N
* NAS: Network Attached Storage
* Native Code
* NDIS: Network Driver Interface Specification
* NEBS Level 1
* NEBS Level 2
* NEBS level 3
* NEBS: Network Equipment-Building System
* NetApp Filer
* NetBurst
* Network Access Server
* Network Processor
* NEXT: Near-end crosstalk
* NIC: Network Interface Card
* Nit
* NMOS: Negative-Channel Metal-oxide Semiconductor
* Non-Impact Printer
* Non-Volatile Memory
* Northbridge
* Notebook Computer
* No-Write Allocation
* NPU: Network Processor Unit
* NuBus
* Null-Modem
* NUMA: Non-Uniform Memory Access
* NVRAM: Non-Volatile Random Access Memory
* NZ-DSF: Non Zero-Dispersion-Shifted Fiber
NAS: Network Attached Storage
Network Attached Storage (NAS) is a data storage mechanism that uses special devices connected directly to the network media. These devices are assigned an IP address and can then be accessed by clients via a server that acts as a gateway to the data, or in some cases allows the device to be accessed directly by the clients without an intermediary.
native code
Native code, also known to as native language, is the programming code to run on a specific processor using that processor special instruction set. Typically, the native code written for one processor cannot be run on another processor, unless the code runs through an emulator software program that instructs the computer to mimic the processor the native code is meant for.
NDIS: Network Driver Interface Specification
The Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) is an application programming interface (API) for network interface cards (NICs). It was jointly developed by Microsoft and 3Com Corporation, and is mostly used in Microsoft Windows on Intel-based computers, but the open-source ndiswrapper project allows many NDIS-compliant NICs to be used with Linux. Basically, Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) enables a single network interface card (NIC) to support multiple network protocols. For example, with NDIS a single NIC can support both TCP/IP and IPX connections. NDIS can also be used by some ISDN adapters.
NEBS level 1
"NEBS Level 1", the lowest level of NEBS standard developed by Bell Labs for RBOC central office equipment, addresses the personnel and equipment safety requirements of GR-63-CORE and GR-1089-CORE. This is useful for getting prototypes into a lab trial. It's also a requirement that is imposed on Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) in order for them to deploy equipment into an RBOC's network.
NEBS level 2
"NEBS Level 2", the second level of NEBS standard developed by Bell Labs for RBOC central office equipment, addresses equipment operability, but in a controlled environment. For example, equipment could be used in a data center, however, if the equipment performs non-critical operations it could be used under environmental extremes. Note that this level is very rarely used because it is ambiguous.
NEBS level 3
"NEBS Level 3", the highest level of NEBS standard developed by Bell Labs for RBOC central office equipment, means the equipment is ready to be installed in the carier class operational network for the long haul. The equipment will operate under the environmental extremes found in a central office. In a nutshell, the equipment meets all of the requirements of GR-63-CORE and GR-1089-CORE.
NEBS: Network Equipment-Building System
Network Equipment Building Systems (NEBS) is the Bellcore requirement for equipment deployed in a central office environment of PSTN in North America. NEBS covers spatial, hardware, crafts person interface, thermal, fire resistance, handling and transportation, earthquake and vibration, airborne contaminants, grounding, acoustical noise, illumination, EMC, and ESD requirements.
NetApp Filer
NetApp Filer, a product group from Network Appliance, is highly scalable and high performance network storage appliances for large enterprises and service providers. Filers use Network Appliance's Data ONTAP microkernel OS and Write Anywhere File Layout file system (WAFL).
NetBurst
The NetBurst is a microarchitecture that succeded the P6 microarchitecture in the x86 family of CPUs made by Intel. The processors using the NetBurst architecture are the Willamette core, the Foster core, the Xeon CPUs and some Celeron CPUs. Some people refer to NetBurst as Intel P7 or Intel 80786 when comparing to previous chips. The NetBurst architecture basically includes features such as "Hyper Pipelined Technology" and "Rapid Execution Engine" which are firstly introduced in this particular microarchitecture.
network access server
A network access server (NAS), also known as a "media gateway" or a "remote access server" (RAS), is an access control point for remote users connecting to a company's internal network or to an ISP via analog modems or ISDN. A network access server has interfaces to both the local telecommunication service provider such as the phone company and to the Internet backbone. A network access server (NAS) may include its own authentication services or rely on a separate authentication server to verify users. A NAS may be a dedicated server or a software service within a regular server.
NPU: Network Processor Unit
A Network Processor is an integrated circuit which has a feature set specifically targetted at the networking application domain. Network Processors are typically software programmable devices and would have generic characteristics simliar to general purpose CPUs that are commonly used in may different types of equipment and products.
NEXT: Near-end crosstalk
Near-End Crosstalk (NEXT) is an error condition that can occur when connectors are attached to twisted pair cabling. NEXT is usually caused by crossed or crushed wire pairs. The error condition does not require that the wires be crushed so much that the conductors inside become exposed. Two conductors only need to be close enough so that the radiating signal from one of the wires can interfere with the signal traveling on the other. Most medium- to high-end cable testers are capable of testing for NEXT errors.
NIC: network interface card
Network Interface Card (NIC) provides a hardware interface between a computer and a network. The term NIC most commonly refers to network adapter hardware in the form factor of an add-in card. These devices plug into the system bus of the PC and include jacks for network cables. NICs are usually Ethernet adapters, but some NICs support alternate physical layer protocols like ATM. Many of the NICs come pre-installed as part of a total computer system configuration. The primary consideration with Ethernet NICs is the speed they support -- 10 Mbps traditionally, 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet, or both (dual-speed). Some Ethernet NICs include a built-in dial-up modem on the card.
nit
Generally speaking, nit is a unit of measurement of luminance, or the intensity of visible light. One nit is equal to one candela per square meter. In computers, nits are used to describe the brightness of computer displays, such as LCD and CRT monitors.
NMOS: Negative-channel metal-oxide semiconductor
Negative-channel metal-oxide semiconductor (NMOS) is a type of semiconductor that is negatively charged so that transistors are turned on or off by the movement of electrons. NMOS logic uses n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) to implement logic gates and other digital circuits. NMOS transistors have three modes of operation: cut-off, triode, and saturation (sometimes called active).
non-impact printer
Non-impact printer is a type of printer that does not operate by striking a head against a ribbon. For example, Laser printers and ink-jet printers are non-impact printers.
non-volatile memory
Non-volatile memory can retain their contents when power is turned off. Examples of non-volatile memory include read-only memory, Flash memory, and most types of magnetic storage devices which include hard disk and floppy disk drives. While an example of volatile memory is the random access memory (RAM), meaning that when the computer is shut down, everything contained in RAM is lost.
Northbridge
The northbridge is traditionally one of the two chips in the core logic chipset on a PC motherboard, the other being the Southbridge. Rarely, these two chips have been combined onto one die when design complexity and fabrication processes permit it. In general, however, core logic chipsets are divided into these two main parts. In Northbridge/Southbridge chipset architecture designs, the Northbridge is the chip or chips that connect a CPU to memory, the PCI bus, Level 2 cache and AGP activities. The Northbridge chips communicate with the CPU through the FSB.
Notebook computer
A notebook computer, also known as laptop computer, is a small mobile personal computer. Laptops usually run on batteries, but also from adapters which also charge the battery using mains electricity. Notebook computers are capable of many of the same tasks that desktop computers perform, although they are typically less powerful for the same price. Notebooks contain components that are similar to those in their desktop counterparts and perform the same functions but are miniaturized and optimized for mobile use and efficient power consumption.
no-write allocation
No-write allocation is a cache policy where only processor reads are cached to avoid the need for write-back or write-through. A cache stores data duplicating original values stored elsewhere or computed earlier, to speed up data access. When a datum is written to the cache, it must at some point be written to the backing store as well. The timing of this write is controlled by what is known as the write policy.
NPU: Network Processor Unit
Many network processors feature multiple RISC CPUs running in parallel. In this configuration, one central processor typically receives and handles network control packets while the others pass data packets through the system at network speeds. Network Processors are typically software programmable devices and would have generic characteristics simliar to general purpose CPUs that are commonly used in may different types of equipment and products.
NuBus
NuBus is a 32-bit parallel computer bus, originally developed at MIT as a part of the NuMachine workstation project, and eventually used by Apple Computer and NeXT Computer. It is no longer widely used.
Null Modem
Null modem is a communication method to connect two DTEs (computer, terminal, printer etc.) directly using a RS-232 serial cable. The original RS-232 standard only defined the connection of DTEs with DCEs i.e. modems. With a null modem connection, the transmit and receive lines are crosslinked. Depending on the purpose, sometimes also one or more handshake lines are crosslinked. Several wiring layouts are in use because the null modem connection is not covered by a standard. Null modems are particularly useful with portable computers because they enable the portable computer to exchange data with a larger system.
NUMA: Non-Uniform Memory Access
Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA), also known as Non-Uniform Memory Architecture, is a computer memory architecture, used in multiprocessors, where the memory access time depends on the memory location. Under NUMA, a processor can access its own local memory faster than non-local memory
NVRAM: Non-Volatile Random Access Memory
Non-Volatile Random Access Memory (NVRAM) can retain its contents when power is turned off. SRAM is one type of NVRAM that is made non-volatile by connecting it to a constant power source such as a battery. Another type of NVRAM uses EEPROM chips to save its contents when power is turned off.
NZ-DSF: Non Zero-Dispersion-Shifted Fiber
Non Zero-Dispersion-Shifted Fiber (NZ-DSF) is a dispersion shifted Single Mode (SM) fiber that has the zero dispersion point near the 1550 nm window.