A Reference That Needs Updating

Might be useful for a beginner's IT library, but newer sources are better.

Given the press date, this dictionary is still out of date: RAID is defined as Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks only, (most in the industry now use "Independent Disks"), and the Berkeley paper defining RAID is not mentioned; JBOD is not listed and terms like BERT, HSRP, RACF, transitive, PPPoE, and alternate definitions of CDE aren't listed, but the very old ECNE is listed. This dictionary is not as complete as my (old) IBM reference, and it lacks the clear, extended definitions of the newer Cyber Dictionary by David Morse.

Given that this was once a dictionary of primarily Novell terms, Dyson has done mostly a good job of adding Microsoft/NT/Win2K terms to the previous (1999), but he hasn't kept up with Novell (janitor, obituary) nor Cisco (HSRP) terminology. This dictionary would most appeal to beginners and businesses with libraries that lack a basic LAN dictionary. It's nice to have the searchable version but it needs more comprehensive content to search.

Quick Review

Pro: Includes a searchable, cross-referenced version on the CD
Con: Outdated information and lack of completeness, both in definitions and listing choice.
Verdict: Revised and updated, but not revised and updated enough

About the Author

Douglas Mechaber, MCSE, MCNE, CCDA, is a network consultant and dive instructor and is always on the lookout for utilities that make his life easier, or panulirus interruptus, the California spiny lobster.

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