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P
package
An icon that represents
embedded or linked information. That information may consist of a complete
file, such as a Paint bitmap, or part of a file, such as a spreadsheet
cell. When you choose the package, the application used to create the
object either plays the object (for example, a sound file) or opens and
displays the object. If you change the original information, linked
information is automatically updated. However, you must manually update
embedded information.
packet
An Open Systems
Interconnection (OSI) network layer transmission unit that consists of
binary information representing both data and a header containing an
identification number, source and destination addresses, and error-control
data.
packet
header
In network protocol
communications, a specially reserved field of a defined bit length that is
attached to the front of a packet for carry and transfer of control
information. When the packet arrives at its destination, the field is then
detached and discarded as the packet is processed and disassembled in a
corresponding reverse order for each protocol layer.
packet
switching
A technology for breaking
data into packets and then sending the packets over a network. Each packet
has a header containing its source and destination, a sequence number to
reassemble the information, a block of data content, and an error-checking
code. The data packets may take different routes to their destination,
where the original information is reassembled after the packets arrive.
The international standard for packet switching networks is
X.25.
PAD (packet
assembler/disassembler)
A device that connects a
non-X.25 device such as a modem to an X.25 packet switching
network.
page
In virtual memory
systems, a unit of data storage that is brought into random access memory
(RAM), typically from a hard drive, when a requested item of data is not
already in RAM.
page fault
The interrupt that occurs
when software attempts to read from or write to a virtual memory location
that is marked not present.
In Task Manager, page
fault is the number of times data has to be retrieved from disk for a
process because it was not found in memory. The page fault value
accumulates from the time the process started.
Page Faults
Delta
In Task Manager, the
change in the number of page faults since the last
update.
page-description language
(PDL)
A computer language that
describes the arrangement of text and graphics on a printed
page.
paged pool
The system-allocated
virtual memory that has been charged to a process and that can be paged.
Paging is the moving of infrequently-used parts of a program's working
memory from RAM to another storage medium, usually the hard disk.
In Task Manager, the
amount of system-allocated virtual memory, in kilobytes, used by a
process.
paging
file
A hidden file on the hard
disk that Windows uses to hold parts of programs and data files that do
not fit in memory. The paging file and physical memory, or RAM, comprise
virtual memory. Windows moves data from the paging file to memory as
needed and moves data from memory to the paging file to make room for new
data. Paging file is also called a swap file.
Panose
A font-classification
method that measures values, such as serifs, weight, and stroke
variations, for a TrueType font. These values are represented by a Panose
number. The Panose number is then used to associate the font with other
fonts of similar appearance but different names. The closer the Panose
number of two fonts, the more similar they are.
paper
source
The location (such as
Upper Paper Tray or Envelope Feeder) of the paper at the
printer.
parallel
port
The input/output
connector for a parallel interface device. Printers are generally plugged
into a parallel port.
parent
domain
For DNS and Active
Directory, domains that are located in the namespace tree directly above
other derivative domain names (child domains). For example,
microsoft.com would be the parent domain for
example.microsoft.com, a child domain.
parent
object
The object in which
another object resides. A parent object implies relation. For example, a
folder is a parent object in which a file, or child object, resides. An
object can be both a parent and a child object. For example, a subfolder
that contains files is both the child of the parent folder and the parent
folder of the files.
parity
A calculated value that
is used to reconstruct data after a failure. RAID-5 volumes stripe data
and parity intermittently across a set of disks. When a disk fails, some
server operating systems use the parity information together with the data
on good disks to recreate the data on the failed
disk.
parity bit
In asynchronous
communications, an extra bit used in checking for errors in groups of data
bits transferred within or between computer systems. In modem-to-modem
communications, a parity bit is often used to check the accuracy with
which each character is transmitted.
partition
A portion of a physical
disk that functions as though it were a physically separate disk. After
you create a partition, you must format it and assign it a drive letter
before you can store data on it.
On basic disks,
partitions are known as basic volumes, which include primary partitions
and logical drives. On dynamic disks, partitions are known as dynamic
volumes, which include simple, striped, spanned, mirrored, and RAID-5
volumes.
partition boot
sector
A portion of a hard disk
partition that contains information about the disk's file system and a
short machine language program that loads the Windows operating
system.
password
A security measure used
to restrict logon names to user accounts and access to computer systems
and resources. A password is a string of characters that must be provided
before a logon name or an access is authorized. A password can be made up
of letters, numbers, and symbols, and it is case
sensitive.
Password Authentication Protocol
(PAP)
A simple, plaintext
authentication scheme for authenticating PPP connections. The user name
and password are requested by the remote access server and returned by the
remote access client in plaintext.
paused
A state that applies to a
node in a cluster. The node is a fully active member in the cluster but
cannot accept new resource groups (for example, a resource group cannot
fail over or fail back to a paused node). You can administer and maintain
a paused node.
PC Card
A removable device,
approximately the size of a credit card, that can be plugged into a
Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot in a
portable computer. PCMCIA devices can include modems, network cards, and
hard disk drives.
PCI expansion
slot
A connection socket for a
peripheral designed for the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local
bus on a computer motherboard.
PDC emulator
master
The domain controller
assigned to act as a Windows NT 4.0 primary domain controller
(PDC) to service network clients that do not have Active Directory client
software installed, and to replicate directory changes to any
Windows NT backup domain controllers (BDCs) in the domain.
The PDC emulator master
receives preferential replication of password changes performed by other
domain controllers in the domain and handles any password authentication
requests that fail at the local domain controller. At any time, there can
be only one PDC emulator master in a particular
domain.
Peak Memory
Usage
In Task Manager, the peak
amount of physical memory resident in a process since it
started.
pending
A state that refers to a
resource in a cluster when the resource is in the process of being brought
online or taken offline.
Per Seat
Licensing
A licensing mode that
requires a separate Client Access License for each client computer,
regardless of whether all the clients access the server at the same
time.
Per Server
Licensing
A licensing mode that
requires a separate Client Access License for each concurrent connection
to the server, regardless of whether there are other client computers on
the network that do not happen to connect
concurrently.
performance
alert
A feature that detects
when a predefined counter value rises above or falls below the configured
threshold and notifies a user by means of the Messenger
service.
performance
counter
In System Monitor, a data
item that is associated with a performance object. For each counter
selected, System Monitor presents a value corresponding to a particular
aspect of the performance that is defined for the performance
object.
performance
object
In System Monitor, a
logical collection of counters that is associated with a resource or
service that can be monitored.
performance object
instance
In System Monitor, a term
used to distinguish between multiple performance objects of the same type
on a computer.
peripheral
A device, such as a disk
drive, printer, modem, or joystick, that is connected to a computer and is
controlled by the computer's microprocessor.
peripheral component interconnect
(PCI)
A specification
introduced by Intel Corporation that defines a local bus system that
allows up to 10 PCI-compliant expansion cards to be installed in the
computer.
permission
A rule associated with an
object to regulate which users can gain access to the object and in what
manner. Permissions are granted or denied by the object's
owner.
Physical Disk
resource
A disk on a cluster
storage device. Physical disks are supported as cluster resources by a
Resource DLL.
ping
A utility that verifies
connections to one or more remote hosts. The ping command uses the
ICMP echo request and echo reply packets to determine whether a particular
IP system on a network is functional. Ping is useful for diagnosing
IP network or router failures.
pixel
Short for picture
element, one spot in a rectilinear grid of thousands of such spots that
form an image produced on the screen by a computer or on paper by a
printer. A pixel is the smallest element that display or print hardware
and software can manipulate to create letters, numbers, or graphics. A
pixel is also called a pel.
PKCS #10
The Certification Request
Syntax Standard, developed and maintained by RSA Data Security, Inc. A
syntax for certificate requests.
PKCS #12
The Personal Information
Exchange Syntax Standard, developed and maintained by RSA Data Security,
Inc. This syntax standard specifies a portable format for storing or
transporting a user's private keys, certificates, and miscellaneous
secrets.
PKCS #7
The Cryptographic Message
Syntax Standard. It is a general syntax, developed and maintained by RSA
Data Security, Inc., for data to which cryptography may be applied, such
as digital signatures and encryption. It also provides a syntax for
disseminating certificates or certificate revocation
lists.
plaintext
Data that is not
encrypted. Sometimes also called cleartext.
plotter
Any device used to draw
charts, diagrams, and other line-based graphics.
plotter
font
A font created by a
series of dots connected by lines. Plotter fonts can be scaled to any size
and are most often printed on plotters. Some dot-matrix printers also
support plotter fonts.
Plug and
Play
A set of specifications
developed by Intel that allows a computer to automatically detect and
configure a device and install the appropriate device
drivers.
point of termination station
(POTS)
Basic dial telephone
connections to the public switched network, without any added features or
functions. Plain old telephone service and point of termination station is
also called POTS.
Point-to-Point Protocol
(PPP)
An industry standard
suite of protocols for the use of point-to-point links to transport
multiprotocol datagrams. PPP is documented in RFC
1661.
Point-to-Point Protocol over
Ethernet (PPPoE)
A specification for
connecting users on an Ethernet network to the Internet through a
broadband connection, such as a single DSL line, wireless device, or cable
modem. Using PPPoE and a broadband modem, LAN users can gain individual
authenticated access to high-speed data networks. By combining Ethernet
and Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), PPPoE provides an efficient way to
create a separate connection for each user to a remote
server.
Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol
(PPTP)
Networking technology
that supports multiprotocol virtual private networks (VPNs), enabling
remote users to access corporate networks securely across the Internet or
other networks by dialing into an Internet service provider (ISP) or by
connecting directly to the Internet. The Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol
(PPTP) tunnels, or encapsulates, IP, IPX, or NetBEUI traffic inside of IP
packets. This means that users can remotely run applications that are
dependent upon particular network protocols.
pointer (PTR) resource
record
A resource record used in
a reverse lookup zone created within the in-addr.arpa domain to designate
a reverse mapping of a host IP address to a host DNS domain
name.
policy
The mechanism by which
desktop settings are configured automatically, as defined by the
administrator. Depending on context, this can refer to Group Policy,
Windows NT 4.0 System Policy, or a specific setting in a Group
Policy object.
polling
intervals
The frequency the
Resource Monitor checks that the resource is available and operating.
There are two levels of polling: Looks Alive and Is Alive.
The server cluster requests a more thorough check of the resource's state
at each Is Alive interval than it does at each Looks Alive interval;
therefore, the Is Alive polling interval is typically longer than the
Looks Alive polling interval. You can specify the two polling intervals
and a time-out value for resources.
POP3 (Post Office Protocol
3)
A popular protocol used
for receiving e-mail messages. This protocol is often used by ISPs. POP3
servers allow access to a single Inbox in contrast to IMAP servers, which
provide access to multiple server-side folders.
port
A connection point on
your computer where you can connect devices that pass data into and out of
a computer. For example, a printer is typically connected to a parallel
port (also called an LPT port), and a modem is typically connected to a
serial port (also called a COM port).
port rule
For Network Load
Balancing, a set of configuration parameters that determine the filtering
mode to be applied to a range of ports.
Portable Operating System Interface
for UNIX (POSIX)
An Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard that defines a set of
operating-system services. Programs that adhere to the POSIX standard can
be easily ported from one system to another. POSIX was based on UNIX
system services, but it was created in a way that allows it to be
implemented by other operating systems.
possible
owners
A list that specifies
which nodes in the cluster are capable of running that resource. By
default, both nodes appear as possible owners, so the resource can run on
either node. In most cases, it is appropriate to use this default setting.
If you want the resource to be able to fail over, both nodes must be
designated as possible owners.
PostScript
A page-description
language (PDL), developed by Adobe Systems for printing on laser printers.
PostScript offers flexible font capability and high-quality graphics. It
is the standard for desktop publishing because it is supported by
imagesetters, the high-resolution printers used by printing services for
commercial typesetting.
PostScript
fonts
Fonts that are defined in
terms of the PostScript page-description language (PDL) rules and are
intended to be printed on a PostScript-compatible printer. When a document
displayed in a screen font is sent to a PostScript printer, the printer
uses the PostScript version if the font exists. If the font doesn't exist
but a version is installed on the computer, that font is downloaded to the
printer. If there is no PostScript font installed in either the printer or
the computer, the bit-mapped (raster) font is translated into PostScript
and the printer produces text using the bit-mapped font. PostScript fonts
are distinguished from bit-mapped fonts by their smoothness, detail, and
faithfulness to standards of quality established in the typographic
industry.
PostScript
printer
A printer that uses the
PostScript page-description language (PDL) to create text and graphics on
the output medium, such as paper or overhead transparency. Examples of
PostScript printers include the Apple LaserWriter, the NEC LC-890, and the
QMS PS-810.
power
conditioning
A feature of an
uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that removes spikes, surges, sags, and
noise from the power supply.
power
scheme
A group of preset
power-management options. For example, you can set elapsed times for
putting your computer on standby and for turning off your monitor and hard
disk. You save these settings as a named power
scheme.
PPP (Point-to-Point
Protocol)
predefined
key
A key that represents one
of the main divisions of the registry. Each predefined key is displayed in
a separate Registry Editor window, with the key's name appearing in the
window's title bar. For example, HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT is a predefined
key.
preferred
owner
The node on which you
prefer each group to run. For example, the static load balancing model
performs best when groups are appropriately balanced between two nodes.
When a node fails, the remaining node takes over the groups from the
failed node, but performance is diminished. By setting those groups to
fail back to their preferred server (the failed node), you automatically
restore maximum performance when failback occurs. A group does not fail
back if a preferred owner is not selected.
You will not always
choose a preferred owner because it may not matter where the group
resides; all that matters is that the group is still running on one of the
two nodes. Or, the nodes may be equally capable of handling the load
required to use some or all of the resources.
preferred
server
The NetWare server that
you connect to by default when you log on to your computer. The preferred
server validates your user credentials and is queried when you request
information about resources available on the NetWare
network.
preset-to
callback
A form of security in
which a remote access server verifies users by calling them back at
numbers supplied by the network administrator at the time user privileges
are granted. Only a network administrator can change a preset callback
number. This ensures that no one can borrow a user's password and connect
to the server from a location other than the user's normal
one.
Primary
disk
The hard disk drive that
contains the system and boot partitions used to start
Windows.
primary domain controller
(PDC)
In a Windows NT
Server 4.0 or earlier domain, the computer running Windows NT
Server that authenticates domain logons and maintains the directory
database for a domain. The PDC tracks changes made to accounts of all
computers on a domain. It is the only computer to receive these changes
directly. A domain has only one PDC. In this version of Windows, one of
the domain controllers in each domain is identified as the PDC for
compatibility with Windows NT 4.0 and earlier versions of
Windows NT.
primary
master
An authoritative DNS
server for a zone that can be used as a point of update for the zone. Only
primary masters have the ability to be updated directly to process zone
updates, which include adding, removing, or modifying resource records
that are stored as zone data. Primary masters are also used as the first
sources for replicating the zone to other DNS
servers.
primary mouse
button
The button you use most
often for clicking and double-clicking. The primary mouse button is the
left button on most mice and trackball devices, and the lower button on
some trackball devices, but you can switch the function of the buttons by
using the Mouse Properties dialog box in Control
Panel.
primary
partition
A type of partition that
you can create on basic disks. A primary partition is a portion of a
physical disk that functions as though it were a physically separate disk.
On basic master boot record (MBR) disks, you can create up to four primary
partitions on a basic disk, or three primary partitions and an extended
partition with multiple logical drives. On basic GPT disks, you can create
up to 128 primary partitions. Primary partitions are also known as
volumes.
print job
The source code that
contains both the data to be printed and the commands for print. Print
jobs are classified into data types based on what modifications, if any,
the spooler must make to the job for it to print
correctly.
print
processor
The component that,
working in conjunction with the printer driver, receives and alters print
jobs, as necessary, according to their data type to ensure that the jobs
print correctly.
print
queue
A print queue is a list
of documents waiting to be printed on the printer. In the print queue, you
can see information such as the size of the document, who sent the
document, and status information for printing.
print
server
A computer that is
dedicated to managing the printers on a network. The print server can be
any computer on the network.
print
spooler
Software that accepts a
document sent to a printer and then stores it on disk or in memory until
the printer is ready for it. This collection of dynamic-link libraries
(DLLs) receives, processes, schedules, and distributes documents for
printing. The term spooler is an acronym created from
simultaneous print operations on line.
Print Spooler
resource
Printer queues providing
access to a network printer connected to the network by an IP address
rather than by an individual name. Print spoolers are supported as cluster
resources by a Resource DLL.
printer
A device that puts text
or images on paper or other print media. Examples are laser printers or
dot-matrix printers.
Printer Control Language
(PCL)
The page-description
language (PDL) developed by Hewlett Packard for their laser and inkjet
printers. Because of the widespread use of laser printers, this command
language has become a standard in many printers.
printer
driver
A program designed to
allow other programs to work with a particular printer without concerning
themselves with the specifics of the printer's hardware and internal
language. By using printer drivers that handle the subtleties of each
printer, programs can communicate properly with a variety of
printers.
printer
fonts
Fonts residing in or
intended for a printer. A printer font, usually located in the printer's
read-only memory (ROM), can be internal, downloaded, or on a font
cartridge.
Printer Job Language
(PJL)
The printer command
language developed by Hewlett Packard that provides printer control at the
print-job level. Using PJL commands, you can change default printer
settings such as number of copies to print. PJL commands also permit
switching printer languages between print jobs without action by the user.
If bi-directional communication is supported, a PJL-compatible printer can
send information such as printer model and job status to the print
server.
printer
permissions
Permissions that specify
the type of access that a user or group has to a printer. The printer
permissions are Print, Manage Printers, and Manage
Documents.
Printer
window
Also called the queue
view, the Printer window shows information about any pending print jobs
for the printer. For each printer you have installed or to which you are
connected, you can such information as see how many documents are waiting
to be printed, who owns them, and how large they
are.
Printers and
Faxes
The folder in Control
Panel that contains the Add Printer Wizard and icons for all the printers
installed on your computer.
printing
pool
Two or more identical
printers that are connected to one print server and act as a single
printer. In this case, when you print a document, the print job will be
sent to the first available printer in the pool.
priority
For Process Control, the
relative ranking of a process or process group with respect to the use of
CPU and system resources. You can configure this in the Process Control
snap-in.
private branch exchange
(PBX)
An automatic telephone
switching system that enables users within an organization to place calls
to each other without going through the public telephone network. Users
can also place calls to outside numbers.
private
key
The secret half of a
cryptographic key pair that is used with a public key algorithm. Private
keys are typically used to decrypt a symmetric session key, digitally sign
data, or decrypt data that has been encrypted with the corresponding
public key.
private
network
A cluster network that
supports only node-to-node communication.
private
queue
For Message Queuing, a
queue that is not published in Active Directory and can be accessed only
by applications that have access to the full format name of the
queue.
privilege
A user's right to perform
a specific task, usually one that affects an entire computer system rather
than a particular object. Privileges are assigned by administrators to
individual users or groups of users as part of the security settings for
the computer.
Pro
Windows XP
Professional
process
The virtual address space
and the control information necessary for the execution of a
program.
process identifier
(PID)
A numerical identifier
that uniquely distinguishes a process while it runs. Use Task Manager to
view PIDs.
program
A complete,
self-contained set of computer instructions that you use to perform a
specific task, such as word processing, accounting, or data management.
Program is also called application.
program information file
(PIF)
A file that provides
information to Windows about how best to run MS-DOS-based programs. When
you start an MS-DOS-based program, Windows looks for a PIF to use with it.
PIFs contain such items as the name of the file, a start-up directory, and
multitasking options.
property
A characteristic or
parameter of a class of objects or devices. For example, properties of
Microsoft Word files include Size, Created, and
Characters.
property
cache
For Indexing Service, a
file that stores values for document properties.
property
value
A specific characteristic
or parameter that defines a property. For example, property values of a
specific Microsoft Word document could include Size = 10,000 bytes,
Created = Jan 2, 1999, and Characters =
5,250.
Protective
MBR
The first sector of a
GUID partition table (GPT) disk that is structured like the first sector
of a master boot record (MBR) disk to prevent x86-based disk utilities
from destroying GPT partitions. The Protective MBR contains one partition
that reserves the entire space used on the disk by GPT
partitions.
protocol
A set of rules and
conventions for sending information over a network. These rules govern the
content, format, timing, sequencing, and error control of messages
exchanged among network devices.
public key
The nonsecret half of a
cryptographic key pair that is used with a public key algorithm. Public
keys are typically used when encrypting a session key, verifying a digital
signature, or encrypting data that can be decrypted with the corresponding
private key.
public key
cryptography
A method of cryptography
in which two different keys are used: a public key for encrypting data and
a private key for decrypting data. Public key cryptography is also called
asymmetric cryptography.
Public Key Cryptography Standards
(PKCS)
A family of standards for
public key cryptography that includes RSA encryption, Diffie-Hellman key
agreement, password-based encryption, extended-syntax, cryptographic
message syntax, private key information syntax, and certificate request
syntax, as well as selected attributes. Developed, owned, and maintained
by RSA Data Security, Inc.
public key
encryption
A method of encryption
that uses two encryption keys that are mathematically related. One key is
called the private key and is kept confidential. The other is called the
public key and is freely given out to all potential correspondents. In a
typical scenario, a sender uses the receiver's public key to encrypt a
message. Only the receiver has the related private key to decrypt the
message. The complexity of the relationship between the public key and the
private key means that, provided the keys are long enough, it is
computationally infeasible to determine one from the other. Public key
encryption is also called asymmetric encryption.
public key infrastructure
(PKI)
The term generally used
to describe the laws, policies, standards, and software that regulate or
manipulate certificates and public and private keys. In practice, it is a
system of digital certificates, certification authorities, and other
registration authorities that verify and authenticate the validity of each
party involved in an electronic transaction. Standards for PKI are still
evolving, even though they are being widely implemented as a necessary
element of electronic commerce.
public
network
A cluster network that
supports client-to-cluster communication (either with or without
supporting node-to-node communication).
public
queue
For Message Queuing, a
queue that is published in Active Directory and replicated throughout a
Windows enterprise. Public queues can, therefore, be located by any
computer running Message Queuing within the
enterprise.
Public Switched Telephone Network
(PSTN)
Standard analog telephone
lines, available worldwide.
puff and sip
device
An assistive computer
technology for people with mobility impairments. A puff and sip device is
a head-mounted alternative to using the mouse. The device allows a user to
move the mouse pointer without using his or her hands by puffing air into
a tube.
pulse
dialing
A form of dialing that
enters a phone number by means of pulse frequencies. The user typically
hears a series of clicking sounds when dialing. Old-fashioned rotary dial
phones use pulse dialing. |
