary.html
http://www.netlingo.com/inframes.cfm

Avaluació de l’activitat

Aquesta activitat és de caire teòric. S’avalua amb una prova escrita que inclou altres
activitats/documents relatius al tema.

Amb aquesta activitat es pretén treballar les competències professionals:

Administrar sistemes operatius de servidor, instal·lant i configurant el programari, en

condicions de qualitat per assegurar el funcionament del sistema.

Establir vies eficaces de relació professional i de comunicació amb els seus superiors,
companys i subordinats, respectant l’autonomia i les competències de les diferents
persones.

Data i lliurament de la pràctica

Aquesta activitat és de caire teòric. No hi ha cap lliurament associat, tret de la prova escrita.

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