Users Guide

140 Glossary
FEPROM
Acronym for flash erasable programmable read-only
memory. Flash memory is a kind of nonvolatile storage
device similar to EEPROM, but the erasing is done only
in blocks or the entire chip.
Fibre Channel
A data transfer interface technology that allows for
high-speed I/O and networking functionality in a single
connectivity technology. The Fibre Channel Standard
supports several topologies, including Fibre Channel
Point-to-Point, Fibre Channel Fabric (generic
switching topology), and Fibre Channel Arbitrated
Loop (FC_AL).
firmware
Software (programs or data) that has been written onto
read-only memory (ROM). Firmware can boot and
operate a device. Each controller contains firmware
which helps provide the controller's functionality.
flash bios
A BIOS that is stored in flash memory rather than in
ROM. A flash BIOS chip can be updated in place,
whereas a ROM BIOS must be replaced with a
newer chip.
flash memory
A type of EEPROM chip that can be reprogrammed
from a utility on diskette while still installed in a
system; most EEPROM chips can only be rewritten
with special programming equipment.
format
To prepare a hard drive or diskette for storing files. An
unconditional format deletes all data stored on the disk.
FPBGA
Abbreviation for field programmable gate array, a
programmable logic chip (PLD) with a high density
of gates.
FRU
Abbreviation for field replaceable unit.
ft
Abbreviation for feet.
FTP
Abbreviation for file transfer protocol.
g
Abbreviation for gram(s).
G
Abbreviation for gravities.
GB
Abbreviation for gigabyte(s). A gigabyte equals
1024 megabytes or 1,073,741,824 bytes.
gcc
Abbreviation for gnu C compiler.
graphics coprocessor
See coprocessor.
graphics mode
A video mode that can be defined as x horizontal by y
vertical pixels by z colors.
GUI
Acronym for graphical user interface.
h
Abbreviation for hexadecimal. A base-16 numbering
system, often used in programming to identify
addresses in the system's RAM and I/O memory
addresses for devices. The sequence of decimal
numbers from 0 through 16, for example, is expressed
in hexadecimal notation as: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A,
B, C, D, E, F, 10. In text, hexadecimal numbers are
often followed by h.