Windows Glossary “Windows Dictionary” (L)

L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol)
An industry-standard Internet tunneling protocol. Unlike Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), L2TP does not require IP connectivity between the client workstation and the server. L2TP requires only that the tunnel medium provide packet-oriented point-to-point connectivity. The protocol can be used over media such as ATM, Frame Relay, and X.25. L2TP provides the same functionality as PPTP. Based on Layer 2 Forwarding (L2F) and PPTP specifications, L2TP allows clients to set up tunnels across intervening networks.

label
Each part of a full DNS domain name that represents a node in the domain namespace tree. Domain names are made up of a sequence of labels, such as the three labels (example, microsoft, and com) that make up the DNS domain name example.microsoft.com. Each label used in a DNS name must be 63 bytes or less in character length.

LAN emulation (LANE)
A set of protocols that allow existing Ethernet and Token Ring LAN services to overlie an ATM network. LANE allows connectivity among LAN- and ATM-attached stations.

LAN emulation client (LEC)
The client on an ELAN that performs data forwarding, address resolution, and other control functions. The LEC resides on end stations in an ELAN.

LAN emulation configuration server
The service that assigns individual local area network emulation (LANE) clients to particular emulated local area networks (ELANs) by directing them to the LAN emulation server (LES).

LAN emulation server (LES)
The central control point for an emulated local area network (ELAN). Enables LAN emulation clients to join the ELAN and resolves LAN addresses to ATM addresses.

latency
In Active Directory replication, the delay between the time an update is applied to a given replica and the time it is applied to some other replica. Latency is sometimes referred to as propagation delay.


LDAP Data Interchange Format (LDIF)
Files that contain LDAP instructions that manipulate directory information. Before the LDAP commands in an LDIF file are carried out, they can be read or modified, providing an opportunity for fine-tuning.

lease
The length of time for which a DHCP client can use a dynamically assigned IP address configuration. Before the lease time expires, the client must either renew or obtain a new lease with DHCP.

library
A data-storage system, usually managed by Removable Storage. A library consists of removable media (such as tapes or discs) and a hardware device that can read from or write to the media. There are two major types of libraries: robotic libraries (automated multiple-media, multidrive devices) and stand-alone drive libraries (manually operated, single-drive devices). A robotic library is also called a jukebox or changer.

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
The primary access protocol for Active Directory. Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) version 3 is defined by a set of Proposed Standard documents in Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) RFC 2251.

Line Printer Daemon (LPD)
A service on the print server that receives documents (print jobs) from Line Printer Remote (LPR) utilities running on client systems.

Line Printer Remote (LPR)
A connectivity utility that runs on client systems and is used to print files to a computer running an LPD server.

Link Control Protocol (LCP)
A PPP control protocol that negotiates link and PPP parameters to dynamically configure the data-link layer of a PPP connection.

linked object
An object that is inserted into a document but still exists in the source file. When information is linked, the new document is updated automatically if the information in the original document changes. If you want to edit the linked information, double-click it. The toolbars and menus from the original program will appear. If the original document is on your computer, changes that you make to the linked information will also appear in the original document.

liquid crystal display (LCD)
A type of display used in digital watches and many portable computers. LCD displays utilize two sheets of polarizing material with a liquid crystal solution between them. An electric current passed through the liquid causes the crystals to align so that light cannot pass through them. Each crystal, therefore, is like a shutter, either allowing light to pass through or blocking the light.

Lmhosts file
A local text file that maps NetBIOS names (commonly used for computer names) to IP addresses for hosts that are not located on the local subnet. In this version of Windows, the file is stored in the systemroot\System32\Drivers\Etc folder.

load balancing
A technique used by Windows Clustering to scale the performance of a server-based program (such as a Web server) by distributing its client requests across multiple servers within the cluster. Each host can specify the load percentage that it will handle, or the load can be equally distributed across all the hosts. If a host fails, Windows Clustering dynamically redistributes the load among the remaining hosts.

local area network (LAN)
A communications network connecting a group of computers, printers, and other devices located within a relatively limited area (for example, a building). A LAN allows any connected device to interact with any other on the network.

local computer
The computer that you are currently logged on to as a user. More generally, a local computer is a computer that you can access directly without using a communications line or a communications device, such as a network adapter or a modem.

local group
For computers running Windows and member servers, a group that can be granted permissions and rights from its own computer and (if the computer participates in a domain) user accounts and global groups both from its own domain and from trusted domains.

local printer
A printer that is directly connected to one of the ports on your computer.

local user
A person who uses a computer that is not connected to a network. A local user is most likely someone using a computer at home.

local user profile
A computer-based record about an authorized user that is created automatically on the computer the first time a user logs on to a workstation or server computer.

log file
A file that stores messages generated by an application, service, or operating system. These messages are used to track the operations performed. For example, Web servers maintain log files listing every request made to the server. Log files are usually plain text (ASCII) files and often have a .log extension.
In Backup, a file that contains a record of the date the tapes were created and the names of files and directories successfully backed up and restored. The Performance Logs and Alerts service also creates log files.

log on
To begin using a network by providing a user name and password that identifies a user to the network.

logical drive
A volume that you create within an extended partition on a basic master boot record (MBR) disk. Logical drives are similar to primary partitions, except that you are limited to four primary partitions per disk, whereas you can create an unlimited number of logical drives per disk. A logical drive can be formatted and assigned a drive letter.

logical printer
The software interface between the operating system and the printer in Windows. While a printer is the device that does the actual printing, a logical printer is its software interface on the print server. This software interface determines how a print job is processed and how it is routed to its destination (to a local or network port, to a file, or to a remote print share). When you print a document, it is spooled (or stored) on the logical printer before it is sent to the printer itself.

logon right
A user right that is assigned to a user and that specifies the ways in which a user can log on to a system. An example of a logon right is the right to log on to a system remotely.

logon script
Files that can be assigned to user accounts. Typically a batch file, a logon script runs automatically every time the user logs on. It can be used to configure a user's working environment at every logon, and it allows an administrator to influence a user's environment without managing all aspects of it. A logon script can be assigned to one or more user accounts.

logon script path
A sequence of directory names that specifies the location of the logon script. When a user logs on, the authenticating computer locates the specified logon script (if one has been assigned to that user account) by following that computer's local logon script path (usually systemroot\System32\Repl\Import\Scripts).

long distance operator
Digits dialed before the area or city code to access a long distance phone service. For example, in the United States of America, you dial a 1 before the area or city code: (1) (206) 000-0000. The actual digits depend on the country/region or phone service. Area codes and long distance operators are not used in all countries/regions.

long name
A folder name or file name longer than the 8.3 file name standard (up to eight characters followed by a period and an extension of up to three characters) of the FAT file system. This version of Windows supports long file names up to 255 characters.
In a Macintosh environment, users can assign long names to files and folders on the server and, using AppleTalk network integration, you can assign long names to Macintosh-accessible volumes when you create them. This version of Windows automatically translates long names of files and folders to 8.3 names for MS-DOS and Windows 3.x users.

loopback address
The address of the local computer used for routing outgoing packets back to the source computer. This address is used primarily for testing.

loose name checking
A form of domain name checking DNS uses that examines characters in DNS names for valid ANSI character compliance. However, loose name checking does not check for compliance with DNS naming requirements and valid character usage for Internet host names, as specified in RFC 1123, Requirements for Internet Hosts - Applications and Support.

For RFC compliance, DNS domain names will use name labels made up only of valid uppercase and lowercase letters, number characters, and hyphens (A through Z, a through z, 0 through 9, and -) separated by periods.

luminosity
The brightness of a color based on a scale from black to white on your monitor