Definition of Terms
- so we are all on the same page, how to get everyone thinking about terms in the same way -
A "Generic" definition of terms - some of which will be fairly obvious, some of which, not - please e-mail me if you can't figure out the difference.

1.) IT = Information Technology: - is typically a 'management' term and it is typically NOT used by the people IN the IT department. Some people refer to the 'computer-department' and take this as meaning IT.  Some others respond to the network-group / network gang - which is most "Management Scenarios is a 'part' of the IT department.  Others refer to computers, networks and technology as the "IT" department.  - In any case many in IT abhor the term IT, but some embrace it. - Much depends on the culture of the organization within which the "IT" department exists.

2.) Systems Administrator: the term came from the Unix-world but is now used across all OSs for the 'day to day twiddling' of the operating system(s) on a big network of computers of roughly
the same size, shape, description  and in 'MOST' big organizations there are, for instance, desktop (OS) systems administrators, Unix (server) systems administrators, and Mainframe (OS) Systems administrators,

3.) Database administrators(DBAs): - those people DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE for the 'ownership' of the database (but not the DATA) - the people that deal with the 'data' are those people that are typically called (by the legal-profession) 'custodians' but 'most' custodians' are the users who enter the data?

THIS IS A HUGE 'conflict' between 'DBAs', custodians, authors, and users:

The 'hang-up' is "MOSTLY" a legal one, a liability one,  it's mostly about 'ownership' and much about' authorship?

The "AUTHOR" is the human-being who entered the data into the 'DataBase' -
               (Unless - for instance) you are in a HUGE - Insurance Company - and there are a LOT of 'Data Entry' clerical staff where they enter data into a database based on either phone-calls and/or e-mails and/or paper-mail...     THOSE 'Data Entry' clerks' are not "Authors" the 'customer' is the author, there is no 'custodian' but there IS a data-base-administrator (DBA)

There is SOME dis-agreement - even between lawyers / IT folk and employees about the exact definition of a 'custodian' - but - again - from the "IT" viewpoint - it is, typically, NOT the DBA, it IS TYPICALLY the Author (assuming that is an 'executive' of some sort, doing the data-entry)?


     WHAT is a Custodian - I am not sure - and I KNOW that different entities view this term differently - we have to decide?! -


4.) Network: - the 'connectivity' (wires, cables, (even wireless 'paths'), routers, gateways, switches, etc.) between a number of computers, but NOT the computers themselves - they could be the same type of computer or different type(s) of computers...

5.) a Network of Computers: - now you're talking about the COMPUTERs (and/or servers and/or disk-arrays, etc. AND their 'connectivity'?

6.) Server: - can be ANY computer that does a 'specific function' - in some (poorly designed, built, operated) computer-departments there is more than one function allocated to a given
piece of hardware - but this is very bad design practice...

7.) User: someone who typically does NOT have 'root-access' - someone who is NOT a 'systems administrator'

8.)  Power User': - in SOME computer-departments / (IT departments) this is a 'user' is / has been given 'some' priveledges normally reserved for the systems administrator. - in most well run computer departments there is no such thing as a 'power user'

9.) Source and Destination: from whence a network packet comes and to where a network packet goes - sorry - there is / are NO OTHER wording / definitions that fits these two terms - if you perceive another set of definitions - change them - these two words are reserved for network traffic use

10.) (data) Storage media: where data is stored - and it can be on a WHOLE PLETHORA of substances / substrates:

11.) (data) Archival media: - remember that all "Archives" are just a way to 'classify' data and the 'typical' 'perception' is that Archived data is 'off-line' (that is not electronically connected to a computer - it must be 'mounted' in order to be read by a computer.

when some people talk about 'archive' they talk about 'robots' that mount either tape or optical storage media in something typically called a 'juke-box' - This data may be considered 'archive' by some but to most IT / computer-geeks it is 'on-line' it's just that the delay is a little longer

TRUE archived data is typically TAPE (or CD-ROM and/or DVD)  that must be mounted by a HUMAN BEING.


12.) (data) ON-LINE media / data: is something that can be accessed by a person sitting at a computer-terminal without that person having to get-up?!

13.) Electronic Discovery: - This is a 'legal process' whereby a company (A) requests from another company (B) that they (A) want to see any and all electronic documents (from company B) that Company B has - pertaining to a given subject.     Fortunately or un-fortunately, the request is typically required (by the US Federal Government)  to be responded to within 7 days - so it puts a huge burden on company B to be both ready and capable to respond.   This potentially HUGE request for resources (to collect, assimilate, and report) data is something that can happen at any time on any day and be deadlined such that many people may have to work 24 x 7 in order to achieve the desired goal. 

Methodology (of electronic discovery)  must be in place and a whole plethora of processes and procedures in  place for this to happen 'seamlessly'.   In 'most' cases a company will respond to these requests in their normal course of business.  However, frequently companies can bring-in people from the outside to help them fulfill this sort of request.  

14.) computer 'system': (typically) a computer CPU, a display-screen, a keyboard, a mouse (2D or 3D), a hard-disk a removeable rotating-storage-media drive, and a USB-disk (solid-state) drive and several 'ports' for peripherals like network connection, telephone modem, etc.  In general in the late 2000's era this can be either a 'desktop' system (which is typically left on a desk / table somewhere and plugged-into the wall-power (and, typically network cabled) OR it can be a 'laptop' (generically) that a person or persons carries around in a 'shoulder-bag' and typically has wireless (networking) capability as well as battery-power capability.

15.) PDA or (cellular) telephone:  these are typically portable / battery-powered / wi-fi or cellular-technology (connectivity) devices which people use to store data (personal or business-related), telephone numbers (personal or business-related), calendars (personal or business-related), to do lists (personal or business-related) and other such data.

16.)  fixed-base / wire-line telephone:  this device - 'used' to be called the "POTS" (Plain Old Telephone Service) - but which is, nowadays (late 2000's) anything but 'plain'.  Just because a telephone is fixed to a 'wired line' doesn't mean it has little functionality. These telephones can typically store Gigabytes of information and have functionalities similar to the above mentioned cellular telephones.

 other definitions - Just ask and you shall receive?   write an e-mail to Mr. Bill at: bill@vikingasia.org  and ask about a specific term - he'll be glad to help.
last updated: 16:06 p.m. on Monday, 3 September, 2007;       revID: 3s                                original file: 05 May, 1997