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Glossary
Dell™PowerEdge™1600SCSystemsUser'sGuide
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The following list defines or identifies technical terms, abbreviations, and acronyms used in your system documents.
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A
Abbreviation for ampere(s).
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AC
Abbreviation for alternating current.
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adapter card
An expansion card that plugs into an expansion-card connector on the computer's system board. An adapter card adds some specialized function to the
system by providing an interface between the expansion bus and a peripheral device. Examples of adapter cards include network cards, sound cards, and
SCSI adapters.
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application program
Software, such as a spreadsheet or word processor, designed to help you perform a specific task or series of tasks. Application programs run from the
operating system.
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asset tag number
An individual number assigned to a system, usually by a system administrator, for security or tracking purposes.
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backup
A copy of a program or data file. As a precaution, you should back up your system's hard drive on a regular basis. Before making a change to the configuration
of your system, you should back up important start-up files from your operating system.
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backup battery
The backup battery maintains system configuration, date, and time information in a special section of memory when the system is turned off.
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beep code
A diagnostic message in the form of a pattern of beeps from your system's speaker. For example, one beep, followed by a second beep, and then a burst of
three beeps is beep code 1-1-3.
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BIOS
Acronym for basic input/output system. Your system's BIOS contains programs stored on a flash memory chip. The BIOS controls the following:
l Communications between the microprocessor and peripheral devices, such as the keyboard and the video adapter
l Miscellaneous functions, such as system messages
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bit
The smallest unit of information interpreted by your system.
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