M
M
1) Mega. A prefix used with units of measurement to designate a multiple of 1,000,000. 2) 1M = 2^20 = 1,048,576. A prefix used as a multiple for bits, bytes, or words in denoting size of a block of data or memory. Example: 2M bytes = 2,097,152 bytes.
MAC
See Medium Access Control.
MAC-LAYER BRIDGE
A bridge that connects two similar LANs. Each LAN must use the same frame formatting, because a MAC-layer bridge reads the frame addresses, builds a table of which node addresses exist on either side of the bridge, and either filters or forwards each frame as necessary. This type of bridge is sometimes called a transparent or learning bridge. When a bridge joins two LANs together, they appear to be one single LAN; however, traffic on each side of the bridge is limited to that specific LAN-unless forwarding is required.
Format of Electronic Mail Messages
MAIL EXPLODER
Part of an electronic mail delivery system which allows a message to be delivered to a list of addressees. Mail exploders are used to implement mailing lists. Users send messages to a single address (e.g., hacks@somehost.edu) and the mail exploder takes care of delivery to the individual mailboxes in the list.
MAIL GATEWAY
A machine that connects two or more electronic mail systems (especially dissimilar mail systems on two different networks) and transfers messages between them. Sometimes the mapping and translation can be quite complex, and generally it requires a store-and-forward scheme whereby the message is received from one system completely before it is transmitted to the next system after suitable translations.
MAINTENANCE OPERATION PROTOCOL
(MOP) A DEC protocol used for remote communication between hosts and servers.
MAN
Display reference manual page (UNIX version of help)
MAN
See Metropolitan Area Network
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION BASE
(MIB) SNMP lets TCP/IP-based network management clients exchange information about the configuration and status of nodes on a TCP/IP-based internetwork. The information available is defined by a set of "managed objects" such as TCP, IP, and ICMP statistics. The subset of managed objects making up the TCP/IP portion of the MIB is maintained by each TCP/IP node. The MIB is a virtual information store.
MANCHESTER ENCODING
Digital encoding technique specified for IEEE 802.3 Ethernet baseband network standard. Each bit period is divided into complimentary halves; a negative-to-positive (voltage) transmission in the middle of the bit period designates a binary "1", while a positive-to negative transition represents a "0". The encoding technique also allows the receiving device to recover the transmitted clock from the incoming data stream (self-clocking).
MANUAL DATA INPUT
(MDI) The means by which the control operator can manually enter data via the operator panel.
MANUAL DIALING
Dialing a remote modem from a telephone connected to the modem. This is in contrast to automatic dialing, where the modem dials the number.
MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION PROTOCOL
(MAP) A variant of the token-passing bus. Systematic specification in which OSI standards can be integrated into a real open system network. Started by General Motors. See MMS
MANUFACTURING MESSAGE SPECIFICATION
A layer of MAP
MAP
See Manufacturing Automation Protocol.
MAPI
Microsoft Mail Application Programmer's Interface OR See Messaging Application Programming Interface.
MARTIAN
Humorous term applied to packets that turn up unexpectedly on the wrong network because of bogus routing entries. Also used as a name for a packet which has an altogether bogus (non-registered or ill-formed) Internet address.
MASQUERADE
A spoof that pretends to be another user. In the case of NetWare, the masquerade can be a program running on another workstation on the network that has the understanding of SAP protocols, and then responds to a GetNearestServer query with a fake GiveNearestServer reply. See Spoof.
MASTER BOOT RECORD
(MBR) A portion of a hard disk that contains a partition table that divides the drive into chunks, some of which may be assigned to operating systems other than DOS.
MATRIX ARRAY
See Area Diode Array.
MAU
See Medium Attachment Unit See Multistation Access Unit.
MAXIMUM TRANSMISSION UNIT
(MTU) The largest amount of data that can be transmitted across a given physical network.
MBPS
Mega Bits per Second
MBR
See Master Boot Record.
MBUF
A common data structure used by all parts of the ISP system for data storage. The mbuf data structure provides an efficient way to store variable-length data blocks.
MC
IC part number prefix indicating Motorola Semiconductor Products, Inc.
MCA
See Microchannel Architecture.
MCI
See Media Control Interface.
MCS
Manufacturing Control System.
MCS
See Microsoft Consulting Services.
MCU
Multipoint Control Unit
MDI
See Multiple Document Interface. OR See Manual Data Input.
MEDIA
Cabling, telecommunications medium, and electromagnetic wave media used to transport bits of data from one node to another on a network. Generally, the term medium refers to whatever type of cable (or electromagnetic medium) may be used in a LAN or WAN.
MEDIA ACCESS CONTROL
See Medium Access Control.
MEDIA ACCESS CONTROL
See Medium Access Control.
MEDIA CLIP
A video segment usually interleaved with an audio segment.
MEDIA CONTROL ARCHITECTURE
System-level specification developed by Apple Computer for addressing various media devices (videodisc/videotape players, CD players, etc.) to its Macintosh computers.
MEDIA CONTROL INTERFACE
(MCI) A standard control interface for multimedia devices and files. Platform-independent multimedia specification published by Microsoft Corporation and others in 1990. Provides a consistent way to control devices such as CD-ROMs and video playback units.
MEDIA TECHNOLOGY DRIVERS
MTDs provide an effective method for making upper software layers independent of card technology. In the future, almost every PCMCIA card will have MTDs associated with it. The MTDs will containinformation such as programming algorithms for various devices on the card.
MEDIALESS WORK STATION
A work station without a disk drive.
MEDIUM
See Media.
MEDIUM ACCESS CONTROL
(MAC) The MAC is the sublayer in between the physical and datalink layers for controlling the use of the network hardware. The middle layer in IEEE's 802 model for LANs. The MAC layer specifies access protocol, frame formatting, node addressing, and error-control mechanisms in a LAN. The MAC layer forms the basis for the type of LAN, whereas the physical layer adds various alternative physical media for transporting the LAN frames. Novell had misused the term 'bridge' to describe NetWare routers in version 2.15 and 3.10, and in earlier documentation and training. The residual of material and impressions continues to cause confusion. A bridge processes frames only. It works at the data link layer, (OSI layer 2) is governed by IEEE standards, and is part of the LAN. A router is a distinctly different device that processes packets of data after the frame has been discarded, works at the network layer (OSI layer 3), and is exclusive from the LAN. In a bridged environment, the two LANs appear to be one network address to NetWare; whereas in a routed environment, each LAN is a separate entity and is identified with a different network address. The communications software that controls the interface between the LAN protocol software and the workstation's LAN or WAN adapter. Also see Router, IPX, Network Address, and Bridge.
MEDIUM ATTACHMENT UNIT
(MAU) An IEEE term to describe the device that connects an external transceiver to the 15-pin connector on an Ethernet NIC. The same device is described in Ethernet II vernacular as a DIX connector; there is no difference except in terminology.
MEMBRANE KEYPAD
An operator-interface device that uses flat-panel switch contacts. They are usually sealed and rugged.
MEMORY
A storage medium where data or program code are kept temporarily while being used by the computer. DOS supports up to 640Kb of conventional memory. Beyond that limit may be accessed in other ways. See Expanded Memory, Extended Memory, and Upper Memory Block (UMB).
MEMORY INFECTION
Contamination of memory by a virus. The only certain way to eliminate memory infections is to restart from a disk known to be uninfected, then clean up the source of infection.
MEMORY PROTECTION
Strict management of system memory to prevent the corruption of any application's program code or data by interference from another application. Memory protection ensures that concurrent applications are compatible and prevents them from interfering with system processes.
MEMORY-MAPPED FILES
An operating system feature that maps a file into a program's address space, allowing an application to read and modify a file's content as if the file were an in-memory data structure. Memory-mapped files use demand paging to allow applications to access and manipulate files regardless of how big the files are. Without memory-mapped files, every application that works with large files must include code to handle the movement of data between the disk and the main memory.
MEMS
See Micro Electromechanical Systems.
MENU
List of options at a particular point in a program. It's just like a restaurant menu - everything has a misleading name and what you want is never available.
MERIT-INP
MERIT Internodal Protocol
MERLIN
A type of AT&T phone system. A registered trademark of AT&T.
MESSAGE HANDLING SYSTEM
(MHS) The system of message user agents, message transfer agents, message stores, and access units which together provide OSI electronic mail. MHS is specified in the CCITT X.400 series of Recommendations.
MESSAGE TRANSFER AGENT
(MTA). An OSI application process used to store and forward messages in the X.400 Message Handling System. Equivalent to Internet mail agent.
MESSAGE-ID
Every news and mail message sent over the internet has an absolutely unique message identifier. The identifier is contained inside angle brackets and typically looks something like <uniquenum@full.domain.host>. i.e. <91028938183.bba3@titan.ksc.nasa.gov>.
MESSAGECLASS
(For a Telephony Services Driver Interface) The messageClass enumerates the message class for the message. Message classes fall in three general categories: confirmation, solicited, and unsolicited events.
MESSAGELENGTH
(For a Telephony Services Driver Interface) The messageLength is a value that provides the length of the request or response message associated with this Driver Control block. This field must be set to 0 if no message block is associated with this Driver Control block.
MESSAGEOFFSET
(For a Telephony Services Driver Interface) The messageOffset is a value that determines the start of the request or response message associated with this Driver Control block. The messageOffset must be added to the address of the Driver Control block to get the start of the message. This field should be set to 0 if no message block is included with the Driver Control block.
MESSAGES
Data to be passed between nodes is first assembled as messages, which are further broken into packets appropriately sized to fit the specific frame type for the LAN. NCP provides this function, negotiating the appropriate packet size during a workstation connection request. NCP packet headers contain a sequence number, which is used to reassemble the packetized data back into messages on the receiving end. See NCP, OSI Model, and UNA..
MESSAGETYPE
(For a Telephony Services Driver Interface) The messageType indicates the type of message block following the DC in the message buffer. The messageType field defines each message within a messageClass.
MESSAGING APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE
Allows applications in the Windows operating system to access a variety of messaging services in a consistent manner. (Electronic mail, etc.) Microsoft Mail Application Programmer's Interface.
METAGRAM
Metagram Relay
METAL OXIDE VARISTOR
A clamping type suppressor that has a clamping voltage of around 300 to 400 volts. Protective clamping begins above this point.
METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK
(MANs)The MAN standard originally was intended for local area networking, but its size and scope mandate that it be managed by a central body, such as the telephone company or other commercial organizations. In this regard, it is similar to WANs. You can implement city-wide MANs that can carry data rates as high as 155 Mbps. The IEEE 802.6 committee is trying to standardize MANs. MAN structure originally was based on coaxial technology with a slotted ring approach, but that standard was superseded by growth in fiber optic technology. The following list summarizes the differences between LANs and MANs: * City and suburban areas employ MANs, whereas areas that cover smaller geographical distances employ LANs. * Public operation of MANs through a telephone company raises issues of security, reliability, cost, and central billing that do not arise in LAN setups. * MANs can serve as high speed backbones that are faster than FDDI. * MANs can carry a mix of voice, video, and data traffic more effectively than LANs. * MANs cross public rights of way. Service utilities such as telephone companies have these permissions; LAN owners typically do not. MANs can transmit a mix of voice and data traffic. Another possible use of MAN technology is to provide LAN connectivity. The media access technology used by MAN, Dual Queue Dual Bus (DQDB), unlike FDDI, scales very well across longer distances and higher data rates than the current MAN specification. It is for this reason, perhaps, that Bell Communications Research (Bellcore) is interested in using DQDB as one of the techniques for its Switched Multi-Megabit Data Stream (SMDS) services. MAN services can be supplied city-wide by phone companies or by commercial organizations. You can use routers with a MAN connection to interconnect LANs at data speeds up to 100 Mbps. Or the MAN can be used as a backbone for LANs. MAN networks are of two types: private and public. These types are similar to private and public X.25 networks. For organizations that have stringent security or large data transfer requirements, a private MAN can be used. Private MANs use dedicated cables; because only the organization's data is on the MAN, this simplifies security and billing issues. This type of MAN is like a very large LAN. Not all organizations, however, can justify the expense of a private MAN. Most organizations use shared cables that have traffic from a variety of sources, including city and state governments, and private organizations. DQDB is the media access protocol used in MAN and is based on a proposal by Telecom Australia and its subsidiary QPSX. Originally, this protocol was known as the QPSX (Queued Packet and Synchronous Exchange) protocol, but was later changed to DQDB to avoid confusion with the QPSX company. It consists of two loops of fiber in the form of a bus. DQDB is arranged in the form of a ring so that a central station can provide clocking and synchronization information for transmission of frames. Data frames are sent on both buses but in opposite directions. Fault isolation mechanisms can bypass malfunctioning nodes or breaks in the cable. The dual bus architecture permits the use of a clever MAC protocol that enables requests for transmission from stations to be placed in a distributed queue. This distributed queue mechanism provides access characteristics independent of network size and speeds. Each slot contains two control bits, BUSY and REQ. A BUSY bit indicates that a slot is busy and REQ is used by a station to request an empty slot. A station that wants to send data on a bus makes its request on the reverse bus by setting the REQ bit flag. The REQ bit informs the upstream neighbors that a station downstream wants access to a slot. Each node keeps track of requests downstream from it by counting the REQ bits as they pass on the reverse bus. The REQ counter is incremented for requests on the reverse bus. The REQ counter contents are transferred to the Count Down (CD) counter. The CD counter is decremented for each free slot on the forward bus because a free slot will be used by a station downstream that previously made its request through the REQ bit. A station can use the first free slot after its CD counter reaches zero. Using these counters, a first-in-first-out queue is formed. The queue position is indicated by the value of CD in each station. It is truly a distributed queue that is 100 percent fair.
MF
National Semiconductor part prefix that indicates the device is in device family: Liear (Monolithic Filter)
MFE-NSP
MFE Network Services Protocol
MHS
See Message Handling System
MHZ
Megahertz
MIB
See Management Information Base.
MIC FIBER OPTIC CABLE
See Multifiber indoor cable.
MICHELANGELO VIRUS
On March 6th, overwrites the hard disk with random data.
MICRO ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
(MEMS) Creating controllable, mechanical, moveable structures using IC technology.
MICROCHANNEL ARCHITECTURE
(MCA) Personal computer bus architecture introduced by IBM in some of its PS/2 series microcomputers. Incompatible with original PC/AT (ISA) architecture. A proprietary 32-bit computer and bus architecture designed by IBM to improve bus bandwidth and facilitate bus mastering. MCA is not backward compatible with ISA and requires exclusive use of MCA devices.
MICROCOM NETWORKING PROTOCOL
(MNP) Provides error control and data compression when a modem is communicating with another modem that supports MNP. (MNP classes 1 through 4 are specified by CCITT V.42 as a backup error control scheme for LAPM.) Modems can support five MNP classes. Each MNP class has all the features of the previous class plus its own.
MICROPROCESSOR
A miniaturized processor. Previous processors were built on integrated circuit boards with many large components. Most processors today use high-tech, silicon-based technology that improves performance, reduces heat generation, and is more efficient.
MICROSOFT'S TELEPHONY APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE
See Windows Telephony Application Programming Interface.
MICROSOFT CONSULTING SERVICES
(MCS) The Microsoft consulting service, founded in 1990 to help clients develop mission-critical business systems and to work with major systems integra tors to provide specialized expertise in PC technologies in cooperative processing environments.
MICROSOFT DIAGNOSTICS PROGRAM
Type MSD at the DOS prompt.
MICROSOFT DISK OPERATING SYSTEM
The standard operating system for computers equipped with the Intel 8086 and 8088 microprocessors, and for 80X86 microprocessors running in 8086 mode.
MICROSOFT DOWNLOAD SERVICE
(206) 936-6735 N81 1200, 2400, 9600 - anonymous FTP: ftp.microsoft.com - mail name as password
MICROSOFT NETWORK
The MS-DOS networking systems software product shipped in 1985. Largely superseded by Microsoft LAN Manager.
MICROSTEPPING
The ability to divide a full step of a stepping motor into smaller increments for fine positioning and smoother movement.
MICROVAX PROCESSOR
A modified MicroVAX computer that is contained in a two-board set within the MicroVAX Information Processor module. The MicroVAX processor meets VAX architectural requirements, and can function as a node on a DECnet network.
MICROWAVE LAN
Must be licensed by the FCC and is very costly to install. It is primarily useful for short point-to-point interconnections. Microwave can be used between two locations that are within line of sight of one another, usually at a distance up to 10 miles. Note that if the signal must pass over different terrestrial formations, such as lakes, concrete, or farm land, the microwave signal can be compromised because of the varying densities of the air through which it will pass.
MIDI
See Musical Instrument Digital Interface.
MILITARY NETWORK
(MILNET) Originally part of the ARPANET, MILNET was partitioned in 1984 to make it possible for military installations to have reliable network service, while the ARPANET continued to be used for research. See DDN.
MILLIONS OF INSTRUCTIONS PER SECOND
A measure of processing speed that refers to the average number of machine language instructions performed by the CPU in one second. A typical Intel 80386-based PC is a 3 to 5 MIPS machine, whereas an IBM System 370 mainframe typically delivers between 5 and 40 MIPS. MIPS measures raw CPU performance, but not overall system performance.
MILLIONS OF OPERATIONS PER SECOND
In the case of DVI technology, more MOPS translate to better video quality. Intel's video processor can perform multiple video operations per instruction, thus the MOPS rating is usually greater than the MIPS rating.
MILNET
See MILitary NETwork
MIME
See Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions.
MIPS
See Millions of Instructions Per Second.
MIS
Management Information Systems
MIT-DOV
MIT Dover Spooler
MIT-ML-DEV
MIT ML Device
MIT-SUBNET
MIT Subnet Support
MJ
See Modular Jack.
MLC-5
A cordless telephone that is compatible with the AT&T Merlin Legend system.
MLID
See Multiple-Link Interface Driver
MLID
See Multi-Link Interface Driver.
MLT
Mechanized Loop Testing
MMJ
See Modified Modular Jack.
MMS
See Manufacturing Message Specification.
MNP
See Microcom Networking Protocol.
MNP CLASS 1
(also called block mode): Sends data in one direction at a time. About 70 percent as fast as data transmissions using no error correction.
MNP CLASS 2
(also called stream mode): Sends data in both directions at the same time. About 84 percent as fast as data transmissions using no error correction.
MNP CLASS 3
Sending modem strips start and stop bits from data block before sending it. Receiving modem adds start and stop bits before passing the data to the receiving computer. About 8 percent faster than data transmissions using no error correction.
MNP CLASS 4
Monitors the quality of the connection and streamlines the information in the headers of data blocks. If the telephone line is relatively noise-free, the modem sends larger blocks of data to increase throughput. If the telephone line is noisy, the modem sends smaller blocks of data so that less data will have to be resent. This means more successful transmissions on the first try. About 20 percent faster than data transmissions using no error correction.
MNP CLASS 5
Provides data compression. Sending modem detects redundant data and recodes it to fewer bits to increase the effective throughput. Receiving modem decompresses the data before passing it to the receiving computer. Up to 100 percent faster than data transmissions using no data compression or error correction, depending on the kind of data transmitted. (Files that are already compressed will seem to contain less redundant data and may therefore take longer to transmit using MNP class 5 than they would if you were using no data compression.)
MODEM
(Derived from Modulator/Demodulator) A modem transforms (modulates) digital information into an analog signal that can be sent across a telephone line. It also demodulates an analog signal it receives from the telephone line, converting the information contained in the signal back into digital information. A device enabling your computer to link up with another computer via the telephone at great expense. With it you can do things from your living room, like pay your phone bill. Emits a high-pitched screaming sound similar to that of a cat with its tail trapped in a door.
MODIFIED MODULAR JACK
(MMJ) The 6-pin connectors used to connect serial terminal lines to terminal devices. MMJ jacks can be destinguished from the similar RJ12 jacks by having a side-mounted locking tab, rather than a center mounted one.
MODULAR JACK
(MJ) A jack used for connecting voice cables to a faceplate, such as for a telephone.
MODULATOR / DEMODULATOR
See Modem
MODULO
A mathematical operation whose result is the remainder of a division operation.
MODULUS 43 CHECK CHARACTER
Used in Code 39 for data security in addition to the built-in self-checking characters. The check-character is the modulus 43 sum of all of the character values in a given message and is the last character in the code.
MONITOR-CROSSREFID
(For a Telephony Services Driver Interface) The monitorCrossRefID is a value for pairing monitor request-response messages. This monitorCrossRefID is set only in unsolicted events sent by the Driver in response to a previously opened monitor. Note: The cstaMonitorStartConfEvent message includes a monitorCrossRefID in the actual structure and this is the place where a driver should indicate the cross reference ID for that monitor, not here in the DC block.
MOP
See Maintenance Operations Protocol.
MOPS
See Millions of Operations Per Second.
MOST-SIGNIFICANT BYTE
In a group of bytes, the left-most byte that represents the largest number of units. The most-significant byte is often stored in memory as the last byte of the set.
MOTION PICTURE EXPERT GROUP
(MPEG) Similar to spatial compression of JPEG, but adds frame-to-frame temporal compression. Compaction is typically 3 times better than video JPEG. Produces VCR quality video. MPEGII yields broadcast quality video.
MOTION VIDEO
Video that displays real motion by displaying a sequence of images (frames) rapidly enough that the eyes see the image as a continuously moving picture.
MOV
See Metal Oxide Varistor.
MOVABLE CODE SEGMENT
A Windows application code segment that can be moved around in memory.
MPC
See Multimedia PC.
MPEG
See Motion Picture Expert Group.
MPM
Internet Message Protocol (Multimedia Mail)
MPM-FLAGS
MPM Flags Protocol
MPM-SND
MPM Send Protocol
MPP
See Multi-protocol processor.
MPR
See Multi-protocol router.
MS-DOS
See Microsoft Disk Operating System.
MS-NET
See Microsoft Network.
MSAU
Multistation Access Unit
MSBYTE
See Most-significant byte.
MSD
See Microsoft Diagnostics program.
MSG-AUTH
MSG Authentication Protocol
MSG-ICP
MSG ICP Protocol
MST
See Multiple Sector Transfer
MTA
See Message Transfer Agent
MTBF
Mean Time Between Failure
MTD
See Media Technology Drivers
MTTR
Mean Time To Repair
MTU
See Maximum Transmission Unit.
MULTI-HOMED HOST
A computer connected to more than one physical data link. The data links may or may not be attached to the same network.
MULTI-LINK INTERFACE DRIVER
(MLID) is a network interface card driver developed to the ODI MLI specifications. The MLID controls communication between the LAN board and the Link Support Layer. There are two parts to the MLID: the Media Support Module (MSM) and the Hardware-Specific Module (HSM). The MSM is source code provided by Novell that implements the standard functions of LAN drivers into ODI for each of the standard media types. The HSM is the code written by the developer to handle the LAN board details. When the MLID receives a packet of data, it removes the media access information (MAC header) and passes the packet to the Link Support Layer. Since the media details are invisible to the LSL, this modular design provides true media independence. A Novell specification for a NIC driver interface that provides concurrent support for multiple frame types and multiple packet types and therefore network protocols such as IP, OSI, and AppleTalk. MLID drivers are to be used with Link Support Layer (LSL.COM), the IPX ODI packet driver (IPXODI.COM), and other ODI-conforming packet drivers. Accepts multiple protocol packets. When an MLID device driver receives a packet, the MLID does not interpret the packet; it copies identification information and passes the packet to the Link Support Layer (LSL). MLIDs (LAN drivers) are either supplied by Novell, the network board manufacturer, or a third-party supplier (for example, a university). The ODI-compliant network adapter card driver created by the card manufacturer. See IPX, IP, ODI, packet, frame, and network protocol.
MULTI-PROTOCOL PROCESSOR
A large-scale integration device for the serial interface card that acts as the interface between host and local memory and is the master to the host bus and DDLC.
MULTI-PROTOCOL ROUTER
(MPR) A Novell server-based software product that provides high-performance routing services for IPX, IP, AppleTalk, and OSI network protocols. MPR comes with a runtime of the NetWare 3.x OS to be installed as a stand-alone router. It provides several enhancements to normal NetWare internal router functions including Burst Mode NCP, Large Internet Packet, and RIP/SAP filtering.
MULTICAST
To send a message to more than one user on a network simultaneously. A technique that allows copies of a single packet to be broadcast to a specified number of hosts. An IP multicast never travels more than hop.
MULTIFIBER INDOOR CABLE
Tight buffered fiber optic cable with 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, or 48 fibers.
MULTIMEDIA
Refers to the delivery of information that combines different content formats (motion video, audio, still images, graphics, animation, text, etc.).
MULTIMEDIA COMPUTING
Refers to the delivery of multimedia information delivered via computers.
MULTIMEDIA PC
A specification developed by the Multimedia Council. It defines the minimum platform capable of running multimedia software. PCs carrying the MPC logo will be able to run any software that also displays the MPC logo.
MULTIPLE DOCUMENT INTERFACE
Allows users to display more than one document in multiple windows.
MULTIPLE SECTOR TRANSFER
(MST) Commonly refered to as "block transfer". Instead of transfering just one sector at a time, using MST allows multiple blocks to be transfered using a single handshaking. All of the current IDE hard drives and most of the old hard drives can use MST.
MULTIPLE VIRTUAL SYSTEM
(MVS) An IBM host-based operating system. This is used to execute CICS/MVS and TSO. See CICS/MVS and TSO.
MULTIPLEXER
An electronic device for combining multiple data or voice signals into one signal group for transmission over a high-speed trunk.
MULTIPLEXOR VLM
A multiplexor is a VLM that routes calls to the proper child VLM. Requester multiplexors can be considered parent VLMs, ensuring that requests to child VLMs reach the appropriate VLM module.
MULTIPORT REPEATER
A repeater, either standalone or connected to standard Ethernet cable, for interconnecting up to eight ThinWire Ethernet segments. A repeater that has multiple in and out ports. See Wiring Concentrator.
MULTIPURPOSE INTERNET MAIL EXTENSIONS
An international standard for the exchange of text and binary files in Internet messages. It is presented in Internet Standard RFC-1341 by Nathaniel Borenstein and Ned Freed, June 1992.
MULTISTATION ACCESS UNIT
(MAU) A Token Ring LAN device that implements star-wired ring topology. A wiring concentrator also called a hub. The MAU is a physical switching device that connects all nodes into a single serial circuit. Device that is the meeting point of the wires in a token-ring system. Cables run from the MAU to link computers to the network.
MULTITASKING
The capability of an operating system to handle multiple processing tasks apparently at the same time. The concurrent management of two or more distinct tasks by a computer. Although a computer with a single processing unit can only execute one application's code at a given moment, a multitasking operating system can load and manage the execution of multiple applications, allocating processing cycles to each in sequence. Because of the processing speed of computers, the apparent result is the simultaneous processing of multiple tasks. Standard mode Windows performs multitasking only in the form of context switching; 386 enhanced mode allows multitasking in the form of timeslicing. See Preemptive Processing.
MULTIUSER
The capability of an operating system (or NOS) to handle access from multiple users at the same time. See Multitasking.
MUSIC BUG VIRUS
Plays music or makes clicking sound from the system speaker during boot or disk access.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT DIGITAL INTERFACE
(MIDI) An industry-standard connection for computer control of musical instruments and devices.
MUX
Multiplexing Protocol, or Multiplex, or See Multiplexer.
MVS
See Multiple Virtual System.