IT operations

Terms related to the processes and services implemented and managed by an organization’s information technology (IT) department. Topics covered include systems management, configuration management, API management and DevOps, as well as real-time performance monitoring and management.

MEG - SUP

megahertz (MHz) - Megahertz (MHz) is a unit multiplier that represents one million hertz (106 Hz).
memorandum of understanding (MOU) - A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is a formal agreement that outlines plans for a common line of action between two or more parties.
memory read error - A memory read error is a malfunction that occurs when data is being accessed from memory for use by a program, or when a value read from RAM fails to match an expected value.
memristor - A memristor is a type of resistor in which the flow of electrical current in an electronic circuit is determined by the amount of charge that has previously flowed through it.
metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) - The metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET, pronounced MAWS-feht) is the most common type of field-effect transistor (FET).
microservices - Microservices, or microservices architecture, is an approach to application development in which a large application is built from modular components or services.
Microsoft Azure monitoring tools - Azure monitoring tools are software meant to assist in the different aspects of cloud infrastructure management and monitoring, centering around Microsoft’s cloud computing platform, Azure.
Microsoft Cloud Witness - Microsoft Cloud Witness is a quorum witness for Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC) that uses Microsoft Azure as the arbitration point.
Microsoft Hybrid Configuration Wizard - The Microsoft Hybrid Configuration Wizard (HCW) is a tool provided by Microsoft to help organizations set up and configure a hybrid deployment between their on-premises Exchange Server and Exchange Online, which is part of Microsoft 365.
Microsoft Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) - The Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) is a graphical user interface and front-end hosting application for Windows PowerShell.
million instructions per second (MIPS) - Million instructions per second (MIPS) is a measure of a processor's speed, providing a standard for representing the number of instructions that a CPU can process in 1 second.
Mini-ITX - Mini-ITX is a compact motherboard configuration designed to support relatively low-cost computers in small spaces such as in automobiles, set-top boxes and network devices.
ModelOps (model operations) - ModelOps (model operations) is a holistic approach to building analytics models that can quickly progress from the lab to production.
monthly recurring revenue (MRR) - Monthly recurring revenue (MRR) is income a company can reliably anticipate every 30 days and one of the key metrics for channel partner companies.
motherboard - A motherboard is the main printed circuit board (PCB) in a computer.
MPP (massively parallel processing) - MPP (massively parallel processing) is the coordinated processing of a program by multiple processors that work on different parts of the program, with each processor using its own operating system and memory.
MTBF (mean time between failures) - MTBF (mean time between failures) is a measure of how reliable a hardware product or component is.
multiprogramming - Multiprogramming is a rudimentary form of parallel processing in which several programs run at the same time on a uniprocessor system.
multisourcing (multi-sourcing) - Multisourcing (multi-sourcing) is an approach to outsourcing in which IT operations and technology infrastructure are contracted to a number of vendors, usually in combination with some internally provided elements of information technology.
Nagios - Nagios is an open source monitoring system for computer systems.
nanomachine (nanite) - A nanomachine, also called a nanite, is a mechanical or electromechanical device whose dimensions are measured in nanometers (millionths of a millimeter, or units of 10 -9 meter).
nearshore outsourcing - Nearshore outsourcing is the practice of getting work done or services performed by people in neighboring countries rather than an organization's country.
net price - The net price is the value at which a product or service is sold after all taxes and other costs are added and all discounts subtracted.
network automation - Network automation is a methodology in which software automatically configures, provisions, manages and tests network devices.
non-uniform memory access (NUMA) - Non-uniform memory access, or NUMA, is a method of configuring a cluster of microprocessors in a multiprocessing system so they can share memory locally.
nonrepudiation - Nonrepudiation ensures that no party can deny that it sent or received a message via encryption and/or digital signatures or approved some information.
NRZ (non-return-to-zero) - NRZ (non-return-to-zero) refers to a form of digital data transmission in which the binary low and high states, represented by numerals 0 and 1, are transmitted by specific and constant DC (direct-current) voltage s.
ODM (original design manufacturer) - An ODM (original design manufacturer) is a company that takes the original specifications of another company or individual and builds the design to the product specifications.
OEM (original equipment manufacturer) - OEM, or original equipment manufacturer, is a broad term that describes a web of relationships among IT hardware vendors, hardware component makers, software vendors and channel partners such as resellers and distributors.
on-demand computing - On-demand computing (ODC) is an enterprise computing delivery model in which computing resources are made available to the user as needed.
Open Container Initiative - The Open Container Initiative (OCI) is a collaborative project hosted under the Linux Foundation that is designed to establish common standards for container formats and runtimes.
operational efficiency - Operational efficiency is the ability of an organization to reduce waste in time, effort and materials as much as possible, while still producing a high-quality service or product.
operational-level agreement (OLA) - An operational-level agreement (OLA) is a contract that defines how various IT groups within a company plan to deliver a service or set of services.
optical computer (photonic computer) - An optical computer (also called a photonic computer) is a device that uses the photons in visible light or infrared (IR) beams,rather than electric current, to perform digital computations.
organizational unit (OU) - An organizational unit (OU) can refer to different things depending on the context, such as an organizational group within a company that is intended to accomplish a specific business function.
pagefile - In storage, a pagefile is a reserved portion of a hard disk that is used as an extension of random access memory (RAM) for data in RAM that hasn't been used recently.
performance and accountability reporting (PAR) - Performance and accountability reporting (PAR) is the process of compiling and documenting factors that quantify an organization's achievements, efficiency and adherence to budget, comparing actual results against previously articulated goals.
permittivity (electric permittivity) - Permittivity (electric permittivity) is defined as the ratio of electric displacement to the electric field intensity.
PFC (power factor correction or power factor controller) - PFC (power factor correction; also known as power factor controller) is a feature included in some computer and other power supply boxes that reduces the amount of reactive power generated by a computer.
pipelining - Pipelining is the process of storing and prioritizing computer instructions that the processor executes.
platform economy - Platform economy is the tendency for commerce to increasingly move towards and favor digital platform business models.
Power over Ethernet (PoE) - Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a technology for implementing wired Ethernet local area networks (LANs) that enables the electrical current necessary for operating each device to be carried by Ethernet data cables instead of standard electrical power cords and wiring.
power-up (or power-on) - Power-up (or the synonym "power-on") is a verb meaning to apply electrical power to a device - that is, to "turn it on" as most of us would say about turning on a light switch when entering a dark room.
printer - A printer is a device that accepts text and graphic output from a computer and transfers the information to paper, usually to standard-size, 8.
processor (CPU) - A processor is the logic circuitry that responds to and processes the basic instructions that drive a computer.
procure to pay (P2P) - Procure to pay is the process of requisitioning, purchasing, receiving, paying for and accounting for goods and services.
procurement card - A procurement card is a type of company charge card used in making smaller purchases for greater cost efficiency, control and convenience.
procurement plan - A procurement plan -- also called a procurement management plan -- is a document that justifies the need for an external supplier and explains how the process of finding a supplier will be performed.
Producer Price Index (PPI) - The Producer Price Index (PPI) is an economic measurement of the average change in prices that domestic producers of goods receive for their products in a given country or region.
programmable automation controller (PAC) - Programmable automation controller (PAC) is a term that is loosely used to describe any type of automation controller that incorporates higher-level instructions.
propagation delay - Propagation delay is the amount of time required for a signal to be received after it has been sent; it is caused by the time it takes for the signal to travel through a medium.
proportional control - Proportional control is a control system technology based on a response in proportion to the difference between what is set as a desired process variable (or set point) and the current value of the variable.
QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) - QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) is a method of combining two amplitude modulation (AM) signals into a single channel.
rack - A rack, in an IT (information technology) context, is a supporting framework that holds hardware modules.
rack server (rack-mounted server) - A rack server, also called a rack-mounted server, is a computer dedicated to use as a server and designed to be installed in a framework called a rack.
rack unit - A rack unit (abbreviated as U, less commonly seen as RU) is a unit of measurement (1.
Raspberry Pi ($35 computer) - Raspberry Pi is a small, single-board computer that costs $35.
real user monitoring (RUM) - Real user monitoring (RUM) is a technology used by developers and network operators to gain real-world observability into web performance and service availability.
real-time monitoring - Real-time (data) monitoring is the delivery of continuously updated information streaming at zero or low latency.
reliability of computers - Reliability is an attribute of any computer-related component -- software, hardware or a network, for example -- that consistently performs according to its specifications.
reliability, availability and serviceability (RAS) - Reliability, availability and serviceability (RAS) is a set of related attributes that must be considered when designing, manufacturing, purchasing and using a computer product or component.
Request for Offer (RFO) - A Request for Offer (RFO) is a document an organization issues to solicit bids or proposals from potential suppliers for goods or services.
request for proposal (RFP) - A request for proposal (RFP) is a document that an organization, often a government agency or large enterprise, posts to elicit a response -- a formal bid -- from potential vendors for a desired IT solution.
requisition - A requisition, in procurement, is a request for goods or services made by an employee to the person or department in a company that is responsible for purchasing.
Resilient File System (ReFS) - A Resilient File System (ReFS) is a file system that Microsoft developed for use on a Windows operating system (OS) and is designed to overcome some of the limitations in the New Technology File System (NTFS).
RFI (request for information) - An RFI (request for information) is a formal process for gathering information from potential suppliers of a good or service.
RFx - RFx (request for x) encompasses the entire formal request process and can include any of the following: request for bid (RFB), request for information (RFI), request for proposal (RFP), request for quotation (RFQ) and request for tender (RFT).
robotics - Robotics is a branch of engineering that involves the conception, design, manufacture and operation of robots.
rolling deployment - A rolling deployment is the installation of software updates on one server or server subset at a time, rather than updating all servers or server subsets at the same time.
SaltStack - SaltStack, often referred to as simply "Salt," is an open source configuration management and orchestration tool for automating repeated system administrative and code deployment tasks.
SAP Business One - SAP Business One is an ERP software platform specifically intended for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
SAP Planned Delivery Time - SAP Planned Delivery Time (PDT) is a tool within the SAP ERP software used to update manufacturing planning data, namely the scheduled delivery of procured goods and materials so that production plans reflect the most current data.
Seebeck effect - The Seebeck effect is a phenomenon in which a temperature difference between two dissimilar electrical conductors or semiconductors produces a voltage difference between the two substances.
serial communications interface (SCI) - A serial communications interface (SCI) is a device that enables the serial exchange of data -- that is, one bit at a time -- between a microprocessor and peripherals, such as printers, external drives, scanners and mice.
serial peripheral interface (SPI) - In a computer, a serial peripheral interface (SPI) is an interface that enables the serial (one bit at a time) exchange of data between two devices, one called a master and the other called a slave.
serial presence detect (SPD) - When a computer is booted (started), serial presence detect (SPD) is information stored in anelectrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) chip on a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) memory module that tells thebasic input/output system (BIOS) the module's size, data width, speed, and voltage.
server hardware degradation - Server hardware degradation is the gradual breakdown of the physical parts of a server.
service assurance (SA) - Service assurance (SA) is a procedure or set of procedures intended to optimize performance and provide management guidance in communications networks, media services and end-user applications.
service level indicator - A service level indicator (SLI) is a metric that indicates what measure of performance a customer is receiving at a given time.
service mesh - A service mesh is a dedicated infrastructure layer that controls service-to-service communication over a network.
service-level agreement (SLA) - A service-level agreement (SLA) is a contract between a service provider and its customers that documents what services the provider will furnish and defines the service standards the provider is obligated to meet.
seven wastes - The seven wastes are categories of unproductive manufacturing practices identified by Taiichi Ohno, the father of the Toyota Production System (TPS).
should-cost analysis (should-cost review) - A should-cost analysis, also called a should-cost review, is a procurement strategy for cost optimization in which the customer reverse engineers the cost of producing a finished product or service and uses that information to negotiate a contract.
sidecar proxy - A sidecar proxy is an application design pattern which abstracts certain features, such as inter-service communications, monitoring and security, away from the main architecture to ease the tracking and maintenance of an application.
SIPOC diagram (suppliers, inputs, process, outputs, customers) - A SIPOC (suppliers, inputs, process, outputs, customers) diagram is a visual tool for documenting a business process from beginning to end prior to implementation.
site reliability engineer - Site reliability engineer is a job title for a specialist who works with software developers to ensure that an organization's computing systems are scalable, stable and predictable.
software license - A software license is a document that provides legally binding guidelines for the use and distribution of software.
sound card - A sound card (also referred to as an audio card) is a peripheral device that attaches to the ISA or PCI slot on a motherboard to enable the computer to input, process, and deliver sound.
standardization - Standardization is the process of developing, promoting and possibly mandating standards-based and compatible technologies and processes within an industry.
star network - A star network is a local area network (LAN) topology in which all nodes -- personal computers (PCs), workstations or other devices -- are directly connected to a common central computer that is often referred to as a hub.
statement of work (SOW) - A statement of work (SOW), in project management, is a document in which a contracting officer or chief procurement officer (CPO) specifies the objectives and deliverables for a particular project or service contract.
STONITH (Shoot The Other Node In The Head) - STONITH (Shoot The Other Node In The Head) is a Linux service for maintaining the integrity of nodes in a high-availability (HA) cluster.
strategic planning - Strategic planning is a process in which an organization's leaders define their vision for the future and identify their organization's goals and objectives.
strategic sourcing - Strategic sourcing is an approach to supply chain management that formalizes the way information is gathered and used so that an organization can leverage its consolidated purchasing power to find the best possible values in the marketplace.

DOM - MEA

SUP - ZER