Hey.. for a little levity, I thought I would create a list of terms that you rarely hear working in a modern IT Department. Below in the comments are the terms that I started.. please feel free to add more as they come up. For those “old timers” this list is probably easy… for you new wippersnappers, you might have to look them up and may not even believe that these actually existed.
Data Processing Center: This was a place where the IT Department existed. Within the “Data processing center” you often had equipment that has now long since been retired.
Forms Burster: This was a specialized machine that took Continuous Forms (Another thing of the past) and “burst” them into individual sheets, and (optionally) cut off the pin-feed sides (again, another thing of the past. These were expensive, But, you can still purchase them (probably Government uses).This was probably the noisiest thing in the data center. Check out this video
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Form Decollator: probably one of the most “fun” but frustrating devices in the data center was the Decollator. it allowed you to separate the Multi-part forms (another thing from the past)… it would also remove the CARBON PAPER from between each sheet, and remove the pin-feed from the side. Check out this video for a demonstration:
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I used to run MRP and then print out the travelers to one of these:>) Fun days back then:>)
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JCL
Job Control Language.
//ALLOCATE JOB (12345),'ALLOCATE DASD',CLASS=A,MSGCLASS=A
//STEP1 EXEC PGM=IEFBR14
//DD1 DD DSN=MY.DASD.DATASET,
// DISP=(NEW,CATLG,DELETE),
// UNIT=SYSDA,
// SPACE=(CYL,(5,2)),
// DCB=(DSORG=PS,RECFM=FB,LRECL=80,BLKSIZE=800)
//*
// Description:
// 1. JOB Statement:
// - Defines the job name (`ALLOCATE`) and job parameters.
// - CLASS=A and MSGCLASS=A specify job class and output class.
//
// 2. EXEC Statement:
// - Executes the `IEFBR14` utility, which is a no-operation program used for dataset allocation.
//
// 3. DD Statement:
// - DSN: Specifies the dataset name (`MY.DASD.DATASET`).
// - DISP: Specifies the dataset's disposition:
// - NEW: Create a new dataset.
// - CATLG: Catalog the dataset after successful creation.
// - DELETE: Delete the dataset if the step fails.
// - UNIT: Specifies the device type (`SYSDA` for DASD).
// - SPACE: Allocates space for the dataset:
// - CYL: Space is allocated in cylinders.
// - (5,2): Primary allocation is 5 cylinders, and secondary allocation is 2 cylinders.
// - DCB: Specifies dataset control block attributes:
// - DSORG=PS: Dataset organization is physical sequential.
// - RECFM=FB: Record format is fixed block.
// - LRECL=80: Logical record length is 80 bytes.
// - BLKSIZE=800: Block size is 800 bytes.
Yes, you chose the physical cylinder on the drive and how long. Nothing stopped you from overwriting other data. Good times.
DEC VT220 or HP2392
Serial Monochrome Terminals - usually green or amber. 19.2K. Screen width could expand from 80 columns (like a punch card) to 132 columns to view “printed reports”
When PCs arrived, the serial port was used in Terminal Emulators.
Novell/Netware
And we still use file shares to this day much to the chagrin of cloud programmers.
Novell - Wikipedia
DECnet
The first real networking system with advanced capabilities.
DECnet - Wikipedia
Minicomputers
This is what Windows Servers replaced.
Minicomputer - Wikipedia
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Modem: connection device that used phone lines to connect computer to computer
Dial Up: a term for the connection type
Co-Axial cable/Twin-Ax cable: Thick cables used to connect computers to Main Frames
Main Frame: Huge central computer replaced by Server
Green screen (some were Amber): Display type that connected to the Main Frame
Practically a newfangled contraption, having to abbreviate like that. I was once stuck behind a 1200 baud model. Compatible with Ma Bell standard handsets, of course.
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I used to have to use one of those for signing and bursting checks. Definitely noisy and if there ever was a jam - oh boy!
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My first one was 300 baud 
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I’m too young. My first was 2400 baud.
Carbon AND carbonless…both fading away.
So for things you never (rarely) hear, allow me to add:
- PTO
- Vacation
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@Mark_Wonsil a serial port modem 
BTW I saw that AOL dial up internet is being discontinued after September 30, 2025. yes, 2025. I cannot believe that is still a thing.
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Lantastic
ISDN
POTS
DTE… All that fun comms stuff
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But apparently we have features fo account for it 
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I was given a new temp password the other day by a sys admin and told me it ended in Shift - 1 2 3. I repeated it back with bang at pound. He had no clue what I was saying.
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i owned a 110 baud, and in school, we used 75 baud teletype machines to write our computer programs on. That thing on the left is a “paper tape punch” and a paper tape reader… it allowed you to “List” your program and it would store the program on a paper tape. then the next day, you could put your tape into the reader and press the read button and you restored your program back to the computer. Note that this teletype machine is NOT a computer.. it is simply a terminal that had to be connected via the 75 baud built in modem (the dial up thingy on the right side).
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Members of a different rotary club…
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