Glossary

This glossary covers common definitions of IT terms and acronyms to help you demystify IT!

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A

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Terms/Acronyms	Description
Access Lab	Student computer laboratories situated across campus.
AV	Audio Visual

B

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Term/Acronym	Description
Browser	Short for web browser, a software application used to locate and display web pages. Examples include Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Netscape Navigator.

C

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Term/Acronym	Description
Camtasia	Ad hoc lecture recording and streaming tool with the Desktop and Mic Recorder. It is a screen capture and on-line delivery tool.
Client	A client is an application or system that accesses a remote service on another computer system, known as a server, by way of a network. For example Microsoft Outlook communicates with other servers to send and receive your mail. A client is also a customer - but not in this instance!
Client-server	A common form of distributed system in which software is split between server tasks and client tasks. A client sends requests to a server, according to some protocol, asking for information or action, and the server responds.
CMS	The Content Management System (CMS) is a software application for managing the content of University websites. It supports the creation, management and publishing of the University’s corporate information.

D

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Term/Acronym	Description
Domain name	Domain name, a common network name under which a collection of network devices are organised. For example sydney.edu.au

E

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Term/Acronym	Description
Exchange	Exchange, also known as Microsoft Exchange is a collaborative software product whose main features include a mail server and e-mail client.

F

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Term/Acronym	Description
Firewall	A device or set of devices configured to permit, deny all computer traffic between different security domains based upon a set of rules and other criteria.
FlexSIS	The University’s student administration system, soon to be replaced by a new device called Sydney Student.

G

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Term/Acronym	Description
GAL	The GAL or Global Address List is a university wide address book. It can be used to search for the email addresses, phone numbers, titles and locations of all staff members of the University.

I

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Term/Acronym	Description
ICT	Information and Communications Technology, a professional services department who provides IT services to the University.
Intranet	Private computer network that can only be accessed within the University through your internal network or LAN.
IT Manager	ICT Account Manager who is responsible for liasing with University faculty/units about IT requirements.
ITSM	Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) is ICT’s job management system used to track jobs logged through the Self Service Portal.

J

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Term/Acronym	Description
JAVA	A general purpose programming language, developed by Sun Microsystems. It is particularly suited for use on web-based applications.

L

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Term/Acronym	Description
LAN	Local Area Network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line and typically share the resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area such as campus.
Lectopia	Lecture recording and streaming tool that automatically streamed the lecture into University's student learning system.

M

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Term/Acronym	Description
Memory	Computer data storage which refers to computer components, devices, and recording media that retain digital data used for computing for some interval of time.
Multimedia	The use of different media to convey information; text together with audio, graphics and animation, often packaged on CD-ROM with links to the Internet.

N

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Term/Acronym	Description
Network drive	A drive that is connected to a server in the network that is shared by multiple users.

O

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Term/Acronym	Description
OS	Operating System, for example, Microsoft Windows 7 or OSX.

P

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Term/Acronym	Description
P2P	PeopleSoft Financials - for purchasing University assets.
PABX	Private Automatic Branch Exchange
PDA	Personal Digital Assistant.  General term for small handheld device commonly used as a mobile computer or organizer for personal information.  It generally includes a name and address database, to-do list, note taker, web browser and other information management capabilities.
Platform	Underlying hardware or software for a system, for example Microsoft Windows for PC.
Proxy	A server setup designed to offer either firewall security or faster access to cached content normally accessible only through slower connections.

R

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Term/Acronym	Description
Response Time	The measure of time taken to start incident diagnosis or initiate actions to complete a request. e.g. reply to a request or fault, by contacting the customer.

S

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Term/Acronym	Description
Second level support	A team or group other than the Helpdesk that specialises in a specific ICT support area.
Self Service Portal	An application where you can log and review ICT help requests online. You can update and view the status of your existing service requests. Your updates will be recorded in the ITSM system.
Service request	A request for information or advice, or for the addition, modification or removal of an IT component, or for access to an IT service.
Shared drive	See Network drive
SLA	Service level agreement (SLA) is a formal agreement between an IT provider and the service recipient, outlining the services to be provided and the minimum performance levels according to which they will be delivered.
Specialist support hours	The times or hours when second level support is available to users for a specific service described in the Service Catalogue.
SSL	Secure Socket Layer (SSL) is a protocol for securing data communications across computer networks.

T

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Term/Acronym	Description
Turning Point	It is an audience response kit used to enhance presentation by engaging students and promoting activities. It works within PowerPoint by making interactive slides for question and answer, feedback etc.

U

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Term/Acronym	Description
UniKey	Login name and password that grants you access to online services and e-facilities such as email and internet access. It is provided to all staff and students of the University of Sydney.
UNIX	An operating system, written in the C programming language and favoured by technical experts.

V

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Term/Acronym	Description
VoIP	Voice over Internet Protocol
VPN	Virtual Private Network

W

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Term/Acronym	Description
WASM	Web Authentication and Session Manager, refers to University web pages or online resources that require UniKey authentication.