MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-270): Installing ...

Glossary G-43
subnet mask A 32-bit value expressed as four decimal numbers from 0 to 255, separated
by periods (for example, 255.255.255.0). This number allows TCP/IP to
determine the network ID portion of an IP address.
Switched Multimegabit Data Services (SMDS) A high-speed, switched-packet service
that can provide speeds of up to 34 Mbps.
switched virtual circuit (SVC) A logical connection between end computers that
uses a specific route across the network. Network resources are dedicated to the
circuit, and the route is maintained until the connection is terminated. These are
also known as point-to-multipoint connections. See also virtual circuit.
symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) SMP systems, such as Windows 2000, use any
available processor on an as-needed basis. With this approach, the system load
and application needs can be distributed evenly across all available processors.
Synchronization Manager In Windows XP Professional, the tool used to ensure
that a file or folder on a client computer contains the same data as a matching file
or folder on a server.
Synchronous Data Link Control (SDLC) The data link (data transmission) protocol
most widely used in networks conforming to IBM’s Systems Network Architecture
(SNA). SDLC is a communications guideline that defines the format in which
information is transmitted. As its name implies, SDLC applies to synchronous
transmissions. SDLC is also a bit-oriented protocol and organizes information in
structured units called frames.
Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) A fiber-optic technology that can transmit
data at more than one gigabit per second. Networks based on this technology
are capable of delivering voice, data, and video. SONET is a standard for
optical transport formulated by the Exchange Carriers Standards Association
(ECSA) for the ANSI.
System Monitor A snap-in that tracks resource use and network throughput in real
time through the use of objects and counters.
system partition Normally the same partition as the boot partition, this partition
contains the hardware-specific files required to load and start Windows XP.
System Preparation A utility that allows you to prepare master images of an existing
Windows XP installation for distribution to other computers by removing
machine-specific information from the computer.
System Restore A utility that monitors changes to certain system and application
files, and creates automatic restore points that contain a snapshot of the Registry
and a copy of certain system files that Windows XP Professional requires for startup.
You can also create restore points manually and restore the computer to any
restore point.