ITC Technology Glossary

This glossary contains definitions for terms that are especially relevant to the UVa computing environment. To find definitions for common terms used throughout the computing world, please use the search forms in the right column.

Also note that ITCWeb identifies and defines abbreviations when possible on all new pages. Modern browsers typically identify these defined abbreviations with dotted underlines (e.g., ITC). When you mouse and pause over such an abbreviation, a tool tip with the term definition will appear.

Icon Legend

  • UVa logo = UVa-specific terms
  • ITC logo = ITC services or terms
ACHS
Academic Computing / Health Sciences
Division of ITC that supports research in the field of Health Sciences. This facility is located on the third floor of Hospital West.
account
A user ID and password to gain access to a computer. Most students, faculty and staff of the University are automatically eligible for accounts on certain ITC systems. For more information and assistance, see the ITC User Accounts home page.
asset tag
The University, your department, or both may tag computer equipment with an asset tag (also known as a UVA Property Asset tag, an ETF Asset Tag or a Government Asset tag or Property Sticker), especially if the item is a capital expense (typically costing $5,000 or more). Asset tags allow departments and the University to keep track of each asset's location, replacement date, etc. Higher Education Equipment Trust Fund (ETF) assets can be visually distinguished from University-owned assets by the letters "VCBA" and an orange vertical stripe on the asset tag. Also, the 7-digit asset number will begin with the letter "E." Personally-owned computers are not usually tagged. The asset tag is different from the UVa Desktop Computing Initiative (DCI) sticker.
blue.unix
ITC's computing cluster that provide Unix application and file services to the University community. This collection of machines is called a cluster because they all share the same file systems and accounts. A member of the University community can obtain a blue.unix account from the ITC User Accounts Web site.
CMS
Central Mail Service
The servers, software, and technical infrastructure that make up the primary email host at UVa. All incoming students, faculty, and staff on the academic side of the University (Agency 207) automatically receive email accounts on the CMS.
COD
Course Offering Directory
Web-based listing of UVa undergraduate and graduate courses. Sponsored by the Office of the Registrar, this searchable database contains listings of courses offered during a given semester. It is located on the Web at http://etg08.itc.virginia.edu/cod.pages/20043/cod.html.
cavalier wireless network
UVa's primary wireless network which uses the EAP-TLS security protocol. ITC highly recommends the use of this encrypted wireless network to protect information flowing between mobile computing devices and UVa's wireless access points.
channel
Channels contain the content of the services and information available to you in portals like the MyUVa portal. Each channel focuses on a particular kind of content.
Cryptowallet
Secure, encrypted file of your saved channel application credentials stored on the MyUVa server for use with the MyUVa portal.
DCI
Desktop Computing Initiative
Program that offers faculty, staff and students the opportunity to buy standardized computer hardware, along with a software bundle and installation and maintenance services, all for a competitive price.
dialin
The process of connecting to an online resource using a modem. Information on dialing into the UVa network can be found on ITCWeb at http://www.itc.virginia.edu/netsys/dialin_ethernet_services/.
ETC
Electronic Text Center
Facility in the University Library (Alderman branch) featuring an online archive of thousands of SGML-encoded electronic texts along with hardware and software suitable for the creation and analysis of electronic text.
hardware address (MAC address)
The hardware address (also referred to as the physical address or MAC address) is a unique code assigned to your networking device which allows network traffic destined for that device to find it. It consists of a dozen hexadecimal digits (0-9 and A-F) typically expressed in six pairs of hex digits separated by hyphens. This address is often printed on the wireless card/device itself and can usually also be found through the software that configures your device. If your machine has multiple network adapters—such as a modem, Ethernet card, and/or Wireless Ethernet card—it is important to note that each of these has its own hardware address.
Home Directory
Online personal file storage space provided to UVa students, staff and faculty by ITC. Files stored on the Home Directory server are accessible from any computer properly configured to connected to the UVa network.
IATH
Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities
Institute established to provide leadership in the application of information technology to scholarship in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
IP
Internet Protocol
Four-part decimal address that is assigned by either the hostmaster of the site, or by a DHCP server. The format is xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx. The IP address is paired to the hardware address by the Domain Name Server for the network. An example of an IP address is 128.143.22.99. (Note that leading zeros were dropped here, although some applications include them.)
ISIS
Integrated Student Information System
ISP
Internet Service Provider
Examples include Intelos, Sprint, and Adelphia.
ITC
Information Technology & Communication
UVa's general purpose computing center. For more information about ITC's organization and mission, please see our organizational home page.
ITC Help Desk
The single point of contact for UVa computer users to obtain help with ITC-supported systems and software. The Help Desk is located at 2015 Ivy Road (first floor), and can be reached at (434) 924-3731, or on the Web at http://www.itc.virginia.edu/helpdesk/.
ITCWeb
Official web site for the Department of Information Technology & Communication (ITC).
identifying note
Note entered into the Network Registration database that contains additional information about a machine (for instance, model (laptop, desktop, PC, Macintosh), physical location, guest's full name (for guest registrations), etc. ) which may help in locating the machine should it be compromised.
Information Warehouse
Online data repository that contains information from the University's administrative systems in a relational database structured to facilitate reporting and ad hoc requests for information. A special account is required to gain access to one or more of the Warehouse databases. For more information, see http://warehouse.virginia.edu/.
Integrated System
The University's core administrative information processing system. Find more at the Integrated Systems site.
LSP
Local Support Partner
University employee who provides computer support services to one or more departments and participates in ITC's Local Support Partner Program. The LSP Program provides services, resources, and technical support to LSPs throughout UVa.
MAC (address)
Media Access Control
See hardware address.
Microsoft Select
Contract between UVa and Microsoft Corporation that allows departments easily and inexpensively to install Microsoft software on all their departmental machines.
network registration
Registering your computer in ITC's network devices database enables ITC to track down compromised ("hacked") machines quickly, and minimize damage done not only to those computers but potentially to other machines on the network as well. It also helps us to identify machines causing other problems on the UVa network and correct those as well.
OIT
Office of Information Technologies
Prior to 2007, the headquarters of the Vice President and Chief Information Officer (VP/CIO) for UVa. See VP and CIO.
physical address
See hardware address.
Premium Desktop Service
ITC service that provides a customizable, modular, and secure Windows desktop configuration incorporating a standard suite of software and basic applications. The desktop may be customized to include specialized software specific to a department, school, or program. The service is available to UVa departments for a minimal fee. Find more at the Premium Desktop Service site.
Premium Server Service
ITC service that offers space on a Windows NT file server to departments for a fee. The cost of the necessary hardware, software, and staff time to administer and maintain the server is included in the annual fee. The Service provides departments with shared workspace and provides individuals with their own secure directories. Find more at the Premium Server Service site.
Rolm
Telephone electronics company contracted to provide telephone service to workspaces, residences and public areas throughout UVa.
RS/6000
Brand name for a multiuser Unix workstation manufactured by IBM that runs the AIX operating system. Many University Unix accounts are provided on RS/6000s. (See blue.unix.)
serial number
Unique alphanumeric (letters and/or numbers) identifier assigned to an item for its lifetime by its manufacturer. Different manufacturers place serial numbers in different places; for instance, for most Dell computers the serial number for your system is the Service Tag number and is a unique five- to seven-digit alphanumeric code, which is found on a bar-coded label affixed to your system.
Software Central
UVa download site for networking, antivirus and other software that is available for free to members of the University community.
uPortal
Free, sharable collaborative development project and framework under development by institutions of higher education.
UVa Computing ID
Unique ID assigned to each UVa student and employee. The ID takes the form of the person's initials, followed by a number and one or two letters; e.g., mst3k.
VIRGO
Searchable collection of online University Library databases, available from the Library's home page, http://www.lib.virginia.edu/.
VP and CIO
Vice President and Chief Information Officer
The VP/CIO:
  • serves as the head of ITC
  • works with the University community and its leaders to define a vision for the role of information technology at UVa and in higher education
  • takes appropriate steps to implement that vision
wahoo wireless network
Secondary UVa wireless network for users or devices that do not meet the requirements for accessing the cavalier wireless network. Encryption is not available on the wahoo network.
Web Mail
Web-based email program that works with the Central Mail Service. Log in at www.mail.virginia.edu.
wireless (computing or connection)
Wireless allows you to connect to the University network without the physical restrictions of being plugged into a wall outlet. Find more at ITC's Wireless Website.

© 2009 by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia.

The information contained on the University of Virginia’s Department of Information Technology and Communication (ITC) website is provided as a public service with the understanding that ITC makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of the information, including warrantees of title, non-infringement of copyright or patent rights of others. These pages are expected to represent the University of Virginia community and the State of Virginia in a professional manner in accordance with the University of Virginia’s Computing Policies.