Common Terms

Auto E-Mail Responders
CGI script
FTP
HTML
IP Address
Majordomo (Mailing Lists)
mSQL Database
PHP
Secure Forms (SSL)
SSIs (Server Side Includes)
Telnet

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Auto E-Mail Responders

Known as "autoresponders" or "infobots", these are cgi scripts that return a message to the sender. Usually they notify the e-mail sender that the message was received and perhaps forwarded somewhere else.

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CGI script

Stands for "common gateway interface". These scripts can be binary executables residing in a server, Unix shell scripts or interpreted languages like Perl. They can be invoked from a webpage when using the proper coding.
 
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FTP

File Transfer Protocol - a communications protocol that allows the transfer of files between computers with different operating systems. It can be used for transferring binary or ASCII files. It can be said that FTP allows the transfer of "raw data". This protocol is not to be confused with the modem's communication protocol or telnet.
 
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HTML

Hypertext Markup Language - the coding used for writing and designing webpages. It's also used in other applications that support this format, such as word processors, Windows applications, etc.
 
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IP Address

A numerical "address" (Internet Protocol) assigned to networks, individual servers and domains. It's actually a 32-bit number, but is most commonly represented as four numbers joined by periods, like "209.182.47.93". This is sometimes also called a "dotted quad." It's a unique number that designates the country, state, county or city, and the node of the server. IP addresses can be static, that is "fixed", where the server always uses the same number; or they can be dynamic, where a service provider such as ATT or AOL assigns it as the need arises. Internet Service Providers assign a different "dynamic" IP address to your computer every time you login to their network via modem.

This address is needed for communications between computers. A registered server, however, normally has its unique IP address so that other computers can find it. Your browser could then find a computer by its registered name such as "http://www.award2000.com" or by its unique IP address such as "209.182.47.93".
 
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Majordomo (Mailing Lists)

Majordomo is a program which automates the management of Internet mailing lists. Commands are sent to Majordomo via electronic mail to handle all aspects of list maintainance. Once a list is set up, virtually all operations can be performed remotely, requiring no intervention upon the postmaster of the list site.

Majordomo controls a list of addresses for some mail transport system (like sendmail or smail) to handle. Majordomo itself performs no mail delivery (though it has scripts to format and archive messages).

Here's a short list of some of the features of Majordomo:

Supports various types of lists, including moderated ones.
List options can be set through a configuration file, editable remotely.
Supports archival and remote retrieval of messages.
Supports digests.
Written in Perl, - easily customizable and expandable.
Modular in design.
Includes support for FTPMAIL.

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mSQL Database

Mini SQL, or mSQL, (mini-sequel) is a lightweight database engine designed to provide fast access to stored data with low memory requirements. As its name implies, mSQL offers a subset of SQL as its query interface.

MySQL is an expanded version of mSQL with powerful capabilites. These databases can interface with  PHP for a powerful data management suite accessible form html pages.
 
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PHP

 PHP is a widely-used general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for Web development and can be embedded into HTML.

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Secure Forms (SSL)

Forms that need extra security such as credit card information, should be handled by a secure server (SSL). A server can be secured by obtaining a secure certificate from a certificate provider. The browser transmits the information in an encrypted form to the host computer, but the host computer must have the access code to the certificate to be able to process it.

Handling secure forms is browser dependent, that is, the browser on the client's computer must support SSL and the equivalent certificates. Some browsers have an option to turn off the SSL features. If this is the case, the browser will alert the user of the lack of security for that form.
 
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SSIs (Server Side Includes)

A script in javaScript, Perl, htmlScript or the like, which is added to the client's page upon loading. It doesn't affect the client's application, but simplifies life for the programmer. As an example, if many pages need a particular coding included, such as a menu, the menu can be written in script language and installed on the server (server-sided). When the client invokes the page(s) that require that menu, the server will include the code to produce a menu as part of the uploaded page. That way, the coding doesn't have to be typed in every page.

The only drawback is that the client's browser must support the server sided script language. Otherwise the programmers would have to insert other coding for those browsers that aren't compatible with the script code.
 
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Telnet

Stands for telecommunications network. It's the oldest of the communications protocols. We used this in the 60's when computers didn't even have a monitor. We communicated using teletype machines. However, today it's used in conjunction with a monitor screen, but the commands are the same. This is not to be confused with the modem's communication protocol. It's a program that allows an approved user to transfer files, rename files, make directories, change directory permissions, and the like, on the host (remote) servers. Both the host and client computers have to allow telnet access.

Telnet support is dependent on an external application. It doesn't exist in every computer. Most versions of the Windows operating system have a telnet application built-in.

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