GLOSSARY:

56K Leased Line
A digital, dedicated 64 kbps circuit with 8kbps used for
signaling.  Sometimes called DDS or ADN.

Archie
A search mechanism that works in conjunction with anonymous FTP
archives, allowing users to search for files on multiple anonymous
FTP archives.

Channel Service Unit/Digital Service Unit (CSU/DSU)
Connects to the Telephone Company "channel" (56K or T1) and
provides a connection to network equipment such as a router.

Dedicated Line
A permanently connected private telephone line between two
locations.  Leased lines are typically used to connect a local area
network to an Internet service provider.

Dialup Line
A method of connecting to a computer by calling it up on the
telephone.  This is typically the same type of line used to place
normal voice telephone calls.

Domain Name System (DNS)
A distributed database system for translating computer names into
numeric Internet addresses, and vice-versa.  DNS allows access to
the Internet using more easily remembered names as opposed to
cryptic numbers.

Gopher
A protocol developed at the University of Minnesota that provides
for unified presentation of Internet services such as WAIS, Telnet,
and FTP.  Gopher is a distributed document retrieval system which
retrieves information based on user requests

FOSSIL Driver
A set of interface routines written for the IBM PC's serial port,
in order to compensate for the lack of decent ROM BIOS support for
serial communications on the IBM PC.  Stands for "Fido/Opus/SEAdog
Standard Interface Layer."

FTP
File Transfer Protocol.  FTP is a machine and operating system
independent protocol for the exchange of files that is very popular
among machines connected to the Internet.

Internet Protocol (IP)
The most important protocol on which the Internet is based.  It
allows a packet to traverse multiple networks on the way to its
final destination.

IP Address
A unique Internet Protocol identifier given to each computer on
your local area network that allows it to be addressed over the
Internet.

Leased Line
See dedicated line.

Netware, Novell
A dedicated server based product from Novell for sharing data over
a local area network.

Netware Loadable Module (NLM)
A software program that runs directly on a Novell Netware server. 
Once running, the program becomes a functional part of the server.

Packet
A bundle of data.  On the Internet data is broken into small
chunks, called "packets"; each packet traverses the network
independently.

Point of Presence (POP)
The closest location for a network or telephone company.  Vendors
will charge you based on how far you are from their local POP.

Point to Point Protocol (PPP)
PPP is a multiprotocol standard defined in RFC 1171 which provides
for the transmission of packets over serial lines.  Since PPP is
more complex than SLIP, it has not been as widely implemented.

Protocol
A definition for how computers will act when talking to each other. 
Standard protocols allow computers from different manufacturers to
communicate; the computers can use totally different software,
providing that the programs running on both ends agree on what the
data means.

Request For Comments (RFC)
A set of papers in which the Internet's standards, proposed
standards and generally agreed-upon ideas are documented and
published.

Router
A device that connects two or more networks, also called a gateway
in TCP/IP terminology.  Routers typically have a TCP/IP address for
each physical medium to which they are linked.  A router connected
to a SLIP link as well as an Ethernet would have two TCP/IP
addresses.  Routers function based on information in their routing
tables, which can be configured statically (common for BBSs) or
dynamically via routing protocols.

Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP)
SLIP is a simple "nonstandard" for transmission of Internet
Protocol datagrams over serial lines.  Since SLIP is a simple
protocol by nature, it is easy to implement and widely available. 
It does not provide error correction or negotiation of connection
characteristics; such features are provided for in Point to Point
Protocol (PPP).

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
The Internet standard for the exchange of electronic mail messages.

T1 Leased Line
A dedicated line that provides 1.544 mbps service.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
One of the protocols on which the Internet is based. TCP is a
connection oriented reliable protocol.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
see Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol

Terminal Server
Created to allow for simultaneous logins to a TCP/IP-based network,
terminal servers have become increasingly sophisticated devices,
recently adding support for SLIP and PPP.  In their simplest form,
a terminal server accepts connections from serial devices such as
modems and allows those devices to communicate with a network. 

Telnet
The Internet standard for remote login, is and application protocol
that runs on top of TCP/IP.  In short, telnet allows you to use
your local keyboard and monitor to control authorized actions on a
remote machine.