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Web Hositng Glossary
Article Index
Hosting often uses its own language, or
languages, comprised of acronyms, proprietary names and terms that have
been granted new meanings. For some it's a first language. For others
it's an entirely new language. This abridged glossary is designed to
assist in "translating" the more common hosting terms into more common
language.
Apache
One of the world's most popular Web server programs, Apache was built by
a group of open-source programmers and is often used because of its
outstanding performance, strong security features and the fact that it
is free.
Application Infrastructure
The software components that your custom application relies on for its
functionality. Examples include web servers, application servers and
database servers.
Bandwidth
The amount of data that can be transmitted at a given moment to a
server. The higher your bandwidth, the larger amount of traffic your
site can handle at one time.
CGI
Short for Common Gateway Interface, a small script that processes data
taken from the user (such as from a form application).
Cgi-bin
The directory on a web server where CGI scripts are stored.
DDoS
Short for Distributed Denial of Service Attack, the most common form of
attack on network devices. It overwhelms a network by monopolizing its
bandwidth by flooding it with information from multiple hosts, thereby
preventing legitimate network traffic.
Device
Refers to the individual hardware components that make up a unique
hosted configuration. This includes servers, firewalls and load
balancers.
Firewall
A piece of security software or hardware designed to protect web
servers. They are typically used to protect sites from hacker
attacks/unauthorized access.
FTP
Short for File Transfer Protocol, a method of allowing remote users and
Web servers to exchange files.
HTML
Short for HyperText Markup Language, the language by which web servers
and client browsers communicate. All server-side functions (such as
database processing), although they may be performed in another
language, must eventually be output back to the user in HTML.
HTTP
Stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol, the protocol by which HTML files
move across the Internet. HTTP requires a client browser and an HTTP
server (typically a web server).
IDS
Short for Intrusion Detection System, it recognizes all types of hostile
network traffic and computer usage that can't be detected by a
conventional firewall.
IIS
Short for Internet Information Server, Microsoft's server software for
Windows NT/2000.
IP
Short for Internet Protocol, which designates the format of "data
packets" that are used to exchange information over the Internet.
J2EE
Short for Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition, J2EE is a programming
platform for developing and running distributed multi-tier architecture
applications, based largely on modular components running on an
application server.
LAMP
An acronym for a set of free software programs commonly used together to
run dynamic Web sites:
Linux, the operating system;
Apache, the web server;
MySQL, the database management system (or database server);
Perl, PHP, and/or Python, scripting languages.
Load Balancing
Distributing data across a network of servers in order to ensure that a
single Web server does not get overloaded with work, thereby affecting
performance.
Managed Backup
Refers to the copying of data for the purpose of having an additional
copy of an original source, specifically storing data on separate tape
media not located on the server. If the original data is damaged or
lost, the data may be copied back from that source.
Name Server
A server responsible for translating domain names and IP addresses.
NOC
Short for Network Operations Center, a hosting company's "home base," so
to speak. The NOC is usually where most administration, technical
support and physical server storage takes place.
Packet switching
The method by which most data is exchanged throughout the Internet. Most
data is broken down in to smaller "packets" prior to transfer, and then
reassembled at the destination.
RAID
Short for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, a method of data
protection/backup. Data is stored over a number of servers so that
information will still be accessible if a piece of hardware/software
crashes.
SAN
Short for Storage Area Network, a network designed to attach computer
storage devices such as disk array controllers and tape libraries to
servers. In a storage network, a server issues a request for specific
blocks, or data segments, from specific disk drives. This method is
known as block storage. The device acts in a similar fashion to an
internal drive, accessing the specified block, and sending the response
across the network.
Scalability
The ability of a piece of software or hardware to expand/grow as
necessary.
Service Level Agreement (SLA)
A formal written agreement made between two parties: the service
provider and the service recipient. The SLA itself defines the basis of
understanding between the two parties for delivery of the service
itself. The document can be quite complex, and sometimes underpins a
formal contract. Generally, an SLA should contain clauses that define a
specified level of service, support options, incentive awards for
service levels exceeded and/or penalty provisions for services not
provided.
SQL
Short for Standard Query Language. A standard protocol used to request
information from databases. Servers that can handle SQL are known as SQL
servers.
SSL
Short for Secure Sockets Layer, a protocol developed by Netscape to
handle and protect confidential/sensitive information required for
e-commerce transactions (like credit card numbers). SSL addresses
usually begin with 'https'.
VPN
Short for Virtual Private Network, a private communications network
usually used within a company, or by several different companies, to
communicate over a public network.
Web Hosting
Web hosting is a service that allows users to post web pages to the
Internet. A Web host, or hosting service provider (HSP), is a business
that provides the technologies and services needed for Web sites to be
viewed on the Web.
XML
Short for Extensible Markup Language. XML is a language allowing
developers to create their own markup tags. All XML tags are defined by
the programmer, and can be interpreted differently in different
applications. For example, the "" tag in HTML means Italics, but could
mean anything in XML, depending on the function the developer assigns to
it.
Glossary provided by TheWhir.com
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