M
Mainframes
This is a large, comparativley expensive, computer
system that is capable of processing millions of instructions per second.
Maximize
In a graphical environment, to enlarge a window to full size. Contrast to
minimize.
Megabyte
Abberviated MB. One MB is 1,048,576 bytes.
Memory
An electronic storage area for data and instructions that can be accessed quickly
by the CPU. This term often refers to Random Access Memory but it can also be
other types of RAM or even space on a disk.
Metacharacters
Keyboard characters that have specific functions on the command line. Some metacharacters
are used for substitutions, and others are used to escape other characters.
Any keyboard character that is not alphanumeric is a metacharacter (e.g., ;%
! ~ * ? [ ] $ | < > ). However, The dot (.) and underscore(_) are the only two
non-alphanumeric characters that are not metacharacters.
Microcomputers
Same as personal computer. A small computer designed for an individual user.
MIME Type
(Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) Extensions
to the SMTP format that allow it to carry multiple types of data i.e. binary,
audio, video, etc.
Modem
A concatenation of Modulator/Demodulator, this is a device used to connect to
another computer over a phone line.
Monitor
Considered the main user output device this is the display screen for the computer.
motd File
(Message of the Day) The contents of /etc/motd are
displayed by login(1) after a successful login but just before it executes the
login shell.
Mount
To cause a file system on a local or remote workstation or server to be available
for access.
Mouse
Hand held device used for pointing and drawing. Controls the movement of the
cursor or pointer on the display screen. Main user input device. Shaped like
a mouse that you can roll along a hard, flat surface.
Multitasking
Enables more than one application to be used at a time. Enables the kernel to
keep track of several processes simultaneously.
Multiuser
An operating system that is capable of being used by two or more users.