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Dell OptiPlex GX240 User Manual

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MTBF

Mean time between failures. A measurement of estimated equipment
reliability. The higher the MTBF, the longer the equipment should last. For
example, if the MTBF is 10,000 hours, the equipment should run, on the
average, at least 10,000 hours before failing.

Network Adapter

An

expansion card

that connects a computer to other computers on a network.

The network adapter works with the network

OS

to transfer information over

the network. See

NIC

.

NIC

Network Interface Controller. Also referred to as a

network adapter

.

NiCad

Nickel cadmium. A chemical composition used in certain rechargeable
batteries.

NiMH

Nickel-metal hydride. A chemical composition used in certain rechargeable
batteries.

Node

In networking and communications, a node is any computer or

device

attached to a network.

NVRAM

Non-volatile random-access memory (

RAM

). Memory that does not lose its

contents when you turn off your computer. NVRAM is used for maintaining
the computer configuration information such as date, time, and other user-
settable system setup options.

On-Board

Usually refers to components that are physically located on a circuit board.
For example, the system boards of many present-day computers have
integrated video, sound, and/or network

controllers

.

OS

Operating system. The program that, after being loaded initially into the
computer at start-up, manages all the other application programs in a
computer. The application programs use the OS by making requests for
services through an

API

. Often the OS also allows direct interaction by the

user.