Summary

4 Basic Input/Output SystemBasic Input/Output System (BIOS) A programstored in a ROM chip in the computer that providesthe basic code to control the computer’s hardwareand to perform diagnostics on it. The BIOS preparesthe computer to load the operating system.Basic Rate Interface (BRI) An ISDN interfacecomposed of two B channels and one D channel forcircuit-switched communication of voice, video, anddata. Compare with PRI.battery An electrical device that converts chemicalenergy into electrical energy.battery latch A tool used to insert, remove, andsecure the laptop battery.battery status indicator LED A light that indicatesthe condition of the laptop battery.beep code An audible reporting system for errorsthat are found by the BIOS during the POST, representedby a series of beeps.Berg power connector A keyed connector thatsupplies power to a floppy drive.biometric device A tool that uses sensors, such asa fingerprint or retinal scanner, that identify theuser’s physical characteristics to allow access to adevice or a network.bit The smallest unit of data in a computer. A bitcan take the value of either 1 or 0. A bit is the binaryformat in which data is processed by computers.bit rate The speed at which bits are transmitted,usually expressed in bits per second (bps).blackoutA complete loss of AC power.Bluetooth A wireless industry standard that usesan unlicensed radio frequency for short-range communication,enabling portable devices to communicateover short distances.bootTo start a computer.bootable disk A troubleshooting tool that allowsthe computer to boot from a disk when the hard drivewill not boot.boot record A 512-byte file containing a table thatdescribes the partition, the number of bytes per sector,and the number of sectors per cluster.Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Used toexchange routing information between autonomoussystems on the Internet.broadband Multiple signals using multiple frequenciesover one cable.broadband optical telepoint Infrared broadbandtransmission that can handle high-quality multimediarequirements.broadband satellitesatellite dish.brownoutA network connection using aA temporary drop in AC power.buffer A storage area used to handle data in transit.Buffers are used in internetworking to compensatefor differences in processing speed between networkdevices. Bursts of data can be stored in buffers untilthey can be handled by slower processing devices.Sometimes called a packet buffer.bus A medium through which data is transferredfrom one part of a computer to another. The bus canbe compared to a highway on which data travelswithin a computer.