Business telecommunications and IT systems

A stack of OSI-compliant protocols that is media independent and able to run on Ethernet, Token Ring and LocalTalk.

see Apple Inc.

An Application Gateway looks at data at the see Application Layer of the protocol stack and serve as proxies for outside users, intercepting packets and forwarding them to the application.

Thus, outside users never have a direct connection to anything beyond the firewall.

The fact that the firewall looks at this application information means that it can distinguish among such things as Telnet, file transfer protocol, or Lotus Notes traffic. Because the Application Gateway understands these protocols, it provides security for each application it supports.

This is the seventh layer of the seven layer OSI data communications model, drawn up by the ISO.

Layer seven provides the interface between the end user's application and the communication system. Its function is to present the end user application with the various available services, including file transfer and electronic mail (email).

see Application Gateway.

see Software.

Software which carries out some task which is of use to the user, as opposed to the Network Operating System, or system software, which is transparent to the user.

Applications programs include spreadsheets, data bases, graphics, word-processing and communications packages.

Can be referred to as an Application, Application Software or Program.

Until 1996, BABT would test and award an Approval Number to any piece of equipment that was to be connected to a PTO.

Since then, the approval process has been widened to include other authorised bodies.

see Green Circle.

Equipment that has not been approved, is called Unapproved, and bears a Red Triangle.

see Approval Number.

A BT term for Apparatus.

A BT term for Annual Rental.

Normally used to describe how a piece of hardware or software is constructed and which Protocols and Interfaces are required for communications.

Network architecture specifies the functions and data transmission formats needed to convey information across a network from end-user to end-user.

The main PC architectures are ISA, EISA, MCA and PCI.

An archive is a collection of computer files that have been packaged together for backup, to transport to some other location, for saving away from the computer so that more hard disk storage can be made available, or for some other purpose.

An archive can include a simple list of files or files organised under a directory structure (depending on how a particular program supports archiving).

Act of creating or maintaining an Archive.

A BT term. Associted with BT's Advanced Features. PSTN calls routed according to geographic origination.

Mobile calls can be bulk routed or based on the nearest BT interconnect point mapping. Calls delivered to whichever destination is designated to cover the given area national entities appear 'local' enables a company's resources to be varied to meet changing calling patterns.

Adjusted Ring Length.

A Token Ring term.

Cable with strong wire wrapping to protect it from being accidentally damaged.

Hence, it is suitable for burying in open ground without further protection.

see Poly Jelly Filled cable.

see Address Resolution Protocol.

One of the networks which was the model for the Internet.

Automatic Request Request.

see Error Detection and Correction.

Alternative Route Selection.

Where a telephone system can itself automatically choose a less cost PTO for a particular call and dial accordingly, or equipment in the local exchange performs this task.

Used to be known as LCR.