WHS Jargon

This is a work in progress. If you would like other words added or have a better definition, please reply.

ACL – An access control list (ACL) is an advanced permission settings. It is a table that tells the computer operating system which access rights each user has to a particular system object, such as a file directory or individual file. Each object has a security attribute that identifies its access control list. The list has an entry for each system user with access privileges. The most common privileges include the ability to read a file (or all the files in a directory), to write to the file or files, and to execute the file (if it is an executable file, or program).

Add-In – A supplemental program that can extend the capabilities of the Windows Home Server program.

Activate – To interact with an activation server at the time copy-protected software is installed. The install program generates a code that is sent to the activation server, which responds with an authorization code that allows the software to operate. Without the authorization code, the software generally times out.

Administrator – The person responsible for planning, configuring, and managing the day-to-day operation of a computer and/or a network.

Back up – To make a duplicate copy of the files on a hard-drive volume.

Backup – A duplicate copy of the files on a home computer hard-drive volume.

Backup Time – The time when Windows Home Server performs daily automatic backups and maintenance.

Beta – Relating to the Windows Home Server software that is a beta.  Usually betas have most or all of the features and functionality implemented that the finished product is to have.

BIOS – Acronym for basic input/output system. On PC-compatible computers, the set of essential software routines that tests hardware at startup, starts the operating system, and supports the transfer of data among hardware devices, including the date and time. The operating system date is initialized from the BIOS or Real Time Clock date when the machine is booted. The BIOS is stored in read-only memory (ROM) so that it can be executed when the computer is turned on. Although critical to performance, the BIOS is usually invisible to computer users.

Client – On a local area network or the Internet, a computer that accesses shared network resources provided by another computer (called a server). Your client connects to the Windows Home Server.

Compatibility Mode – A mode in which software on one system supports operations of software from another system.

Connector – A piece of software that connects your home computers to your home server. It is installed on each client PC and enables you to configure and remotely administer Windows Home Server from that home computer.

Console – The Windows Home Server Console is where you manage Windows Home Server and the home computers on your network. From the Windows Home Server Console you can configure user accounts, Add/view/manage the backups of your home computers, configure shared folders and server storage and view/change Windows Home Server settings.

CTP – Community Technology Preview.This is just a point in time release to get more bits into hands of testers between beta releases.

DE – See Drive Extender.

Discovery – If you need to re-connect your home PCs to the Windows Home Server without reinstalling the connector software, it is as easy as  running %programfiles%\Windows Home Server\discovery.exe

Drive Extender – A file-based replication system that provides three key capabilities. Multi-disk redundancy via folder duplication so that if any given disk fails, data is not lost. Storage expansion by supporting any type of hard disk drive (Serial ATA, USB, FireWire etc.) in any mixture and capacity and a single folder namespace, so no drive letters.

Dynamic DNS – Short for dynamic Domain Name System. A method of keeping an easy to remember subdomain name (smithfamily.homeserver.com) linked to a changing (dynamic) IP address in real time. This makes it easy for you to establish a connection to your Windows Home Server remote access page without needing to track the IP address.

Folder Duplication – Shared folder’s within the Windows Home Server Console have the option of of having Folder Duplication enabled. Enabling it will duplicate that folder on to multiple disks (if fitted). This protects you from losing your files/data that are in that folder to hard drive failure.

Guest – A user who does not have a user account or who does not provide a password.

homeserver.com – The sub-domain name provided by Microsoft in the RTM version to allow remote access to the web interface e.g.smithfamily.homeserver.com.

Home Network – Two or more home computers connected together to share files and devices.

Home Server – The computer running the Windows Home Server operating system.

livenode.com – The sub-domain name provided by Microsoft in the beta version’s to allow remote access to the web interface e.g.smithfamily.livenode.com.

LLTD Responder – In the Windows Vista Network and Sharing Center is the network map. This tool displays a graphical view of the vista computers on your network and how they are connected by using the LLTD protocol. The Link Layer Topology Discovery Responder allows non Vista systems to appear in this graphical view.

Media – Objects that store computer data. Examples include hard drives, optical discs, USB flash drives, floppy disks, CDs and DVDs.

Network – A group of computers or other devices, such as printers and scanners, that communicate either wirelessly or by using a physical connection, such as an Ethernet cable or a phone line.

Port – As in an Internet or Network port consists of a number that indicates what kind of protocol a server on the Internet is using. For example, Web servers typically are listed on port 80, which web browsers use by default when accessing Web pages. FTP uses port 21, e-mail uses port 25. Windows Home Server uses various ports.

Port Forwarding – (also known as tunneling or virtual servers) is the act of forwarding a network port number from one network node to another. This allows an external user to reach a port on a private IP address (inside the network) from outside the network via the Internet.

Power Pack 1 – (PP1) is a major functional upgrade to Windows Home Server, offering a number of important and major new features and fixes as well.

Print Server – A computer that is dedicated to managing printers on a network. The print server can be the Windows Home Server machine. Also called: printer server.

QSM – A server service that is part of the Drive Extender / Server Storage functionality. It stands for “Q Storage Manager” and is one of the few remaining linkages to the product code name.

RC – Release Candidate, this is the one that normally becomes an RTM.

RDP – Remote Desktop Protocol. Remote Desktop provides access to the desktop of a computer running Windows f
rom a computer at another location. For example, connect to your Windows Home Server computer from another computer at work and use all your applications, files, and network resources just as if you were actually in your home, using your WHS computer.

Restore – To return your computer to the state it was in when it was backed up. You can restore individual files or entire hard-drive volumes.

RTM – Release To Manufacturing. This is the version that gets shrink wrapped.

Server – A computer system in a network that is shared by multiple users.

Server 2003 – The .NET version of the Windows 2000 server operating system. WHS is the consumer version of Windows Server 2003 designed for homes with multiple PCs.

Server Storage – One or more hard drives managed by Windows Home Server. When you add a new hard drive to server storage by using the Server Storage tab on the console, the available space of the new hard drive is added to your server-storage total. You can add either internal or external hard drives, such as USB or FireWire drives.

Shared Folder – A folder on a computer that has been made available for other people on a network to use.

Single Instance Store – Backups are made using Single Instance Store technology to avoid multiple copies of the same file, even if that file exists on multiple PCs thus keeping the backup size as small as possible.

SIS – Short for (see) Single Instance Store.

Tombstone – When a file is copied to the server it will land into the data partition on your primary drive, and over time it will be moved out to make space for new files. After being moved out a special pointer (“tombstone”) is created in the data partition, pointing to the actual file in the storage pool.

Vail – The codename for the next major release of Windows Home Server.

Volume – A storage area on a hard drive, flash drive, or other media that is formatted with a file system. Volumes can be identified by drive letters, or other conventions specific to a given operating system. A single hard drive can have multiple volumes. Some volumes can span multiple hard drives.

Web Interface – A web page to easily access your files and home computers while you are away from home. You can download files, upload files, and remotely connect to your home computers to run a program.

WHS – Short for Windows Home Server.

Windows Update – An updating service on Microsoft’s Web site that enables users to obtain bug fixes and new features for their version of Windows. Windows Update components analyze your PC’s configuration and display a list of appropriate downloads for your individual system.

Workgroup – Two or more individuals who share files are part of a workgroup. Local networks (LANs) are designed to provide electronic sharing of data within workgroups and easier and central with a Windows Home Server.