Monday, May 7, 2001		Bits & Bytes

RDF (Resource Description Framework): RDF is a general framework for describing a Web site’s metadata or the information about the information on the site. It provides interoperability between applications that exchange machine-understandable information on the Web. RDF details information, such as a site’s sitemap, the dates of when updates were made, keywords that search engines look for and the Web page’s intellectual property rights. RDF relies on XML as interchange syntax, creating an ontology system for the exchange of information on the Web.

Magnetic drum: A direct-access, or random-access, storage device. A magnetic drum, also referred as drum, is a metal cylinder coated with magnetic iron-oxide material on which data and programs can be stored. Magnetic drums were once used as a primary storage device but have since been implemented as auxiliary storage devices. Unlike some disk packs, the magnetic drum cannot be physically removed. The drum is permanently mounted in the device.

IDNX (Integrated Digital Network Exchange): It’s a technology that multiplexes voice, data, and video onto multiple T1/E1 backbones. Allowing integration of equipment from different vendors, IDNX is an integrated packet/circuit switch providing frame-relay adaptation for X.25 packet switches, SNA communications processors and other HDLC-based devices.