S

Scripting Language

Series of programmed commands that designate how one computer communicates with another computer.

Segment (EDI)

Segment (Network)

A group of devices such as PCs, servers or printers that are connected by network equipment. On Ethernet segments, computers can be connected together by hubs, and signals broadcast on that segment are heard by all stations attached to it. If the segment is interconnected to another segment with a bridge or router, it is possible to send packets between those segments. Network segments joined with bridges or routers form internetworks. A segment is often called a subnetwork.

Also see Bridge Ethernet Hub Internetwork Network Packet PC Router Server

selector

A CSS convention that defines the element that a rule will affect.

Self-extracting Archive

An archived file with the filename extension .exe, indicating that when downloaded and run, it will be extracted by the decompressing program around it, without user intervention.

Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP)

See SLIP

Server

Within a network, a server makes files available to client programs located on other computers when requested.

Service Provider

Freeserve are currently the largest Internet Service Provider in the UK. The role of a Service Provider is to provide subscribers a gateway to the Internet.

SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language)

A text-based markup language used to describe the content and structure of complex documents without regard for the operating system or device that will eventually process the documents. process

Shareware

Software distributed freely, but with certain conditions applying to it. Either the software is released on a trial basis only, and must be registered after a certain period of time, or in other cases no support can be offered with the software without registering it. In some cases direct payment to the author is required.

Also see Freeware Public Domain

Signature

The automatic addition of a few lines at the foot of an E-mail. These usually consist of the sender's E-mail address, full name and other details.

Also see Body E-Mail Header

simple link

An XML convention that uses the HREF attribute to point to a single resource. For example, every HTML link is a simple link.

SITPRO

The Simpler Trade Procedures Board, set up in 1970, is the UK's national trade facilitation agency. It is dedicated to encouraging and helping business trade more effectively and to simplify the international trading process. Its field is within the procedures and documentation associated with international trade.

SLIP

(Serial Line Internet Protocol). Like PPP, lets you use a modem and phone lines to connect to the Internet without connecting to a host computer.

SLIP is a de facto standard, commonly used for point-to-point serial connections running TCP/IP.

Also see PPP Protocol TCP/IP

SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language)

An XML DTD that describes collections of multimedia resources, such as audio and video files, that are played together in a single presentation.

Smileys

Characters often used in News messages, E-mails and on Web Pages to offer some degree of character or emotion. Example :-)

SMTP

(Simple Mail Transport Protocol) often referred to as sendmail, is designed to allow the delivery of mail messages to Internet users.

A protocol used to transfer electronic mail between computers, usually over Ethernet. It is a server to server protocol, so other protocols are used to access the messages. The SMTP dialog usually happens in the background under the control of the message transport system, e.g. sendmail but it is possible to interact with an SMTP server using telnet to connect to the normal SMTP port.

Snail Mail

Write a letter. Buy a stamp, put stamp on letter. Walk to the postbox and post letter. Wait a day or two and hopefully it will have reached its intended destination...that's s n a i l - m a i l.

SNMP

(Simple Network Management Protocol). An IETF defined standard protocol for the exchange of management information between entities on the Internet. SNMP is now the de facto standard for virtually all LAN management. It defines the format for the management data and the type of exchanges that may take place between a management station and the device to be managed on the network.

Also see Protocol TCP/IP

SPID

(Service Profile IDentifier). If required, this number is supplied to you by the telephone company. Typically, if your ISDN line has only one telephone number, or you are not using ISDN service in North America, a SPID is not required.

Also see ISDN

Spoofing

This reduces network overload by reducing traffic on a WAN (such as signals that repeatedly state a device is alive). The router or bridge can tell a remote device that a LAN device is still powered on instead of the LAN device informing the remote device it is still powered on.

Also see Bridge LAN Router Traffic WAN

SPX

(Sequenced Packet Exchange). A communications protocol developed by Novell for use with NetWare used to control the transport of messages across a network.

Also see NOS Protocol

Standards (EDI)

Struts

A J2EE based framework for the development of Java Based Web applications. For more information, see Jakarta Struts

SSL

(Secure Sockets Layer). The SSL protocol runs above TCP/IP and below other protocols such as HTTP. SSL allows a SSL enabled server to authenticate itself to a SSL enabled client, and also allows the client to authenticate itself to the server. SSL allows both machines to establish an encrypted connection.

STP

Shielded Twisted Pair. Cabling consisting of one or more pairs of insulated wires used in a variety of network applications. The wires are wrapped in metal to eliminate electromagnetic interference (EMI) and are of a better quality than UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair).

Also see Network Twisted pair UTP

Straight-through Cable

A straight-through cable has its wires connected to the same pins at both ends (including the transmit and receive wires). For a connection between two devices to work, the receiver of one device must be connected to the transmitter of the other. Therefore, when connecting an Normal (MDI-X) port to an Uplink (MDI) port, a straight-through cable must be used. Straight-through cable is the most common type of off-the-shelf cable available for networking.

Also see MDI/MDI-X Port

style sheet

A formatting document that provides information about the structure of other documents. A style sheet tells the software package used to parse and process the document how the information should be displayed.

Subnet Address

An extension of the IP addressing scheme that allows a site to use a single IP network address for multiple physical networks.

Also see IP Network

Subnet Mask

A subnet mask is a term used to indicate how much of an IP address is used to identify the network. An IP address has two parts, the first identifies the network and the second identifies the machine or PC on the network.

Also see IP Address Network

Surfing

A popular metaphor used for describing someone exploring the World Wide Web.

Swift

Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications

Switch

A switch only forwards information as necessary (unlike a hub, which forwards information to all its ports). Once it has learned which devices can be reached through each port, a switch passes on packets only to the appropriate ports. In this way, a switch can dramatically reduce the amount of traffic and improve the performance of a network. A switch, is typically used to connect hubs together, or to provide dedicated connections to high performance workstations.

Also see Hub Packet