Specifications

Glossary 43
13 Glossary
File system
A partition or volume must be formatted with a specific file system (for example,
NTFS or FAT) so that the files can be stored on it. In common usage, the file sys-
tem is often equated with the partition in which it is located (for example, NTFS
partition). Technically, however, a partition and file system are two different
structures.
Disk
The term 'disk' includes the entire storage medium, as well in case of a remov-
able medium (physical medium, for example CD/DVD) as in case of integrated
drives (physical drive, for example hard disks). A disk can contain several parti-
tions. They are accessible through different drive letters (for example, C:, D: and
E:), although they are located on the same physical drive.
Service
A service is a program that runs in the background and provides certain functions
for other (application) programs. As opposed to a driver, a service does not run
in the operating system kernel.
Context menu
Selection menu that appears on an item or icon when right clicking.
Drive/Disk
The terms drive or disk have differing meanings in common usage, identifying
either a physical storage device or a logical volume (partition).
Partition (Volume)
Partition or volume (logical drive) denotes a contiguous area on a disk. Multiple
partitions can be created on a single disk. In Windows, every partition is associ-
ated with a drive letter (for example, C:), under which it appears in the system.
However, a partition can only be used for storing files when a file system is cre-
ated on it.
Persistence
The data from the RAM drive is permanently stored, even after the RAM drive is
switched off (48.4 Persistence).
Persistence file
User-defined file in which the data of the RAM drive is stored in persistence
mode, whilst the RAM drive is off.
14 Glossary
14.1 Glossary