Glossary

Glossary of terms related to Microsoft Exchange and Mobile Messaging

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D

Database

A database is a structured collection of information or records in a computer system. A database allows more efficient storage and querying of information. Modern messaging systems and email servers such as MS Exchange Server store messages, calendar events, contacts and tasks in a database. Exchange database management can become challenging, particularly when the Exchange database size becomes too large. This is the primary reason that system administrators and Exchange hosting providers limit mailbox sizes.

Dedicated Hosting

This refers to web hosting where a client gets a dedicated web server, compared with shared hosting where many clients may be on the same physical server computer. Dedicated hosting has the benefit of being more reliable and providing better response times in many cases. Dedicated hosting also comes at a premium, as the hosting company needs to make the cost of the hardware, software, power, support and other costs from a single client.

Defrag

A shortened form of the word Defragment. This term refers to defragmenting the information on a hard disk. This has to be handled in a particular way for hard disks that store databases and that run messaging systems. A typical desktop computer defrag program is not suitable for an Exchange Server, which has its own defrag utilites included in the Admin Tools software pack.

Deleted Items

Deleted Items such as email messages, calendar items and contacts are stored by the Exchange backup systems. Additionally, message archiving can be very effective at protecting against accidentally deleted messages.

Desktop

A computer Desktop is a graphical user interface used by many modern computer systems. It is an efficient way of easily learning to use a computer system. The desktop of a smartphone is referred to as a Deck, instead of a Desktop. Conversely, a Desktop Computer refers to a computer that is not designed to be mobile. It typically only means end-user computers, not servers.

Digital Organizer

A digital organizer, or personal digital assistant, is a digital device that holds address book and calendar information. A digital organizer has no live data connection, and must be synchronized with a desktop client using a device such as a USB connection.

Disaster Recovery

Disaster Recovery is a set of processes, policies and procedures of restoring business-critical operations in the event of unplanned interruptions in services. This typically takes the form of a plan owned by the COO and/or CTO of an organization that has potential scenarios and planned steps if one of the scenarios occurs. For data and communications, this may mean the use of a secondary wireless provider, a contract from a provider to provide on-demand access to systems managed internally. Many companies find Exchange ASP service is a cost-effective disaster recovery option for their internal Exchange hosting, rather than maintaining duplicate Exchange servers.

Distribution List

A Distribution List is a list of multiple email addresses that can be addressed at one time by a single email address. A typical scenario would be to have a distribution list management@company.com. All users whose email addresses are assigned to the above distribution list would receive a copy of each email sent to the distribution list. It is wise for a company to have policies and guidelines for the use and access to distribution lists. For example, it may no be desirable for a low-level employee to email management@company.com, or for people outside of the organization to know of internal distribution list addresses.

Domain

A Domain is a word, when combined with a Top Level Domain, that is unique on the internet and refers to a specific numerical address. Domains were created to provide easy to remember names for internet addresses. Computers then use the Domain Name System to translate the Domain into an IP Address, which they use to access the internet location. In short, a Domain is translated into a number by computers on the internet.

Domain Name System

The Domain Name System is a hierarchical naming system for computers, services, or any resource participating in the internet. The Domain Name System is administered by ICANN, which authorizes registrars (resellers) to lease the use of a name for a yearly fee. Domains using DNS have two primary components: the Top Level Domain Extension, such as .com, .net, .org, etc and the Domain Name and the Domain Name itself. Domains can also have an unlimited number of subdomains. The domain registrar that provided your domain may handle your DNS needs, you may use a third party such as Zone Edit, or host your own DNS servers.

Download

Downloading is the process of copying digital information, files, and messages from a remote location to another location. The destination of the download can be the local computer or another remote server. With the advent of smartphone with html browsers, it is now just as likely that the destination of a download will be the mobile phone.

Draft

A Draft message is a message that is not complete and ready to send. Exchange clients allow users to save email messages as a draft, and complete and send the messages at a later date. This is useful for long emails. With an Exchange server, email drafts are stored on the server so they are available on a user's mobile device or with OWA.