10/100 BaseT
10 Mbps or 100 Mbps LAN (Local Area Network) over twisted pair copper cable
AccountID (A-ID)
An ID assigned to a student employee for use in their work environment
AccountID (Z-ID)
An ID assigned to the student when they are accepted for enrollment at NIU, and kept until graduation or leaving the university
Alias
A form of e-mail addressing that uses an easy to remember address to point to the originally assigned e-mail address
Antivirus Software
Software such as McAfee used to protect a computer from viruses passed via e-mail and the Internet assuming that virus definitions are updated regularly
AT
Adaptive or Assistive Technology -Technology that helps people with disabilities adapt so that they can independently pursue an education or career
AUP
Acceptable Use Policy states principles and guidelines for use of computers attached to the NIU network
Auth Code
The 9-digit authorization code required for students to make billable calls from residence hall rooms and house phones located in buildings around campus
Bandwidth
The width of a communications channel usually measured in kilobits per second
Blackboard
Online course management system used to enhance face-toface instruction and deliver distance learning
Browser
A software tool used for accessing Internet information; Internet Explorer and Mozilla are examples of browsers
CanIt Pro
Filtering software installed on the edge of the NIU network to scan incoming Internet mail for both spam and virus content
CDP
Community Data Ports – hard-wired network connections for laptops in public areas
CISCO Clean Access
A NAC (Network Admission Control) tool that evaluates a computer’s compliance with NIU’s security policies and detects vulnerabilities
Clickers
Electronic handheld devices which allow faculty to receive immediate feedback from students wirelessly. These devices are commonly referred to as clickers
Cyber Terminals
Public computers for Internet access and productivity software provided by ResTech
DHCP
Dynamic Host Control Protocol is an Internet protocol that allows a user to access an IP address from a pool
Domain Name
The unique name that identifies a computer connected to the Internet. Domain names have at least two parts separated by dots. A machine may have more than one domain name but a domain name can only point to one machine.
Electronic Mail
Electronic messages that are passed device to device (computers, PDA’s, cellular phones, etc) electronically over a network
Ethernet
A local area network (LAN) standard used for connecting computers, printers, workstations, terminals, servers, etc.
File Sharing
A feature that allows users to share files and folders on their disks with other users over a local area network or Internet
FTP
File Transfer Protocol lets users quickly transfer files to and from a distant PC or server
Hard Drive
A sealed hard disk used for storing information on the computer
Home Directory
Default network storage space assigned to a student for the storage of files. Students’ home directories default to drive H: for computers connected to the NIU network.
Host
A computer that provides client workstations with access to files and printers as shared resources to a computer network
Hub
A hub is an appliance that connects two or more devices so they can share a common network connection
Huskie Bucks (Copy Cards)
A prepaid debit account that can be put on your OneCard ID for copy, laundry in the residence halls, food services on and off campus, and much more
Huskie Tracks
A GPS system that can be monitored to show where the bus is in virtual real time
Illinois Relay Service
Illinois Relay Service or Dual Party Relay, is a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week service, that provides a manual communications link between those who use a TTY and those who use a standard voice telephone
IMAP
Internet Message Access Protocol is an Internet e-mail protocol alternative to POP3 (it allows greater control over a user’s mailbox but is less efficient in terms of resources required) used to allow users to create and manage mail over the WAN (Wide Area Network)
Internet Protocol Address
Also called IP address, a unique address that identifies a host on the network, and usually represented in a dotted-decimal notation
ISP
An Internet Service Provider is a vendor who provides access for customers to the Internet
ITAC
Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation is the organization charged with providing service and equipment to individuals who would otherwise not be able to use the telecommunications network. These include, but are not limited to, people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or visually impaired.
ITS
Information Technology Services provides campus-wide networking, telephony, software distribution, e-mail, etc., infrastructure and support
JAWS
Screen reading software used by students who are blind. Each ITS and ResTech lab features JAWS on the assistive technology (AT) stations.
Listservs
An automated mailing list used to distribute e-mail messages
LUCY
“Let Us Connect You” voice activated directory for students, faculty, staff, and departments accessed by dialing 753-4000
Modems
Hardware that converts digital signals to analog and back again used to send digital information over the telephone network
myNIU
The online self-service site that allows students to access all their information regarding enrollment at NIU
Netware User Volume (H: drive)
See Home Directory
NIC
A Network Interface Card is hardware that connects a computer or other device to the Local Area Network (LAN)
NIU E-mail Block List
List of attachments, domains, IP addresses, and specific addresses blocked by NIU. The user can also block specific addresses and domains at: canspam.niu.edu
NIU E-mail Permit List
List of user specified e-mail addresses that are always allowed to be received. The user creates this list at: canspam.niu.edu
OCR
Optical Character Recognition -software used with scanners to produce digital text from a graphic or printed document. OpenBook OCR software is available in all ITS and ResTech labs on the assistive technology (AT) stations.
OneCard
The campus ID for faculty, staff, and students. It can also be used for services and purchases.
Operating System (OS)
The OS is the software program that manages the basic operation of a computer system. Examples are Windows (2000, XP), Linux, Unix, Solaris, Mac OS, etc.
P2P
Peer-to-Peer is a decentralized network characterized by a lack of a central server or entity. It is a dispersed, searchable serverless database of files, commonly associated with downloading music and movies.
P2P File Sharing
Programs such as KaZaA used to share files between two or more computers not normally allowed to act as servers
POP3
Post Office Protocol version 3 is an e-mail storage and retrieval protocol. POP3 is used to get mail from the server, and download to the PC. Most e-mail software uses POP3 protocol.
RAM
Random Access Memory is the most common computer memory
RJ45 Cable
This is an 8-pin connector used for data transmission
ResTech
Residential Technology - Housing and Dining
RHA
Residence Hall Association
Security Certificate
A security certificate enables the Secure Socket Layer capabilities built into major browsers and web servers. SSL is a standard method for protecting web communications by providing message encryption, server authentication, message integrity and client authentication for a TCP/IP connection. NIU uses security certificates to protect passwords when visiting NIU sites that require a login.
Security Patches
A small addition to the original software code applied to augment security
SMTP
Simple Message Transfer Protocol is a common protocol used for sending e-mail between servers
Spam
Unsolicited and/or unwanted commercial e-mail
Spyware
Spyware or adware can monitor your activity, sending information to third-party vendors and advertisers about what web pages a computer user visits or what searches are performed
SWSA
The application that enables students to sign up online for residence hall housing
TCP/IP
Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol is the most common networking protocol that provides communication across networks and between computers
TRACS
NIU’s telephone registration system. The TRACS PIN, a 4-digit numeric code, is required to access the system.
USB
Universal Serial Bus is an interface to handle a broad range of external devices: telephones, modems, printers, mice, joysticks, scanners, keyboards, tablets, etc.
Virus
A software program capable of replicating itself, often causing harm to the computer, and possibly the network to which the computer is attached, including the World Wide Web
VPN
A Virtual Private Network uses some resources of the public switched network, and provides some of the benefits of a true private network (security) at a lower cost
WebMail
Students can access their NIU e-mail from anywhere with Internet access by using the Student WebMail (NetMail) interface
WiFi
Wireless Fidelity is a wireless network running on 802.11x standard
WPA
WiFi Protected Access used to configure wireless connections
WWW
The world wide web is a hyper-text based system for accessing resources on the Internet
Worms
A malicious software that duplicates itself repeatedly; a type of virus that works its way onto and through the network
Z-ID
At NIU, the students’ AccountID is in the form of Zxxxxxx (letter z followed by 6 digits). It is also referred to as the AccountID or the user name (Z-ID).
ZoomText
Screen enlargement software used by students who have low vision. This software is available in all ITS and ResTech computing labs on the assistive technology (AT) stations.