In the context of RSxxx serial communication, Serial Converters can be used to change the electrical characteristic of one communications standard into another, to take advantage of the best properties of the alternate standard selected.

For example, an Automatic RS232<=>RS485 converter, could be connected to a computer's RS232, full-duplex port, and transform it into an RS485 half-duplex, multi-drop network at distances up to 4000ft.

Server is a computer or device on a network that manages network resources. For example, a file server is a computer and storage device dedicated to storing files. Any user on the network can store files on the server. A print server is a computer that manages one or more printers, and a network server is a computer that manages network traffic. A database server is a computer system that processes database queries.

A server farm is a group of computers acting as servers and housed together in a single location. In other words, server farm is a group of networked servers that are housed in one location. A server farm is sometimes called a server cluster.

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is a TCP/IP protocol used in sending and receiving e-mail. However, since it's limited in its ability to queue messages at the receiving end, it's usually used with one of two other protocols, POP3 or Internet Message Access Protocol. For more information, please refer to this page http://www.networksorcery.com/enp/protocol/smtp.htm

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is the protocol governing network management and the monitoring of network devices and their functions. For more information, please refer to this page http://www.networksorcery.com/enp/protocol/snmp.htm

SSH (Secure Shell) is a program to log into another computer over a network, to execute commands in a remote machine, and to move files from one machine to another. It provides strong authentication and secure communications over insecure channels.

Secure Shell (SSH), sometimes known as Secure Socket Shell, is a UNIX-based command interface and protocol for securely getting access to a remote computer.

It is widely used by network administrators to control Web and other kinds of servers remotely.

SSH (Secure Shell) is a popular, robust, TCP/IP-based product for network security and privacy, supporting strong encryption and authentication. For more information, please refer to this page http://www.networksorcery.com/enp/protocol/ssh.htm

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a protocol developed by Netscape for transmitting private documents via the Internet. SSL works by using a public key to encrypt data that's transferred over the SSL connection. Both Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer support SSL, and many Web sites use the protocol to obtain confidential user information, such as credit card numbers. By convention, URLs that require an SSL connection start with https: instead of http:. For more information, please refer to this page http://developer.netscape.com/docs/manuals/security/sslin/contents.htm

In asynchronous communications, a bit that indicates that a byte has just been transmitted. Every byte of data is preceded by a start bit and followed by a stop bit.

Supercomputer is the fastest type of computer. Supercomputers are very expensive and are employed for specialized applications that require immense amounts of mathematical calculations. For example, weather forecasting requires a supercomputer. Other uses of supercomputers include animated graphics, fluid dynamic calculations, nuclear energy research, and petroleum exploration.

In telecommunications, a switch is a network device that selects a path or circuit for sending a unit of data to its next destination. A switch may also include the function of the router, a device or program that can determine the route and specifically what adjacent network point the data should be sent to. In general, a switch is a simpler and faster mechanism than a router. Router requires knowledge about the network and how to determine the route, whereas switch doesn't.

Occurring at regular intervals. Most communication between computers and devices is asynchronous Communication within a computer, however, is usually synchronous and is governed by the microprocessor clock.

In program-to-program communication, synchronous communication requires that each end of an exchange of communication respond in turn without initiating a new communication. A typical activity that might use a synchronous protocol would be a transmission of files from one point to another. As each transmission is received, a response is returned indicating success or the need to resend.