UW Technology Help Glossary
Account--
A computer account that allows you to use one of UW Technology's
uniform access computers such as Homer,
Dante, Ovid, Vergil, or Socrates.
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Browser--
A program, such as Netscape or Internet Explorer, you can use to view Web
pages and access other resources on the Internet.
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Cable modem--
A device that allows a very-high speed connection between your computer
and the Internet.
Cable modems work through your cable TV network, unlike DSL, which works
on regular telephone lines.
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Connectivity:
a term that refers to how you connect to the Internet, such as through dial-in,
campus Ethernet, or wireless connections. Connectivity problems are among the
most frequent problems that users face.
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Desktop Application--
A program that runs on your computer.
Web browsers, email programs, and FTP clients are examples of applications
commonly used on the Internet.
Domain--
The official name of a computer connected to the Internet.
For example, "washington.edu" is the domain for the UW, and is part of
the full address of "http://www.washington.edu." . Depending on the type
of organization, different domain names are assigned. For example, ".com"
is assigned to commercial enterprises; ".org" is assigned to non-profit
organizations; ".net" is for network services providers; .mil is for the
military; and .gov is for government.
DSL--
Digital Subscriber Line,
a telephone-based Internet connection to several types of advanced modems
that enables very fast access to the Internet at speeds 10 to 100 times
that of most regular modems. Unlike cable modems, which connect to the
Internet through your local TV network, DSL works on regular telephone
lines.
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Email-server-settings--
Options and values that you choose when setting up a particular
email program on your PC. These settings include your "incoming mail
server", your "outgoing mail server (SMTP)", and your security
settings "SSL".
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Ethernet--
The most widely-installed local area network (LAN) technology. It
permits very high-speed Internet access. Most computers on campus
are connected using Ethernet.
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FTP--
File Transfer Protocol:
a method that lets you transfer files between two computers
connected on the Internet. For example, you could use FTP to put your
personal home page up on the Web by transferring files from your hard
drive to a Web server.
More information
Host, Domain--
The name and address that identify your computer on the Internet. They
are usually set by software, and, depending on how you connect to the
Internet, they may or may not appear in your "TCP/IP Properties" menu (see
"network settings"). It is useful to report the host and domain of your
computer to consultants when you have a problem with email or connecting
to the Internet.
IMAP--
The Internet Message Access Protocol:
a method
used to retrieve email messages from a mail server that
handles email for many different users. IMAP stores the incoming mail on
a central machine that you can access from anywhere. This is different
from the POP method, in that POP transfers all of your mail to the PC that
you are currently on, so that if you move to another machine, and you have
not explicitly told POP to leave a copy of your email on the mail server,
you cannot access that email which you last read. The UW recommends the
IMAP protocol.
More information
Incoming mail server--
The name of the server that handles your incoming email. For most people
at the UW, the server is named "id.deskmail.washington.edu" where
the "id" is your UW NetID.
IP--
Internet Protocol:
part of the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) that
is the basic communication language of the Internet. It controls how data
is sent from one computer to another on the Internet. It is usually
displayed in the "TCP/IP Properties" menu (see "network settings") and may
be useful to report to consultants if you have a problem with your email
or with connecting to the Internet.
IP/DNS Assignment--
Request an Internet Address for your
desktop computer. This is a unique number called an IP (Internet
Protocol) address. Or register a DNS name (a hostname) for your
computer. For more
information see:
Requesting an Internet Address for Your Desktop Computer
ISP--
Internet Service Provider: a company or agency
that
provides access to the Internet. The UW is an ISP accessible to UW
faculty, staff, and students through the UW Internet Connectivity Kit
(UWICK), and AOL is an example of a commercial ISP.
Listproc--
A software package that automates the administration of
mail distribution lists. Once the list is created, it can be
set up to have users add and remove themselves with little list owner
intervention.
More information
Mailman--
A software package that automates the administration of
mail distribution lists. Once the list is created, it can be
set up to have users add and remove themselves with little list owner
intervention. Mailman replaces the older Listproc program.
More information
Modem:
MOdulator-DEModulator, a device that enables a computer to send and
receive information over a telephone line.
There are two types of modems:
internal modems, which are circuit cards that are plugged into the
computer's motherboard; and external modems, which are small electronic
boxes attached to the serial port with a cable.
More information
MyUW:
A customizable personal portal to your University of Washington
information, accessed by your UW NetID and password.
Students can access their personal
information including class schedules, grades, and financial aid
information, while faculty and staff can access information about payroll,
benefits, and retirement savings. Students and faculty can also access
their UW email on the web by logging into MyUW, and using Web Pine.
More information
MyUW.net:
MyUW.net provides people associated with the University of Washington with
personal email services and, if they choose, Web publishing and dial-in
modem service.
MyUW.net is your way to have a permanent personal email address and Web
site and to continue your connection with the University of Washington and
the many benefits and opportunities it offers.
There are two types of accounts available:
- Full accounts for a monthly fee, and
- Basic accounts which are free
More information
Netscape Communicator/Messenger:
A desktop email program that can be configured to read your UW email from
Dante or Homer on both Macs and PCs. Netscape Messenger comes with
Netscape Communicator.
Other desktop email programs that can also be configured are PC-Pine (for
PCs only), and Outlook Express (for both Macs and PCs).
Network-settings:
Values that enable your computer to
communicate over the Internet. On a Windows 95/98/2000/NT/me PC, these
settings
include such terms as your "IP address"; "host"; and
"domain"; and are found by clicking:
Start >
Settings >
Control Panel >
Network >
Configuration >
TCP/IP >
Properties.
Outlook Express:
A desktop email program that can be configured to read your UW email from
Dante or Homer on both Macs and PCs. Outlook Express comes with Internet
Explorer.
Other desktop email programs that can also be configured are PC-Pine (for
PCs only), and Netscape Messenger (for both Macs and PCs).
Password--
A string of alphabetic and non-alphabetic characters you make up
yourself which, when combined with your UW NetID, give you access to
UW Internet services, such as UW email.
More information
PC-Pine:
a version of Pine, the popular email program on UW Technology Unix computers, that
is available under the name PC-Pine
for desktop computers running Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, or
Millennium.
More information
Pine:
Program for Internet News & Email,
an email program developed and distributed at the UW for reading,
sending, and managing email. Pine operates on UW Technology
Uniform Access computers, such as Homer or Dante, whereas PC-Pine,
its nearly identical twin, operates on desktop machines.
More information
POP:
Post Office Protocol, is used to retrieve email
from a server. POP
transfers all of your mail to the PC that you are currently on,
so that if you move to another machine, and you have not explicitly
told POP to leave a copy of your email on the mail server, you cannot
access that email which you last read. This
differs from IMAP, where the incoming mail remains on a central machine
that you can access anywhere. The UW recommends the IMAP protocol.
Mail server:
Usually refers to a remote machine that handles your incoming and outgoing
mail.
Most people use a desktop program, such as PC-Pine or Outlook Express,
which communicates with the mail server to handle incoming and outgoing
mail.
UW Site licensed software:
Software that has been acquired through a UW site license agreement, an
agreement that grants the UW permission to copy and distribute the
licensed software to members of the UW community. Generally, this
software is for university-related use only. Eligibility (affiliation,
installation, and usage restrictions) requirements must be met by the
purchaser. Examples of such software include
matlab and SAS.
More information
SMTP:
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, a means of
sending and receiving e-mail. This protocol is usually invoked by your
email program and is not something that you typically invoke yourself.
Spam:
a slang term for unsolicited junk email.
More information
SSH:
Secure SHell, a program that lets you
log into another computer over
a network, execute commands in a remote machine, or move
files from one machine to another. It provides strong
authentication and secure communications over unsecure channels.
It is intended as a replacement for telnet and other less secure
protocols. SSH is now required for access to UW computers.
More information
SSL:
Secure Sockets Layer, a protocol
used to send encrypted HTTP (Web) transactions.
This helps
protect your sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, as it is
sent
over the web. You can tell you are using SSL when an "s"appears after
"http," such as https://www.whatever.com. In addition, a small padlock
appears at the bottom of your browser page.
Subnet mask:
A string of binary bits, expressed in octal, that screens Internet address
values so the router does not have to look at the entire 32 bit address --
it can simply look at the bits selected by the mask.
More information
Telnet:
The main Internet protocol that allows you to sign on to a remote UNIX
computer from another computer located anywhere on the Internet. To telnet
to a UW remote computer, you usually need to supply a UW NetID and
password.
URL--
Uniform Resource Locator, an address for a
resource
(usually a Web page) on the Internet. URLs usually start with the string:
"http://www..." and are used by browsers, such as Internet Explorer, to
locate a page that resides in a certain directory on
a certain computer.
More information
UWICK:
UW Internet Connectivity Kit,
a CD-ROM that provides a basic suite of Internet applications for Macintosh and PC computers. The CD-ROM assists UW students, faculty,
and staff in connecting to the Internet, both at home and on campus.
The UWICK also contains other useful applications such as SSH, PC-Pine,
Internet Explorer, Netscape Communicator, Stuffit Expander, and the latest
Anti-Virus software. To get a copy of UWICK, you can either visit the UW
bookstore, or download it from the UW web page.
More information
UW NetID:
A personal login name or user name that allows you access to UW computing
services such as UW email, dial-in modem pools, and labs at the
University of Washington. Your UW NetID is the same as your login
name on Homer or Dante.
Students, faculty and staff must have a UW NetID to access UW computing
services.
More information
WebPine:
a new Web-based email program. Developed by the University of
Washington's Pine Team, WebPine is designed to provide secure,
straightforward and widely accessible connections to email for UW
students, staff, faculty and affiliates.
More information
An example of a pop-up glossary item
Cable modem--
A device that allows a very-high speed connection between your computer
and the Internet.
Cable modems work through your cable TV network, unlike DSL, which works
on regular telephone lines.
More information
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