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Redirected from: computer terminology

Definition: terminology


The terminology used in the computer and communications fields adds tremendous confusion not only for the lay person, but for technicians as well. What people outside the field do not realize is that terms are made up by anybody and everybody in a nonchalant, casual manner with little regard or understanding of their future ramifications.

Programmers display error messages that make sense at the moment and never give a thought that people actually have to read them when something goes wrong. Marketing people turn everything upside down, naming things based on how high-tech and sexy they sound. In addition, they change the names of well-known products as a way of introducing something new. Even Worse is naming specific products and technologies with generic words. See naming fiascos and technical writer.

A Perfect Example
Following is an example of two protocols that are used to keep network routers up-to-date. IS-IS (Intermediate System to Intermediate System) and OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) do similar things. In fact, OSPF evolved from IS-IS, yet every element associated with it has a different name. This constant changing of names, menus, parameters, etc., is what makes this field seem incomprehensible and discourages many talented people from entering it.

 IS-IS              OSPF

 Subdomain          = Area

 Level-1 area       = Non-backbone area

 Level-2 subdomain  = Backbone area

 L1L2 router        = Area Border Router

 Intermediate       = Autonomous System
  System               Boundary Router

 End system         = Host

 Intermediate
  system            = Router

 Link               = Circuit

 Protocol
  data unit         = Packet

 Designated         = Designated
  Intermediate         Router
  System

 Link-State PDU     = Link-State
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 IIH PDU            = Hello packet

 Complete Sequence  = Database description
  Number PDU