A PRI (Primary Rate Interface) is a telecommunication standard used in the Integrated Services Digital Network or ISDN for carrying multiple DS0 voice and data transmissions between two physical locations. PRI was developed specifically for industrial or large quantity users. It is an industrial ISDN line, while the Basic Rate Interface, or BRI, caters to home and small enterprises. Both Primary Rate Interface and Basic Rate Interface are made up of a number of B channels and D channels. The B Channel (Bearer Channel) is used for data transmission, including Read More

Microsoft Silverlight is a plug-in that is available for multiple browsers as well as multiple operating systems. It provides websites with interactivity. Microsoft Silverlight provides high quality video and low latency audio to create highly interactive databases and user interfaces for a number of applications. For example, most government websites such as the common county’s jail inmate database use Silverlight to allow users to easily search through public records and access relevant images, videos, and audio clips.   Silverlight For Mac Since Microsoft Silverlight was designed for cross-platform use, it Read More

Methyl Iodide is a chemical compound that is relatively volatile. It is commonly found in the form of a dense, colorless liquid. It is also known as iodomethane and has the chemical formula CH3I (one carbon atom with three hydrogen atoms and a single iodine atom connected to it). Methyl iodide is a naturally occurring chemical compound that rice plantations emit in small amounts. Methyl Iodide Properties Methyl Iodide is a colorless liquid that turns purple when exposed to light for a long period of time because it is an Read More

A function is a named unit of a group of program statements. This unit can be invoked from other parts of the program. A programmer can solve a simple problem in C++ with a single function. Difficult and complex problems can be decomposed into sub-problems, each of which can be either coded directly or further decomposed. Decomposing difficult problems, until they are directly code-able as single C++ functions, is a software engineering method of stepwise refinement. These functions are combined into other functions and are ultimately used in main() to Read More

EtherCAT stands for "Ethernet for Control Automation Technology." It is an open standard and high performance system that aims to use Ethernet protocols (the favored system for Local Area Networks) in an industrial environment, especially for factories and other manufacturing concerns which make use of robots and other assembly-line technologies. The outstanding and unique functional principle of EtherCAT is processing the Ethernet frame “on the fly” within an EtherCAT network. Ethernet Ethernet is the established (and favored) communications standard for local area networks, originally designed to connect different computers to Read More

A wireless bridge connects two or more networks such as LANs or parts of LANs that are physically separated from each other. The majority of wireless routers on the market today feature a “Bridge” or “Repeater” mode that connects dissimilar or similar protocol types. Wireless bridges can work in a point-to-point or point-to-multi-point configuration, with the ultimate goal being to share network access or resources such as printers or scanners. The most common reason for setting up a wireless bridge is to extend a wireless network’s current range across a Read More

Unix Shell Scripting Tutorials This Unix shell scripting tutorial provides samples and instructional materials that are easy to understand and useful for Unix shell scripting. It also offers illustrated samples that will helps users explore different avenues of Unix shell scripting.   Bourne Shell Programming Tutorial Learn how to use the Unix shell with this comprehensive Bourne Shell Programming/Scripting Tutorial. It contains many example codes with explanations. Heiner’s SHELLdorado This Unix shell scripting resource contains numerous coding examples. It has a section on “Good Coding” as well as a long Read More

With the exponential climb of technology over the past few decades, the needs of technology users have changed dramatically. The world in which human beings live in today is all about information and interchangeability. In order to properly fulfill the needs of its users, a device must be able to transfer its contents from itself to another device. This can be clearly seen in the case of music: the iPod, a popular media device, is exceptional and efficient all by itself. However, the device would quickly lose its charm if Read More

NZB stands for Newzbin, a popular file sharing format used on the internet. A NZB file is a file used to send a particular file through the Internet using the Newzbin application. What is Newzbin exactly? A popular online tool for many years has been Usenet. Usenet, created before the World Wide Web was even up, basically works as a message board. It allows people to post and reply to different topics, referred to online as newsgroups. Newzbin is a subsidiary of Usenet, a website that uses the Usenet application Read More

A DAT file is used for a variety of reasons. Files with a DAT extension are generally composed of information stored by programs. Such information includes configuration information or simple data. Some programs will write codes that seem jumbled/messy into DAT files. Regardless of the application, DAT files can be opened and read by a variety of different tools. The most common tool is a text editor. Text editors can easily open nearly any type of file. Notepad is a common text editor that is available on most PC systems. Read More