tahoe-lafs/docs/glossary.rst

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.. -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
============================
Glossary of Tahoe-LAFS Terms
============================
.. glossary::
`Foolscap <https://github.com/warner/foolscap/>`_
an RPC/RMI (Remote Procedure Call / Remote Method Invocation) protocol for use with Twisted
storage server
a Tahoe-LAFS process configured to offer storage and reachable over the network for store and retrieve operations
storage service
a Python object held in memory in the storage server which provides the implementation of the storage protocol
introducer
a Tahoe-LAFS process at a known location configured to re-publish announcements about the location of storage servers
:ref:`fURLs <fURLs>`
a self-authenticating URL-like string which can be used to locate a remote object using the Foolscap protocol
(the storage service is an example of such an object)
:ref:`NURLs <NURLs>`
a self-authenticating URL-like string almost exactly like a fURL but without being tied to Foolscap
swissnum
a short random string which is part of a fURL/NURL and which acts as a shared secret to authorize clients to use a storage service
lease
state associated with a share informing a storage server of the duration of storage desired by a client
share
a single unit of client-provided arbitrary data to be stored by a storage server
(in practice, one of the outputs of applying ZFEC encoding to some ciphertext with some additional metadata attached)
bucket
a group of one or more immutable shares held by a storage server and having a common storage index
slot
a group of one or more mutable shares held by a storage server and having a common storage index
(sometimes "slot" is considered a synonym for "storage index of a slot")
storage index
a 16 byte string which can address a slot or a bucket
(in practice, derived by hashing the encryption key associated with contents of that slot or bucket)
write enabler
a short secret string which storage servers require to be presented before allowing mutation of any mutable share
lease renew secret
a short secret string which storage servers required to be presented before allowing a particular lease to be renewed