This list contains the complete list of terms assumed by LPI tests. Knowledge of these terms will be important in preparing for LPI exams, but no exam question should depend on knowledge to be found solely within this list.
Note that the list will be updated occasionally (so it is not yet exhaustive). If you have any additions or comments, please let us know.
The purpose of this list is to delineate the terms (jargon and acronyms) that will be used in the LPI Linux certification exams. Before writing or reviewing items, please review this list (and check it out periodically afterward as updates occur).
Any jargon term or acronym which does not appear on this list, or is in the "deprecated alternatives" column, should NOT be used in an LPI test.
If this is not perfectly clear or if you need help deciding whether something is jargon or an acronym, please contact an appropriate LPI coordinator, the list maintainer or us.
Other useful and authorative glossaries of terms can be found in these RFC's:
For explanation of PC hardware components, see:
The links below jump right to the first term starting with that letter (case insensitive). Each term is also anchored with a name equal to the term itself with any spaces replaced by underscores. This would allow you to reference the document as, say, foo.html/#bar where foo.html is the name of this page and bar is the term you wish to highlight.
|
Term |
Deprecated Alternatives |
Comment |
|---|---|---|
| *NIX | A term for any operating system resembling UNIX(R)(TM), including Linux and a large number of free and commercial systems; also UN*X. | |
| 10Base2 | So-called Thin Ethernet, using RG-58 coax cables and BNC connectors to construct a chain of cables, which must be terminated by resistors; supports a maximum (theoretical) transmission of 10 Mbit/s. | |
| 10Base5 | The older Thick Ethernet, which used vampire taps into a single cable; supports a maximum (theoretical) transmission of 10 Mbit/s. | |
| 10BaseT | Ethernet over UTP cables, using hubs to produce a star topology; supports a maximum (theoretical) transmission of 10 Mbit/s. | |
| 100BaseT | Ethernet over UTP cables, using hubs to produce a star topology; supports a maximum (theoretical) transmission of 100 Mbit/s. | |
| 1000BaseT | Ethernet over UTP cables, using hubs to produce a star topology; supports a maximum (theoretical) transmission of 1Gbit/s. | |
| access | To connect to and utilize a device (computer, printer) or file. | |
| account | The symbol or number that refers to a user for accounting purposes. | |
| address [1] | A location in memory; specifically, the I/O-port used by a device to communicate with the processor. | |
| address [2] | A unique identifier assigned to an interface on a network-attached device such as a network interface card. Notice: a host can have multiple interfaces, hence multiple addresses. | |
| address [3] | The name|number|both given to a computer, device or resource so it can be identified, found and accessed on a network. | |
| administer | (to make it work. ;-) To control the operation and use of a computer or other device; the task of a system administrator. | |
| algorithm | A formal description of a procedure that, when suitable input is entered, will generate output as a result that satisfies specific requirements. | |
| alias [1] | Within a shell, a substitute word for a command string (e.g.: alias dir = "ls --color"). | |
| alias [2] | An additional IP address on an interface. | |
| alias [3] | Refers to another name given to an e-mail account, in order to accept mail for one e-mail address and forward it to another. | |
| ALT | the Alternative key on a keyboard | |
| analog | Refers to a physical measure that can take any value within a continuous range; e.g., the voltage used to encode loudness when transmitting a signal over a conventional copper telephone line. cf. digital. | |
| ANSI | American National Standards Institute | A standards body responsible for many protocols. |
| API | Application Programming Interface | A specification which allows simple access to functionality of a library or other system resources when writing a program; operating system functionality is made available through an API. |
| application | A program that runs on top of an operating system. | |
| application layer | The name of the top layer of both the seven-layer ISO/OSI model, and the four-layer TCP/IP protocol stack; although some of the functionality of the session and presentation layers of the former may be assigned to the latter. It includes protocols such as telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, etc. | |
| archive [1] | A backup of data to be preserved. | |
| archive [2] | tarball | A file that contains one or more components and an index (e.g. in tar, cpio, rpm or deb format). |
| argument | A piece of information passed to a command or function (usually typed in behind it), that modifies its behaviour, or that is operated upon by the command or function. e.g. in `cat motd`, "motd" is the argument. cf. parameter. | |
| ARP | Address Resolution Protocol, arp | See RFC826. A low-level protocol which, given an IP address on the local network, returns the Ethernet MAC address of the corresponding interface. cf. RARP. |
| ASCII | American national Standard Code for Information Interchange | A specification of characters widely used in the UNIX world and beyond. |
| aspect ratio | The ratio between the width and the height of a pixel on a computer display. | |
| assembler | A program that compiles programs written in assembly language into object code. | |
| assembly language | assembler | A low-level computer language that can be translated directly to the object code of the computer processor. |
| ATA | AT Attachment | A popular 16-bit interface standard that extends the ISA bus of the IBM PC-AT to attach peripherals; it has evolved through over 5 generations; the original ATA is better known as IDE. |
| ATAPI | AT Attachment Packet Interface | An enhancement of the ATA protocol to be able to connect CD drives etc. |
| Authors | Super heroes, men and women of gold | This list was compiled by (in alpha order): Les Bell, David DeLano, Alan Mead, Tom Peters, Richard Rager. |
| background [1] | A state of process execution which does not produce output to the terminal (execution may stop if the process tries to write to the terminal); it is common to run system processes and long running user applications in the background; cf. foreground [1]. | |
| backup [1] (noun) | A copy of essential data stored on- or off-site as insurance against failures of system hardware, software or user. | |
| backup [2] (verb) | To make a backup. | |
| binary [1] (adj) | taking two discrete values (e.g. bits), as opposed to decimal (= taking ten discrete values). | |
| binary [2] (noun) | A file that is not intended to be read by humans but by applications or the operating system; especially in plural ("binaries") for compiled sources; cf. text. | |
| BIOS | Basic Input/Output Operating System | A simple, low-level operating system which supplies a uniform API to higher-level operating systems; BIOS is generally implemented in ROM of some sort. |
| bit | The smallest entity of information: can have one of two states (0-1, on-off, open-closed, etc.). | |
| bitplanes | bit planes, bit-planes | The number of bits available for each display pixel to code for visual appearance (color, proximity, etc.). |
| block device | A device that exchanges data with the operating system in sizable blocks (e.g., 512 bytes) at a time. | |
| boot loader | Software, usually installed on the MBR of Intel machines, which exists to load the operating system kernel and begin its functioning. | |
| boot | To cause the operating system to begin to function. Takes its name from "pulling oneself up by the bootstraps", a whimsical analogy applied to the BIOS loading itself and then running the "boot loader". (Also reboot). | |
| BOOTP | See RFC951; cf. DHCP . | |
| bridge | A device that propagates packets between two computer networks; it operates at the second, data link layer within the ISO/OSI model, and broadcasts packets based on the address, but does not do routing. cf. repeater, router. | |
| broadcast (noun) | A frame or datagram addressed to all interfaces on a network. | |
| BSD | Berkeley Systems Distribution | A variant of UNIX originally developed at the University of California, Berkeley. The BSD TCP/IP stack is the model for most subsequent TCP/IP implementations. |
| buffer | temporary storage; cf. cache | |
| BUGTRAQ | A mailing list for discussions regarding network security (daemons, programs, operating systems, routers). | |
| build | To run a sequence of compile and link steps to produce a new version of an executable program. | |
| bus | A cable for transmitting signals between various components within one computer system. | |
| byte | A data type of 8 bits. | |
| C | A compiled computer language closely associated with UNIX. | |
| C++ | An object-oriented computer language derived from C, that needs a compiler. | |
| cache |
Any readily accessible storage area used to keep data handy which is (somehow) indicated to be needed again shortly; the purpose being to speed up the access of that data and improve system performance. Specifically: the fast computer memory that is used as a buffer for data and program instructions between the CPU and the slower main memory (cf. RAM). |
|
| caching-only DNS | A domain name server that does not have any domains files. | |
| card | Any device that can be plugged into a computer expansion slot. | |
| CD-ROM | Compact Disc Read Only Memory | A removable medium of considerable popularity which comes in several variations, the most popular being ISO9660. |
| CERT | Computer Emergency Response Team | A team of people that study Internet security, and provide incident response services; see http://www.cert.org/ |
| cf. | "confer", which means "consult" in the meaning of "also see" or "compare". N.B.: Avoid this. Use only in parenthetical examples (cf. e.g., i.e.) but avoid "cf." by putting examples in text like this. Also see "e.g.", "i.e.". | |
| CGI | Common Gateway Interface | A standard for allowing server applications to be executed as part of a HTTP request. |
| CHAP | Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol | |
| char | character | C data type (usually one byte) used to store letters (cf. character). |
| character | char | A letter or sign usually represented by 1 byte in ASCII code. |
| character device | A device which exchanges data with the operating system in one character (or byte or even word) at a time. | |
| child process | Any process created by another, so-called parent process; usually used in reference to a particular parent process. | |
| CIDR | Classless Inter-Domain Routing | See RFC1519; cf. variable length subnet mask |
| CIFS | Common Internet File System |
Microsoft's successor to SMB, a suite of protocols for sharing file and print services (among Windows machines or UN*X machines running CIFS servers like Samba). |
| clean | In reference to a drive being mounted, clean means that the drive was unmounted properly and thus (theoretically) does not need to be checked; otherwise a drive is dirty | |
| client | A computer or process which connects to and receives a service from a server computer or process. | |
| coax | co-axial cable | Cable with inner and outer conductors used for TV cables and for Ethernet LANs, where the computers usually have T-joints to attach to a single chain of cables which needs to be terminated by resistors. |
| colormap | color map, color-map, color table | A table used to encode a palette of colors for images. |
| command line interface | CLI | An interactive user interface which allows commands to be given to a computer program or shell through a text-based terminal (or terminal emulator in a window within a graphical user interface). |
| compiler | A program which examines program source code and translates it into an equivalent object code file; cf. interpreter. | |
| compression | Removal of redundant information from a file or data stream, to reduce its size, the storage space it needs, or the time needed for transmission. Lossy compression actually discards information that is considered not essential, and is only appropriate for data like images or sound. | |
| computer | A digital, electronic, general-purpose, programmable, information processing automate. | |
| console | The primary, directly attached, user interface of a computer. Some system administration functions may only be performed at a console. | |
| control panel | A collection of buttons, switches, lights or display used to configure and control a router, printer, computer or other device. | |
| core dump | coredump | The content of memory written to a file on disk (usually called "core") when a program crashes. |
| corrupted | damaged (said of a file or disk contents) | |
| CPU | Central Processing Unit | The main component that makes a computer work; these days usually a "micro-processor" on a single silicon chip (cf. processor). |
| crack | To gain access to a computer system without proper authorization (e.g. by guessing a legitimate user's password), and possibly interfere with its normal operation or integrity. | |
| cracker [1] | Someone who tries to crack; cf. hacker. | |
| cracker [2] | crack | A software program used to crack, for instance by guessing passwords. |
| crash | A sudden stop of normal operation. Supposedly, the original hard drives would sometimes experience a catastrophic failure in which the read/write heads would crash into the media, possibly sending the media flying; hence a crash is a unintentional termination of software or hardware due to some failure or error - especially a termination in a final, catastrophic, or unpleasant way. | |
| CSLIP | Compressed Serial Line IP | SLIP with added VJ compression of IP headers. See RFC1144. |
| CTRL | the Control key on a keyboard | |
| current working directory | cwd | |
| cylinder | A number of tracks located at the same radius on the several surfaces of a hard disk. A hard disk with four platters has eight surfaces, so that at each position of the read-write heads, eight tracks can be read without head movement and these eight tracks form a cylinder. | |
| daemon | A program that runs in the background to offer system services. | |
| data | "that which is given", for instance as input to a computer; cf. information. | |
| data link layer |
Layer two of the ISO/OSI seven-layer model. Responsible for establishing an error-free communication path between network nodes over the physical link layer, it frames messages for transmission, checks the integrity of received messages, manages access to and use of the media, and ensures proper sequencing of transmitted data. These functions are generally provided by a network card driver. The IEEE in its 802.x series of standards splits this layer in two: the LLC layer and the underlying MAC layer. |
|
| database [1] | A usually large collection of ordered and readily accessible data. | |
| database [2] | A program to manage a database and extract information from it. | |
| datagram | packet, especially as used in UDP (Note: not IP-specific - other protocols use the term datagram in their documentation). | |
| Debian | DEBorah & IAN (Murdock) | A GNU/Linux distribution built by a volunteer organization. |
| default | The value of a parameter that a program uses if it is not explicitly given a value. | |
| DEL | the Delete key on a keyboard | |
| delete | remove or erase a file|character|directory . | |
| dependency | A state in which other libraries|programs|packages are required to make a program work. | |
| DES | Data Encryption Standard | A USA government-sanctioned standard for the encryption of data now considered insecure to high-end brute force attacks. |
| desktop | The screen from which all programs are started and run on X. | |
| device [1] | A "peripheral" piece of hardware that is an optional part or can be attached to a computer (even one that is actually housed within the computer's casing): interface cards, drives, printers etc. | |
| device [2] | The software interface used within Unix (Linux) to represent a computer peripheral: interface cards, drives, printers, etc.; see the /dev/ directory . | |
| DHCP | Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol | Provides for automatic downloading of IP address and other configuration data from a server to a client. Allows for reuse of IP addresses so that the number of hosts can exceed the number of available IP addresses. See RFC2131, cf. BOOTP. |
| dial-in, dial-up, dial-out (adj) | Refers to a connection made over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), as opposed to a permanent, or leased-line, connection. | |
| die | To cease execution, especially in a final or complete manner. | |
| digital | Refers to an entity that can assume only a limited number of discrete states and not an arbitrary value; e.g. binary. cf. analog. | |
| directory | A special type of file which contains information about other files, such as file name, location, permissions, size etc. | |
| dirty | not clean | |
| disk | Rotating magnetic media which supports direct or random access; cf. floppy disk, hard disk. | |
| display | screen | A human readable device to display text, graphics or other data. |
| distribution | A (usually) complete collection of software needed to operate a computer including the Linux kernel and various utilities and applications. | |
| DMA | Direct Memory Access | A hardware protocol which allows a special controller circuit (DMA controller) to transfer a block of data from a peripheral device's buffer memory directly to main memory without CPU involvement; cf. PIO. |
| DNS | Domain Name System | A hierarchically-structured distributed directory service which translates human-intelligible names like www.lpi.org into the corresponding IP addresses. See RFC's1034 and 1035 and also 1032 and 1033. |
| documentation | ||
| domain name server | DNS, nameserver | |
| domain [1] | One or more computer networks that serve an organizational group. | |
| domain [2] | The name assigned to a network domain. | |
| drive | Any device that can store and retrieve data in a relatively permanent fashion on media (which may be removable or built into the device). | |
| driver | ||
| dynamic | ||
| e.g. | "for example" (Latin: "exemplum gratii"). N.B.: Avoid this. Use only in parenthetical examples (e.g., like this) but avoid "e.g." by putting examples in text like this. Do not confuse with "i.e.". Also see "cf.". | |
| editor | ||
| EIDE | Enhanced IDE | Western Digitals proprietary extension of the IDE interface standard with ATA-2 and ATAPI features, used to connect hard drives and CD-ROMS to a PC. |
| email, electronic mail | ||
| emulate | To simulate the actions of a device or program so that the simulation can actually perform the same functions as the original. | |
| emulator | A program that emulates the functions of some device or other program. | |
| environment | A collection of variables associated with a process so that it knows about the user preferences and configuration of the system; they are inherited by a child process. | |
| environment variables | envars, environmental variables | The variables that define an environment. |
| ergonomic | easy to use by humans | |
| ESC | the Escape key on a keyboard | |
| Ethernet | A type of LAN computer network interface using coax (10Base2 or 10Base5) or UTP cables (10BaseT, 100BaseT or 1000BaseT). The specifications are described in IEEE standard 802.2 . cf. MAC. | |
| event | ||
| execute | To set to work (a program); cf. run. | |
| execute permission | Permission set on a file on a Unix filesystem so that it may be run as a program by the "operating system. | |
| executable | A file that is a binary or a script that can be run as a program (may assume execute permission). | |
| export | ||
| FAT | File Allocation Table | A simple filesystem using a table to index files on a block device (floppy or hard disk). It comes in the varieties of FAT-12 (MS-DOS), FAT-16 (MS-DOS, MS-Windows 3.x) and "FAT-32" (MS-Windows 9x). |
| FHS | Filesystem Hierarchy Standard | A proposed standard for the location of files on a Unix system. See http://www.pathname.com/fhs/. |
| file | A named sequence or stream of bytes at a known location in storage. | |
| filesystem | file system | The data structures placed on a logical disk or partition (by mkfs) which allow the operating system to record information about files stored there. |
| filter | To remove unwanted data. | |
| firewall | A gateway that restricts data communication between the "inside" network and the Internet "outside" the firewall. | |
| floating-point (adj) | used with numbers that may represent a fraction; cf. integer | |
| floppy disk | floppy, diskette | A magnetic storage medium with a flexible disk inside; cf. hard disk. |
| floppy drive | floppy | A device that can read and write floppy disks. |
| font | The shape of each of the letters in a character set. | |
| foreground [1] | The context in which a process is having access to a terminal for output, i.e. is not running in the background. | |
| foreground [2] | The color of text on a computer display (as opposed to the text's background). | |
| foreground [3] | Refers to the window 'in front of' all others and with which the user is interacting. | |
| fork (verb) | When an executing process creates an exact executing duplicate (except for the different PID) of itself; see child process, spawn. | |
| format [1] (noun) | Specification regarding how data are stored. | |
| format [2] (verb) | To apply the requisite format to storage media in preparation to making a filesystem. | |
| forwarding | The act of receiving an e-mail and then resending it to another destination. | |
| frame | A packet as assembled and transmitted over the physical layer of a network (e.g. Ethernet, Token Ring, etc.). | |
| free [1] | Not costing anything. | |
| free [2] | Not inhibited. As applied to source code it allows modification, study and adaptation, not inhibited by excessively restrictive commercial license terms. cf. GPL, Free Software Foundation. | |
| FSF | Free Software Foundation: a tax-exempt charity that raises funds for work on the GNU project; see http://www.fsf.org. | |
| FSSTND | FileSystem StaNdarD | A standard for the location of files on a Linux system; replaced by the FHS. |
| FTP | File Transfer Protocol | A protocol for transferring files over the Internet and the software to accomplish the transfer. See RFC959. |
| gateway | A device or relay mechanism that connects two or more computer networks and which directs packets between the networks in an internet. In common usage today, a gateway is a general-purpose computer with a general-purpose operating system [e.g. Linux] which *may* be performing other functions, and in that role it operates at the third, network layer in the ISO/OSI model; while a router is a special-purpose computer with a special purpose operating system [e.g. IOS], generally from a specialist supplier [e.g. Cisco]). cf. bridge. | |
| GB | giga-byte, gigabyte, Giga-Byte, GigaByte, Gb | 1000 (or rarely 1024) MB (1,000,000,000 or 1,048,576,000 or 1,073,741,824 bytes) |
| GID | Group ID | |
| global | A variable, configuration section, procedure etc. having a scope which is unlimited (i.e., applies everywhere unless contradicted locally) | |
| GNU | GNU's Not Unix | A Free Software Foundation project to build Unix(R)(TM)-compatible utilities and programs exclusively based on free program source code. |
| GPL | General Public License | A license for distribution of free software which permits copying, modification and redistribution. It was created by the Free Software Foundation for its projects like GNU, and has been applied to Linux as well. See http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html |
| graphics | images, pictures; in contrast to text | |
| graphical user interface | GUI | An interactive interface using a graphics display. N.B.: refer to a "graphical user interface" only if there actually is a graphical interface (like X), and do not use it for interactive programs on text terminals (based on ncurses or slang). Use "interactive interface" as a catch-all. cf. command line interface. |
| group | Refers to a list of one or more users having the same access rights; see /etc/groups . | |
| GRUB | A boot loader: a program that loads the kernel so Linux can boot; can also boot other operating systems. | |
| hack | To accomplish a result in an unorthodox way. | |
| hacker | Someone who hacks: a title assigned to people with remarkable computing skills; cf. cracker. | |
| hang | cf. crash | |
| hard disk | A computer device that uses solid disks as magnetic medium to store data. cf. floppy disk. | |
| hard link | In Unix filesystems, an entry in a directory that points to a file in another directory on the same disk or partition, and shares the inode of that file; cf. symbolic link. | |
| hardware | All physical parts making up the computer ("the parts that can be kicked" ;-) | |
| HDLC | High-level Data Link Control | ISO/IEC 3309 standard; relevant in PPP. |
| high-level (adj) | Refers to a computer language with a higher level of abstraction from the computer architecture than a low-level language. | |
| host | Any computer attached to an IP-based internet, especially computers that can act as a server to a client program or computer. | |
| HOWTO | A series of documents, each on a particular topic, which form a significant portion of the documentation for Linux. HOWTO's originated with, and are generally published by, the Linux Documentation Project. | |
| HTML | HyperText Markup Language | A standard for specifying the structure of a document indicated by tags in the document text; used on the World Wide Web with HTTP. |
| HTTP | HyperText Transfer Protocol | The succession of application layer protocols used for communication between a WWW browser and a WWW server. See RFC2616. |
| hub | Generally, a device connected to several other devices; specifically in computer networks, a repeater in the center of a network with star topology, usually with 10BaseT or 100BaseT or 1000BaseT Ethernet. | |
| i.e. | "that is" (Latin: "id est"). N.B.: Avoid this. Use it only in parenthetical asides (i.e., asides like this one) and then only to clarify a point. Do not confuse with "e.g.". Also see "cf.". | |
| I/O | Input/Output | |
| ICMP | Internet Control Message Protocol | A required protocol (RFC792) for the notification of errors between gateways and hosts on IP-based internets. It operates at the level of the IP protocol in the internet layer. Interestingly, although ICMP is required (*must* be implemented), hosts and gateways are not required to generate ICMP messages, and hosts are not required to respond or react to incoming ICMP messages (in fact, mostly, they don't, relying on higher-level protocols like TCP to simply time-out and retransmit, so you can't say that ICMP _handles_ errors). Also, because IP is a packet-oriented connectionless protocol, there's no concept of duration of transmissions. |
| ID | IDentifier | |
| IDE | Integrated Drive Electronics | A popular interface to attach hard drives to PC's, where the electronics of the controller are integrated with the drive instead of on a separate PC card; also see ATA. |
| Integrated Development Environment | IDE | A programming environment integrated into an application; rare on Linux. |
| idle | inactive; waiting for a task or a wake up call | |
| IEEE | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | USA based, international organization of professional engineers; also an important standards body |
| IMAP [1] | Interactive Mail Access Protocol | See RFC1203 |
| IMAP [2] | Internet Message Access Protocol | See RFC2060 on IMAP4 (beats me why there's two names for the same thing, with the same acronym yet). |
| implement | To create an actual object (program, device) that conforms to abstract specifications. | |
| include file | A file which contains constants and parameters, possibly shared between two or more programs, and included into the source code when these programs are compiled. | |
| information | info | Something worth knowing, in contrast to just plain data. |
| inode | In Unix filesystems, a block of administrative data for a file on the disk partition. | |
| input | Any data that are entered into a running program, or into a file. | |
| install | Transferring a new program to a computer's permanent storage (e.g., hard disk) and performing any necessary configuration or administration. | |
| integer | A data type used to represent a whole (integer, non-fraction) number within a limited range. | |
| integrity | correctness | |
| interactive | Adjective, meaning: having the property to be able to interact, i.e. respond to stimulation from the outside. Used in the context of programs or interfaces. | |
| interactive interface | CLI and|or GUI | An interface between a computer and a user which allows them to interact and exchange input and output (commands and data). |
| interface | A connection (through a hardware device or through a software program) between different components of a computer system (usually performing some kind of translation between protocols internal to the components); used especially in the contexts of network communication, or communication between computer systems and their users. | |
| Internet | internet, (the) net | The worldwide distributed network of computers linked by the Internet Protocol. |
| internet layer | The network layer in the TCP/IP protocol stack: this alternative name may be used to distinguish it from the underlying network access (physical) layer. cf. Internet Protocol. | |
| Internet service provider | ISP, IAP, Internet Access Provider | A company which provides connections to the Internet. |
| interpreter | A program which examines a script or program source code and executes it, line by line; cf. compiler. | |
| interrupt | ||
| intranet | A network (usually a LAN) based on IP but, unlike the Internet, allows only restricted access. | |
| invoke | induce execution of; call | |
| ioport | address | The memory address peripheral devices use to communicate with the CPU; see /proc/ioports . |
| IP | Internet Protocol | The network layer protocol used on IP-based internets. See RFC791. |
| IRQ | Interrupt ReQuest | |
| ISA | Industry Standard Architecture | An increasingly obsolete PC bus standard. |
| ISDN | Integrated Services Digital Network | A baseband protocol used by telephone companies to offer one, two or more B-channel (Bearer channel) lines of 64 Kbit/s each on a single copper pair of up to 5.5 km length. Each B-channel can be used to provide a high-quality voice line, or fax or data services. |
| ISO | International Standards Organization | One of several bodies which exist to promote standards, including computer standards. |
| job | A task which has been sent to the background or has been submitted for later execution. | |
| k | K, kilo | a factor of 1000, but with computers usually 1024 (2^10) |
| KB | kilo-byte, kilobyte, kb, kB | 1024 bytes |
| kbit/s | kilobit per second, kbps, Kbps, Kbit/s | Data transfer rate in units of 1000 bits per second. |
| Kbyte/s | kilobyte per second, kbps, Kbps, KBps, KB/s, kbyte/s | Data transfer rate in units of 1024 bytes per second. |
| kernel | The core of an operating system, which provides multitasking (process creation, interprocess protection, interprocess communication), memory management, and basic I/O management. | |
| key [1] | A token which is used to encrypt plain text or decrypt cipher text in an encryption system. | |
| key [2] | A database field which may be used as the basis of a query. | |
| key [3] | A marked switch on a keyboard which used to be a common computer input device before they were eaten by mice ;-). | |
| keyboard | An input device having many keys marked with letters and other symbols. | |
| LAN | Local Area Network | A small network, usually with one or a few segments, which supports broadcasting and direct connections between hosts; e.g. Ethernet, Token Ring, Appletalk and ARCNet; cf. WAN. |
| LDP | Linux Documentation Project | |
| library | A collection of (often related) subroutines to be linked to a program. | |
| LILO | LInux LOader | A boot loader: a program that loads the kernel so Linux can boot; can also boot other operating systems. |
| link | To bind a program to the subroutines it references (calls). These are typically located in object modules or libraries. | |
| Linux | Linux Is Not UniX? | A Unix-like operating system first developed, still maintained by, and named after Linus Torvalds. It is freely available under the General Public License. But if you didn't know all that already, what are you doing here? |
| LLC | Logical Link Control | An IEEE network standard (#802.2) that fits within the ISO/OSI Layer 2: data link layer, on top of the MAC sub-layer. It deals with error detection, flow control, and frame formats. |
| load | To transfer from disk into memory. | |
| local | within easy reach, on the local area network, not remote. | |
| logfile | log | record of activities |
| logic | In the jargon of electronics engineers: the electronic components and circuitry of a device. This use of the term should be avoided because of the confusion with the conventional meaning of: abstract formal reasoning, which is involved in computer programming. | |
| login | ||
| logoff | ||
| logon | ||
| logout | ||
| loopback | ||
| low-level (adj) | Refers to a computer language in which statements are similar to instructions for the processor (or: in which statements are more like object code than in a high-level language). | |
| LPI | Linux Professional Institute | Non-profit organization founded to create a widely supported certification program for Linux; see http://www.lpi.org/ |
| MAC | Media Access Control | A layer of IEEE network standards (#802.x) that fits within the ISO/OSI Layer 2: |