SNIA Online Dictionary

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garbage collection	[Computer System] The process of reclaiming resources that are no longer in use. Garbage collection has uses in many aspects of computing and storage. See also trim.
gateway	[Network] A device that receives data via one port and transmits it via another port. This may involve the use of different protocols on each port.
Gb / Gbit	[General] Shorthand for Gigabit.
GB / GByte	[General] Shorthand for Gigabyte.
GB/W	[General] Short for Gigabytes gigabytes per watt. GB/W is a metric for evaluating the storage capacity provided per unit of power.
GBE	[Network] Synonym for Gigabit Ethernet.
GBIC	[Network], [Fibre Channel] Acronym for gigabit interface converter.
Gbps/W	[General] Short for Gigabits per second per watt. Gbps/W is a metric for evaluating data transfer rate provided per unit of power.
geometry	[Storage System] The mathematical description of the layout of blocks on a disk. The primary aspects of a disk's geometry are the number of recording bands and the number of tracks and blocks per track in each, the number of data tracks per cylinder, and the number and layout of spare blocks reserved to compensate for media defects.
GFC	[Fibre Channel] The defined label associated with a Fibre Channel speed. Examples include 32GFC, 64GFC, and 128GFC.
GiB	[General] Synonym for Gibibyte.
GiB/W	[General] Short for gibibytes per watt. GiB/W measures capacity in units of 230 bytes/watt, while GB/W uses units of 109 bytes/watt.
Gibibit	[General] Shorthand for 1,073,741,824 (230) bits. See also gigabit.
Gibibyte	[General] Shorthand for 1,073,741,824 (230) bytes. Binary notation is commonly used for semiconductor memory sizes. See also gigabyte.
Gibit	[General] Synonym for Gibibit.
Gibps/W	[General] Short for gibibits per second per watt. Gibps/W measures data transfer rate in units of 230 bits/second/watt, in contrast to Gbps/W, which measures it in units of 109 bits/second/watt.
GiByte	[General] Synonym for gibibyte.
GID	[Management], [Data Security] Abbreviation for "group identifier" (Group IDentifier).
Gigabit	[General] Shorthand for 1,000,000,000 (109) bits.
Gigabit Ethernet	[Network] A group of Ethernet standards that define the transmission of data at 1 Gbit per second. Gigabit Ethernet (GBE) standards are defined by IEEE 802.3.
gigabit interface converter	[Network], [Fibre Channel] A transceiver that converts between electrical signals internal to a device and the external optical or electrical interface of that device. These devices are obsolete and have been replaced by other devices, including SFP, SFP+, and XFP.
Gigabyte	[General] Shorthand for 1,000,000,000 (109) bytes. The SNIA uses the base 10 convention commonly found in I/O-related and scientific literature rather than the base 2 convention (1,073,741,824, i.e., 230) common in computer system and software literature. See also gibibyte.
GL_Port	[Fibre Channel] A generic loop port that is able to operate as an A_Port, E_Port, F_Port or FL_Port. The operating mode of the GL_Port is determined during Fibre Channel Switch port initialization.
Graphical User Interface	[Computer System] A form of user interface to intelligent devices characterized by pictorial displays and highly structured, forms oriented input. A GUI is valued for perceived ease of use compared with a command line interface.
Green Storage Initiative	[Standards], [Energy] An initiative within the SNIA with a special interest in marketing, education, promotion and development of green storage technologies and support for the technical work of the Green Storage TWG.
greenwashing	[Energy] A result of excessive marketing and ineffective engineering. In fond memory of Tom Clark, who penned this definition ca. 2008.
Group Identifier	[Data Security] A collection of computer user identifiers and possibly other group identifiers used as a convenience in assigning resource access rights or operational privileges.
groupid	[Data Security] Shorthand for group identifier.
GSI	[Standards] Acronym for the SNIA Green Storage Initiative.
GSN	[Network] Acronym for Gigabyte System Network.
GUI	[Computer System] Acronym for Graphical User Interface.
G_Port	[Fibre Channel] A generic Fibre Channel Switch port that is able to operate as an A_Port, E_Port, or an F_Port. The operating mode of the G_Port is determined during Fibre Channel Switch port initialization.