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# Glossary

A

action log

A record of the actions performed on the system by administrators. To access the action log, click reports on the top navigation bar.

Active Directory server

The server on which Active Directory software is installed; the domain controller for the system. To improve performance and reliability, service providers can have more than one Active Directory server.

application programming interface

An XML-based or Web services based application programming interface (API). The API can be used to streamline common tasks and to integrate third-party systems.

B

bandwidth

The amount of network capacity assigned to a user on a server.

C

control panels

Graphical user interfaces that provide easy access to tasks. These control panels enable service providers, resellers, site administrators, and users to manage their accounts, resources, and other system settings.

F

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

A protocol used to transfer files over the Internet. FTP includes functions to log on to the network, list directories, and copy files. FTP operations can be performed by typing commands in a command line or by using an FTP utility running under a graphical interface. Anonymous FTP allows you to use an FTP site without a password and without creating a user account.

filter

A pattern or mask through which only selected data is passed. Common filters include spam filters, which block email sent from specified domains.

firewall

A method for keeping a network secure.

FTP

File Transfer Protocol. A protocol used to transfer files over the Internet. FTP includes functions to log on to the network, list directories, and copy files. FTP operations can be performed by typing commands in a command line or by using an FTP utility running under a graphical interface. Anonymous FTP allows you to use an FTP site without a password and without creating a user account.

G

graphical user interface (GUI)

An interface between a user and a computer that is graphics-based and incorporates icons, menus, and a mouse.

GUI

Graphical user interface. An interface between a user and a computer that is graphics-based and incorporates icons, menus, and a mouse.

H

host name

The fully qualified host name used to identify the server. For example: server1.bigtimehosting.com.

I

IP

Internet Protocol. The protocol used to format packets and rules of transmission and reception over the Internet.

IP address

The numeric identifier of a computer or device on the Internet. The format of an IP address is a 32-bit numeric address written as four numbers separated by periods. Each number can be zero to 255.

IP-based domain

A domain with a unique IP address. Compare to name-based domain (page 1).

L

license

An official agreement between a user and a corporation on the use and support of its products.

log

A detailed history of actions that have been performed on a system.

M

mailbox

A directory on a server that contains a user's email.

mailbox capacity

The maximum number of mailboxes that can be created on a server.

mailing lists

Email distribution lists commonly used to circulate topic discussions. A mailing list includes a set of list members. Whenever a list member posts an email message to the mailing list email address, that email message is distributed to all list members.

N

name-based domain

A domain with a unique host name that shares an IP address with another server. Compare to IP-based domain (page 1).

netmask

A bit-mask that identifies the network number and host number components of an IP address.

NFS server

Network File System server. A computer with file sharing capabilities.

P

plugin

A modular software program that can be plugged in to a system to expand functionality. Parallels Pro Unify services have plugins that are installed on provisioning engine and CP servers to enable service providers to sell services to customers.

POP3 mail server

Post Office Protocol, version 3. A common mail server used for Internet email. It holds the incoming email messages until you log in to the email account and download the messages. All stored email messages and attachments are downloaded at the same time.

primary name server

The main Domain Name System (DNS) server that translates alphabetic domain names into numeric IP addresses.

properties

Settings that determine the characteristics of an account or a server.

provisioning

Enabling a service to a site or a user.

Q

queue

A temporary holding place for data.

R

record

A record contains specific DNS zone information.

reseller

The individuals or companies who purchase resources and services from service providers or resellers and offer those resources or services for sale to others.

resource

A term used to describe a server's disk space or processing capacity which are used by services.

resource type

The type of service or a service component that requires resources. Resource types include bandwidth, number of mailboxes, and disk space.

restore

To completely or partially return your system to a previous file configuration state by uploading backup files from an archive.

reverse record

A record that associates an IP address with a canonical or alias name. PTR records are used to convert IP addresses to host names. This is known as reverse lookup.

S

scope

Logical groupings of IP addresses associated with a specific subnet mask.

secondary name server

The backup Domain Name System (DNS) server that translates alphabetic domain names into numeric IP addresses.

Secure Socket Layer (SSL)

An Internet security protocol that encrypts data when it is transferred over the Internet. Enabling SSL allows you to transfer data securely between your Web server and your visitor's Internet browser.

sendmail server

An SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) mail server that routes SMTP email messages through the Internet to be stored on a mail server, such as POP3 or IMAP. SMTP is the most widely used email protocol on the Internet.

server

A computer and other device that allocates and manages the sharing of resources for a network. A server provides information or other services to its clients. While a server usually refers to an entire machine, it can also refer to a particular daemon on that machine.

service

The services you sell to resellers and sites. Each service is installed on a service-specific hosting server.

service component

The software elements that compose a service.

service provider

An entity that sells services, such as Internet access or Windows Web Hosting, to resellers, sites, and individuals.

shared server or shared resource

A hosting server or resource, such as a mailbox store, that has been or can only be sold to multiple sites. Some resources, such as mailbox stores, are identified as shared resources when they are registered with the system. These resources can be sold to multiple sites. By contrast, resources that are registered as dedicated resources can be sold to only one site.

Note that the term shared resource differs from the status of a resource, which can be Shared, Dedicated, or Free. For example, a shared mailbox store could have the status Dedicated if it has been sold to a single site. A dedicated mailbox store, however, could only be listed as Free, if it was not in use, or Dedicated if it had been sold. A dedicated mailbox store could never have the status Shared.

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)

The most widely used email protocol on the Internet.

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

A network management protocol used for configuring and monitoring devices on IP networks.

site

A group of individuals, usually collected into a company or business unit, that contracts with a service provider or IT group for services.

site administrator

Administrators who belong to sites and use the site administrator control panel to manage site services, resources, and users. Site users can be given site administrator privileges.

site user

Users who belong to a site and use the user administrator control panel to manage their own accounts and services.

SMTP

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. The most widely used email protocol on the Internet.

SNMP

Simple Network Management Protocol. A network management protocol used for configuring and monitoring devices on IP networks.

specification file

A file that contains details about an object.

SSL

Secure Socket Layer. An Internet security protocol that encrypts data when it is transferred over the Internet. Enabling SSL allows you to transfer data securely between your Web server and your visitor's Internet browser.

subnet

A portion of a network that shares a common address component. On TCP/IP networks, subnets are defined as all devices whose IP addresses have the same prefix. For example, all devices with IP addresses that start with 100.100.100. would be part of the same subnet. Dividing a network into subnets is useful for both security and performance reasons. IP networks are divided using a subnet mask.

subnet mask

A mask, or filter, used to determine to what subnet an IP address belongs. An IP address has two components, the network address and the host address. The mask is a binary pattern that is matched up with the IP address to turn part of the host ID address field into a field for subnets. For example, consider the IP address 150.215.017.009. Assuming this is part of a Class B network, the first two numbers (150.215) represent the Class B network address, and the second two numbers (017.009) identify a particular host on this network. Subnetting enables the network administrator to further divide the host part of the address into two or more subnets. In this case, a part of the host address is reserved to identify the particular subnet.

T

template

A guide you can use to pre-fill information on forms when creating entities such as sites and users.

threshold

The percentage of the resource that, when assigned, triggers an alert. When the resource allocation reaches the threshold, email is sent to the specified address stating that resources are low. This allows an administrator to take action before resources are exhausted.

U

URL

Uniform Resource Locator. The address that defines the route to a file on the Web or any other Internet facility. The URL contains the protocol prefix, port number, domain name, subdirectory names, and file name.

usage monitoring

Reports that enable you to view application usage.

V

vacation message

A mail utility that automatically sends a standard reply message to an email message.

Z

zone

A zone refers to a section of a domain for which the DNS server has the authority to perform lookups. Each zone contains records that specify how to translate the host names associated with the zone.