Users Guide

186 Glossary
parallel port
An I/O port used most often to connect a parallel printer to your system. You can
usually identify a parallel port on your system 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 with
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.
PC card
A credit-card sized, removable module for portable computers standardized by
PCMCIA. PC Cards are also known as "PCMCIA cards." PC Cards are 16-bit
devices that are used to attach modems, network adapters, sound cards, radio
transceivers, solid state disks and hard disks to a portable computer. The PC Card
is a "plug and play" device, which is configured automatically by the Card Services
software.
PCI
Abbreviation for Peripheral Component Interconnect. The predominant 32-bit
or 64-bit local-bus standard 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 system.
PGA
Abbreviation for pin grid array, a type of microprocessor socket that allows you to
remove the microprocessor chip.