User's Manual

226 Glossary
parallel port
An I/O port used most often to connect a parallel printer to your computer. You
can identify a parallel port on your computer by its 25-hole connector.
parameter
A value or option that you specify to a program. A parameter is sometimes called
a
switch or an argument .
partition
You can divide a hard drive into multiple physical sections called partitions using
the
fdisk command. Each partition can contain multiple logical drives.
After partitioning the hard drive, you must format each logical drive with the
format command.
PCI
Abbreviation for Peripheral Component Interconnect. A standard for local-bus
implementation developed by Intel Corporation.
PCMCIA
Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. An international
trade association that has developed standards for devices, such as modems and
external hard drives, that can be plugged into portable computers.
PERC
Acronym for Expandable RAID controller.
peripheral device
An internal or external device—such as a printer, a disk drive, or a keyboard—
connected to a computer.
PGA
Abbreviation for pin grid array, a type of microprocessor socket that allows you to
remove the microprocessor chip.
physical memory array
The physical memory array is the entire physical memory of a system. Variables
for physical memory array include maximum size, total number of memory slots
on the motherboard, and total number of slots in use.