Terms and Terminology's

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D
daemon
A networking program, usually associated with UNIX systems, that runs in the background performing utility functions such as housekeeping or maintenance without user intervention or awareness. Pronounced "demon".
DARPA model
The four-layer model that is used to describe the TCP/IP protocol suite. The four layers of the DoD (Department of Defense) Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) model are: Application, Transport, Internet, and Network Interface.
data decryption field (DDF)
A header field, in a file encrypted by using the Encrypting File System, that contains the file encryption key encrypted with the file encryptor's public key.
Data Encryption Standard (DES)
An encryption algorithm that uses a 56-bit key, and maps a 64-bit input block to a 64-bit output block. The key appears to be a 64-bit key, but one bit in each of the 8 bytes is used for odd parity, resulting in 56 bits of usable key.
Data Link Control (DLC)
A protocol used primarily for IBM mainframe computers and printer connectivity.
data recovery field (DRF)
A header field, in a file encrypted by using the Encrypting File System, that contains the file encryption key encrypted with a recovery agent's public key.
data stream
All information transferred over a network at any given time.
data-link layer
A layer that packages raw bits from the physical layer into frames (logical, structured packets for data). This layer is responsible for transferring frames from one computer to another, without errors. After sending a frame, the data-link layer waits for an acknowledgment from the receiving computer.
Database Manager
The Cluster service component that controls access to the cluster database.
datagram
An unacknowledged packet of data sent to another network destination. The destination can be another device directly reachable on the local area network (LAN) or a remote destination reachable using routed delivery through a packet-switched network.
datagram socket
A socket using the Windows Sockets API that provides a connectionless, unreliable flow of data.
DCOM
See Distributed Component Object Model.
DCOM Configuration tool
A Windows NT Server tool that can be used to configure 32-bit applications for DCOM communication over the network. See also DCOM.
dead gateway detection
The practice of the Windows 2000 TCP/IP protocol to change the default gateway to the next default gateway in the list of configured default gateways when a specific number of connections retransmit segments.
deallocate
To return media to the available state after they have been used by an application.
decommissioned state
A state that indicates that media have reached their allocation maximum.
decryption
The process of making encrypted data readable again by converting ciphertext to plaintext. See also ciphertext; encryption; plaintext.
deep search
See search scope.
default gateway
A configuration item for the TCP/IP protocol that is the IP address of a directly reachable IP router. Configuring a default gateway creates a default route in the IP routing table.
default host
The host with the highest host priority for which a drainstop command is not in progress. After convergence, the default host handles all of the network traffic for TCP and UDP ports that are not otherwise covered by port rules. See also convergence; drainstop; host priority; port rule; User Datagram Protocol.
default network
In the Macintosh environment, the physical network on which the processes of the server reside as nodes and on which the server appears to users. The default network of the server must be one to which that server is attached. Only servers on AppleTalk Phase 2 internets have default networks.
default printer
The printer to which a computer sends documents if the Print command is selected without first specifying which printer to use with a program.
default route
A route that is used when no other routes for the destination are found in the routing table. For example, if a router or end system cannot find a network route or host route for the destination, the default route is used. The default route is used to simplify the configuration of end systems or routers. For IP routing tables, the default route is the route with the network destination of 0.0.0.0 and netmask of 0.0.0.0.
default subnet mask
A subnet mask that is used on an Internet Address Class-based network. The subnet mask for Class A is 255.0.0.0. The subnet mask for Class B is 255.255.0.0. The subnet mask for Class C is 255.255.255.0.
default zone
The zone to which all Macintosh clients on a network are assigned by default.
defaultObjectCategory
The distinguished name of the classSchema object for the class that should be used by default as the objectCategory for new instances of this class. This is an indexed property used to make object class searches fast and efficient.

By default, defaultObjectCategory is set to the distinguished name of the classSchema object for this class. If this object will be frequently queried by the value of a super class rather than the object's own class, the defaultObjectCategory can be defined in the schema to the desired value.

If you are sub-classing a structural class, best practice is to set this to the same value as the superclass. This allows the standard UI to "find" your sub-class.

deferred procedure call (DPC)
A kernel-defined control object type that represents a procedure that is to be called later. A DPC runs at DISPATCH_LEVEL IRQL. A DPC can be used when a timer event occurs or when an ISR needs to perform more work but should do so at a lower interrupt request level than the one at which an ISR executes. In an SMP environment, a DPC might run immediately on a processor other than the current one, or might run after another interrupt has run on the current processor.
defragmentation
The process of rewriting parts of a file to contiguous sectors on a hard disk to increase the speed of access and retrieval. When files are updated, the computer tends to save these updates on the largest continuous space on the hard disk, which is often on a different sector than the other parts of the file. When files are thus fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk each time the file is opened to find all of the parts of the file, which slows down response time. In Active Directory, defragmentation rearranges how the data is written in the directory database file to compact it. See also fragmentation.
delegation
The ability to assign responsibility for management and administration of a portion of the namespace to another user, group, or organization. For DNS, a name service record in the parent zone that lists the name server authoritative for the delegated zone. See also inheritance; parenting.
delegation wizard
A wizard used to distribute precise elements of the administrator's workload to others.
demand-dial connection
A connection, typically using a circuit-switched wide area network link, that is initiated when data needs to be forwarded. The demand-dial connection is typically terminated when there is no traffic.
demand-dial filter
An IP packet filter that specifies what types of TCP/IP traffic either creates the connection or ignores it for the purposes of creating the connection.
demand-dial interface
A logical interface that represents a demand-dial connection (a PPP link) that is configured on the calling router. The demand-dial interface contains configuration information such as the port to use, the addressing used to create the connection (such as a phone number), authentication and encryption methods, and authentication credentials.
demand-dial routing
Routing that makes dial-up connections to connect networks based on need. For example, a branch office with a modem that dials and establishes a connection only when there is network traffic from one office to another.
demultiplexing
The action of forwarding a packet to the proper process, such as when an IPX packet arrives at its destination and is handed to the IPX protocol.
denial-of-service attack
An attack in which an attacker exploits a weakness or a design limitation of a network service to overload or halt the service, so that the service is not available for use. This type of attack is typically launched to prevent other users from using a network service such as a Web server or a file server.
dependency
In clustering, the state in which one resource must be online before a second resource can come online.
dependency tree
A discrete set of resources that are connected to each other by dependency relationships. All resources in a specified dependency tree must be members of a single group. See also dependency; resource.
designated router (DR)
An OSPF router that forms adjacencies with all other routers on a multiple access network.
desired free space
The amount of free space that should be maintained on a volume at all times during normal use.
desktop
The on-screen work area in which windows, icons, menus, and dialog boxes appear.
device
Any piece of equipment that can be attached to a network or computer, for example, a computer, printer, joystick, adapter or modem card, or any other peripheral equipment. Devices normally require a device driver to function with Windows 2000. See also device driver.
device driver
A program that allows a specific device, such as a modem, network adapter, or printer, to communicate with Windows 2000. Although a device can be installed on a system, Windows 2000 cannot use the device until the appropriate driver has been installed and configured. If a device is listed in the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL), a driver is usually included with Windows 2000. Device drivers load (for all enabled devices) when a computer is started, and thereafter run invisibly. See also Hardware Compatibility List (HCL).
device fonts
Fonts that reside in your printer. They can be built into the printer itself or provided by a font cartridge or font card. See also printer fonts.
Dfs
See Distributed file system.
Dfs link
Part of the Distributed file system (Dfs) topology that lies below the Dfs root and forms a connection to one or more shared folders or another Dfs root. It does this by mapping a DNS name to the standard UNC of the target shared folder.
Dfs root
A Server Message Block share at the top of the Dfs topology that is the starting point for the links and shared files that make up the Dfs namespace. A Dfs root can be defined at the domain level, for domain-based operation, or at the server level, for stand-alone operation. Domain-based Dfs can have multiple roots in the domain but only one root on each server. See also namespace.
Dfs shared folder
Files or folders in the Dfs namespace that are shared by users with proper permissions. Shared folders can exist at the root level (domain-based Dfs only) or be referred to by Dfs links.
Dfs topology
The overall logical hierarchy of a Distributed file system, including elements such as roots, links, shared folders, and replica sets, as depicted in the Dfs administrative console. This is not to be confused with the Dfs namespace, which is the logical view of shared resources seen by users.
DHCP
See Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.
DHCP Manager
The primary tool used to manage DHCP servers. The DHCP Manager is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) tool that is added to the Administrative Tools menu when the DHCP service is installed.
DHCP relay agent
A routing component that transfers messages between DHCP clients and DHCP service located on separate networks.
DHCP service
A service, that enables a computer to function as a DHCP server and configure DHCP-enabled clients on a network. DHCP runs on a server, enabling the automatic, centralized management of IP addresses and other TCP/IP configuration settings for a network's clients.
dialog box
A window that is displayed to request or supply information. Many dialog boxes have options which must be selected before Windows NT can carry out a command.
dictionary attack
An attack in which an attacker tries known words in the dictionary and numerous common password names in an attempt to "guess" the password. Because most users prefer easily remembered passwords, dictionary attacks are often a shortcut to finding a password in significantly less time than key search (brute force) attacks would take to find the same password. See also key search attack.
Diffie-Hellman (DH) algorithm
An algorithm that predates Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) encryption and offers better performance. It is one of the oldest and most secure algorithms used for key exchange. The two parties publicly exchange keying information, which Windows 2000 additionally protects with hash function encryption. Neither party ever exchanges the actual key; however, after their exchange of keying material, each is able to generate the identical shared key. At no time is the actual key ever exchanged.
Diffie-Hellman Groups
Groups used to determine the length of the base prime numbers (key material) for the DH exchange. The strength of any key derived from a DH exchange depends in part on the strength of the DH group the primes are based upon.
Diffie-Hellman Key Agreement
See Diffie-Hellman (DH) algorithm.
digital certificate
See certificate.
digital signature
A means for originators of a message, file, or other digitally--encoded information to bind their identity to the information. The process of digitally signing information entails transforming the information, as well as some secret information held by the sender, into a tag called a signature. Digital signatures are used in public key environments and they provide nonrepudiation and integrity services. See also public key cryptography.
Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA)
See Digital Signature Security Standard.
Digital Signature Security Standard (DSS)
A standard that uses the Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA) for its signature algorithm and SHA-1 as its message hash algorithm. DSA is a public key algorithm that is used only to generate digital signatures and cannot be used for data encryption. Digital Signature Standard is also called DSS.
direct delivery
The delivery of an IP packet by an IP node to the final destination on a directly attached network.
direct hosting
A feature that allows Windows 2000 computers using Microsoft file and print sharing to communicate over IPX, bypassing the NetBIOS layer.
direct memory access (DMA)
Memory access that does not involve the microprocessor. DMA is frequently used for data transfer directly between memory and a peripheral device, such as a disk drive.
directory
An information source that contains information about computer files or other objects. In a file system, a directory stores information about files. In a distributed computing environment (such as a Windows 2000 domain), the directory stores information about objects such as printers, applications, databases, and users.
directory partition
A contiguous subtree of Active Directory that is replicated as a unit to other domain controllers in the forest that contain a replica of the same subtree. In Active Directory, a single server always holds at least three directory partitions: schema, (class and attribute definitions for the directory); configuration (replication topology and related metadata); domain (subtree that contains the per-domain objects for one domain). The schema and configuration directory partitions are replicated to every domain controller in a specified forest. A domain directory partition is replicated only to domain controllers for that domain. In addition to a full, writable replica of its own domain directory partition, a Global Catalog server also holds partial, read-only replicas of all other domain directory partitions in the forest. See also full replica; Global Catalog; partial replica.
directory service
Both the directory information source and the service that make the information available and usable. A directory service enables the user to find an object given any one of its attributes. See also Active Directory; directory.
directory store
The physical storage for Active Directory directory partition replicas on a given domain controller. The store is implemented using the Extensible Storage Engine.
directory system agent (DSA)
The process that manages and provides access to stored directory information.
directory tree
A hierarchy of objects and containers in a directory that can be viewed graphically as an upside-down tree, with the root object at the top. Endpoints in the tree are usually single (leaf) objects, and nodes in the tree, or branches, are container objects. A tree shows how objects are connected in terms of the path from one object to another. A simple tree is a single container and its objects. A contiguous subtree is any unbroken path in the tree, including all the members of any container in that path.
disable
To make a device nonfunctional. For example, if a device in a hardware profile is disabled, the device cannot be used while using that hardware profile. Disabling a device frees the resources that were allocated to the device.
disabled user account
A user account that does not permit logging on. The account appears in the user account list of Local Users and Groups or Active Directory Users and Computers and can be re-enabled by a member of the Administrators group at any time. See also user account.
disconnected placeholder
A placeholder whose file contents have been removed from remote storage. A disconnected placeholder could have been restored from backup after the space in remote storage was reclaimed, or the data within remote storage is physically unavailable (for example, because of a media failure).
discontiguous namespace
Namespace that is based on different DNS root domain names, such as that of multiple trees in the same forest. See also flat namespace; hierarchical namespace; namespace.
discovery
A process by which the Windows 2000 Net Logon service attempts to locate a domain controller running Windows 2000 Server in the trusted domain. Once a domain controller has been discovered, it is used for subsequent user account authentication. For SNMP, dynamic discovery is the identification of devices attached to an SNMP network.
discretionary access control list (DACL)
The part of an object's security descriptor that grants or denies specific users and groups permission to access the object. Only the owner of an object can change permissions granted or denied in a DACL; thus access to the object is at the owner's discretion. See also access control entry; object; security descriptor; system access control list.
disjoint networks
Networks that are separate and unaware of each other.
disjointed subnet
Subnets of a subnetted IP network ID that are not contiguous (connected by the same routers).
disk
A physical data storage device attached to a computer. See also basic disk; dynamic disk.
disk bottleneck
A condition that occurs when disk performance is reduced to the extent that overall system performance is affected.
disk quota
The maximum amount of disk space available to a user.
display adapter
An expansion board that plugs into a personal computer to give it display capabilities. A computer's display capabilities depend on both the logical circuitry (provided in the video adapter) and the monitor. Each adapter offers several different video modes. The two basic categories of video modes are text and graphic. Within the text and graphic modes, some monitors also offer a choice of resolutions. At lower resolutions a monitor can display more colors. Modern adapters contain memory, so that the computer's RAM is not used for storing displays. In addition, most adapters have their own graphics coprocessor for performing graphics calculations. These adapters are often called graphics accelerators. See also network adapter.
display specifiers
Objects in Active Directory that store localized graphical user interface information. Display specifiers enable the graphical user interface to be extended for each class of object in Active Directory.
distance vector
A routing protocol technology in which routing information is advertised as a series of network IDs and their distance in hops from the advertising router. Routing information exchanged between typical distance vector-based routers is unsynchronized and unacknowledged.
distinguished name
A name that uniquely identifies an object by using the relative distinguished name for the object, plus the names of container objects and domains that contain the object. The distinguished name identifies the object as well as its location in a tree. Every object in Active Directory has a distinguished name. An example of a distinguished name is CN=MyName,CN=Users,DC=Reskit,DC=Com.

This distinguished name identifies the "MyName" user object in the reskit.com domain.

Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM)
The Microsoft Component Object Model (COM) specification that defines how components communicate over Windows-based networks. Use the DCOM Configuration tool to integrate client/server applications across multiple computers. DCOM can also be used to integrate robust Web browser applications. See also DCOM Configuration tool.
Distributed Data Management (DDM)
An underlying database architecture provided by the host system, used by IBM.
distributed DHCP
A DHCP scenario in which IP addresses are distributed across a site boundary.
Distributed file system (Dfs)
A Windows 2000 service consisting of software residing on network servers and clients that transparently links shared folders located on different file servers into a single namespace for improved load sharing and data availability.
distributed processing
A computing environment that contains a client and a server. This structure allows the workload to be divided into parts yet appear as a single process.
Distributed Relational Database Architecture (DRDA)
An IBM distributed database protocol that provides access to IBM DB2 relational database programs on IBM host platforms including IBM Multiple Virtual Storage (MVS) and AS/400 systems.
distribution folder
The folder created on the Windows 2000 distribution server to contain the Setup files.
distribution point
In Systems Management Server, a site system with the distribution point role that stores package files received from a site server. Systems Management Server clients contact distribution points to obtain programs and files after they detect that an advertised application is available from a client access point.
distribution point group
In Systems Management Server, a set of distribution points that can be managed as a single entity.
DNS
See Domain Name System.
DNS Notify
A revision to the DNS standard (RFC 1996) that proposes that the master server for a zone notify certain secondary servers for that zone of changes, and the secondary servers can then check to see whether they need to initiate a zone transfer. See also master server; secondary server.
DNS resolver
A component of the TCP/IP protocol that sends Domain Name System (DNS) queries to a DNS server.
DNS server
A computer that runs DNS server programs containing name-to-IP address mappings, IP address-to-name mappings, information about the domain tree structure, and other information. DNS servers also attempt to resolve client queries.
DNS suffix
For DNS, an optional parent domain name that can be appended to the end of a relative domain name that is used in a name query or host lookup. The DNS suffix can be used to complete an alternate fully qualified DNS domain name to be searched when the first attempt to query a name fails.
DNS suffix search list
A list of domain names specified on the DNS tab of the Advanced TCP/IP Settings page. During name resolution, the resolver appends these domain names one by one to form a fully qualified domain name.
domain
In Windows 2000 and Active Directory, a collection of computers defined by the administrator of a Windows 2000 Server network that share a common directory database. A domain has a unique name and provides access to the centralized user accounts and group accounts maintained by the domain administrator. Each domain has its own security policies and security relationships with other domains and represents a single security boundary of a Windows 2000 computer network. Active Directory is made up of one or more domains, each of which can span more than one physical location. For DNS, a domain is any tree or subtree within the DNS namespace. Although the names for DNS domains often correspond to Active Directory domains, DNS domains should not be confused with Windows 2000 and Active Directory networking domain.
domain consolidation
The process of combining two or more domains into a larger domain.
domain controller
For a Windows NT Server or Windows 2000 Server domain, the server that authenticates domain logons and maintains the security policy and the security accounts master database for a domain. Domain controllers manage user access to a network, which includes logging on, authentication, and access to the directory and shared resources.
domain controller discovery
A process by which the Net Logon service attempts to locate a domain controller that is running Windows NT Server in the trusted domain. After a domain controller has been discovered, it is used for subsequent user account authentication.
domain controller locator (Locator)
An algorithm that runs in the context of the Net Logon service and that finds domain controllers on a Windows 2000 network. Locator can find domain controllers by using DNS names (for IP/DNS-compatible computers) or by using NetBIOS names (for computers that are running Windows 3.x, Windows for Workgroups, Windows NT 3.5 or later, Windows 95, or Windows 98, or it can be used on a network where IP transport is not available).
domain hierarchy
The parent-child tree structure of domains.
domain local group
A Windows 2000 group only available in native mode domains and can contain members from anywhere in the forest, in trusted forests, or in a trusted pre-Windows 2000 domain. Domain local groups can only grant permissions to resources within the domain in which they exist. Typically, domain local groups are used to gather security principals from across the forest to control access to resources within the domain.
domain migration
The process of moving accounts, resources, and their associated security objects from one domain structure to another.
domain name
In Windows 2000 and Active Directory, the name given by an administrator to a collection of networked computers that share a common directory. For DNS, domain names are specific node names in the DNS namespace tree. DNS domain names use singular node names, known as "labels," joined together by periods (.) that indicate each node level in the namespace. See also Domain Name System (DNS); namespace.
domain name label
Each part of a full DNS domain name that represents a node in the domain namespace tree. Domain names are made up of a sequence of labels, such as the three labels ("noam," "reskit," and "com") that make up the DNS domain name "noam.reskit.com." Each label used in a DNS name must have 63 or fewer characters.
Domain Name System (DNS)
A hierarchical naming system used for locating domain names on the Internet and on private TCP/IP networks. DNS provides a service for mapping DNS domain names to IP addresses, and vice versa. This allows users, computers, and applications to query the DNS to specify remote systems by fully qualified domain names rather than by IP addresses. See also domain; Ping.
domain namespace
The database structure used by the Domain Name System (DNS). See also Domain Name System (DNS).
domain naming master
The domain controller that has the domain naming master role is the only domain controller that can do the following: Add new domains to the forest; Remove existing domains from the forest; Add or remove cross-reference objects to external directories. See also Active Directory; domain controller; multimaster replication; operations master; replication.
domain restructure
The process of reorganizing one domain structure into another that typically results in the accounts, groups, and trusts being altered.
domain tree
In DNS, the inverted hierarchical tree structure that is used to index domain names. Domain trees are similar in purpose and concept to the directory trees used by computer filing systems for disk storage. See also domain name; namespace.
domain upgrade
The process of replacing an earlier operating system version on the computers in a domain with a later version.
domain-based Dfs
An implementation of Dfs that stores its configuration information in Active Directory. Because this information is made available on every domain controller in the domain, domain-based Dfs provides high availability for any distributed file system in the domain. A domain-based Dfs root has the following characteristics: it must be hosted on a domain member server, it has its topology published automatically to Active Directory, it can have root-level shared folders and it supports root and file replication through File Replication service.
dots per inch (DPI)
The standard used to measure screen and printer resolution, expressed as the number of dots that a device can display or print per linear inch. The greater the number of dots per inch, the better the resolution.
dotted decimal notation
The format of an IP address after it is divided along byte boundaries, converted to decimal (Base 10 numbering system), and separated by periods (.). (Example: 192.168.3.24)
drain
For Network Load Balancing, a program that disables new traffic handling for the rule whose port range contains the specified port. All ports specified by the port rule are affected. See also drainstop; port rule.
drainstop
For Network Load Balancing, a tool that disables all new traffic handling on the specified hosts. The hosts then enter the draining mode to complete existing connections. While draining, hosts remain in the cluster and stop their cluster operations when there are no more active connections. You can terminate draining mode by explicitly stopping cluster mode with the stop command or by restarting new traffic handling with the start command. To drain connections from a specific port, use the drain command. See also drain.
dump file
A file used to store data in memory in case of failure.
duplex
A system capable of transmitting information in both directions over a communications channel. See also full-duplex; half-duplex.
DVD decoder
A hardware or software component that allows a digital video disc (DVD) drive to display movies on your computer screen. See also DVD disc; DVD drive.
DVD disc
A type of optical disc storage technology. A digital video disc (DVD) looks like a CD-ROM disc, but it can store greater amounts of data. DVD discs are often used to store full-length movies and other multimedia content that requires large amounts of storage space. See also DVD decoder; DVD drive.
DVD drive
A disk storage device that uses digital video disc (DVD) technology. A DVD drive reads both CD-ROM and DVD discs; however, a DVD decoder is necessary to display DVD movies on your computer screen. See also DVD decoder; DVD disc.
Dvorak keyboard
An alternative keyboard with a layout that makes the most frequently typed characters more accessible to people who have difficulty typing on the standard QWERTY layout.
DWORD
A data type composed of hexadecimal data with a maximum allotted space of 4 bytes.
dynamic disk
A physical disk that is managed by Disk Management. Dynamic disks can contain only dynamic volumes (that is, volumes created by using Disk Management). Dynamic disks cannot contain partitions or logical drives, nor can they be accessed by MS-DOS. See also dynamic volume; partition.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
A networking protocol that provides safe, reliable, and simple TCP/IP network configuration and offers dynamic configuration of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for computers. DHCP ensures that address conflicts do not occur and helps conserve the use of IP addresses through centralized management of address allocation.
dynamic ports
Ports in the range from 49151 - 65535 that are issued on a randomly numbered basis.
dynamic priority
The priority value to which a thread's base priority is adjusted to optimize scheduling.
dynamic re-keying
A method used by IPSec policy to control how often a new key is generated during the communication. The communication is sent in blocks, and each block of data is secured with a different key. This prevents an attacker who has obtained part of a communication and the corresponding session keys from obtaining the rest of the message.
dynamic router
A router with dynamically configured routing tables. Dynamic routing consists of routing tables that are built and maintained automatically through an ongoing communication between routers. This communication is facilitated by a routing protocol. Except for their initial configuration, dynamic routers require little ongoing maintenance, and therefore can scale to larger internetworks.
dynamic routing
The use of routing protocols to update routing tables. Dynamic routing responds to changes in the internetwork topology.
dynamic update
An updated specification to the Domain Name System (DNS) standard that permits hosts that store name information in DNS to dynamically register and update their records in zones maintained by DNS servers that can accept and process dynamic update messages.
dynamic volume
A logical volume that is created using Disk Management. Dynamic volumes include simple, spanned, striped, mirrored, and RAID-5 volumes. Dynamic volumes must be created on dynamic disks. See also dynamic disk; volume.
dynamic-link library (DLL)
A feature of the Microsoft Windows family of operating systems and the OS/2 operating system. DLLs allow executable routines, generally serving a specific function or set of functions, to be stored separately as files with .dll extensions, and to be loaded only when needed by the program that calls them.