packet
A transmission unit of fixed maximum size that consists of binary information representing both data and a header containing an ID number, source and destination addresses, and error-control data.
PDC
See primary domain controller.
Peer Web Services
A collection of services that enable the user of a computer running Windows NT Workstation to publish a personal Web site from the desktop. The services include the WWW service, the FTP service, and the Gopher service.
Perl
Practical Extraction and Report Language. A scripting (programming) language that is frequently used for CGI scripts.
Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)
A set of industry-standard framing and authentication protocols included with Windows NT Remote Access Service to ensure interoperability with third-party remote access software. PPP negotiates configuration parameters for multiple layers of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model.
Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)
A new networking technology that supports multiprotocol virtual private networks (VPNs). PPTP enables secure access to private networks across the Internet. With PPTP enabled, remote users can dial into an Internet service provider (ISP), or connect directly to the Internet, and all communication between the user and private network is secure.
Post Office Protocol (POP)
The Post Office Protocol version 3 (POP3) is a protocol that permits a workstation to dynamically access a mail drop on a server in a useful fashion. Usually, this means that a POP3 server is used to allow a workstation to retrieve mail that an SMTP server is holding for it. POP3 is specified in RFC 1725.
POTS
Acronym for Plain-Old Telephone Service. Same as public switched telephone network (PSTN). POTS is also an acronym for point of termination station, which refers to where a telephone call terminates.
primary domain controller (PDC)
In a Windows NT Server domain, the computer running Windows NT Server that authenticates domain logons and maintains the directory database for a domain. The PDC tracks changes made to accounts of all computers on a domain. It is the only computer to receive these changes directly. A domain has only one PDC. See also backup domain controller; domain controller.
PTR record
The pointer (PTR) resource record maps an IP address to a host name in a DNS reverse zone (those in the In-addr.arpa DNS domain).
public key cryptography
A method of encrypting data transmissions to and from a server.