z/Architecture
A re-branding of, and major upgrade to, IBM's Enterprise Systems Architecture (ESA) mainframe architecture, announced in 2000. Compared to ESA, z/Architecture provides increased power, 64-bit addressing and enhanced resource management. See ESA and zSeries.

ZAW (Zero Administration Windows)
A Microsoft initiative launched in 1997 to lower the total cost of ownership (TCO) associated with the Windows platform by reducing costs associated with administration. Many of components introduced under the ZAW umbrella were incorporated as regular functionality within Windows 2000.

zero latency
The removal of delays in the movement of information, data or goods.

ZigBee
The ZigBee Alliance's name for the proposed IEEE 802.15.4 standard. The technology defined by the standard is designed for "command and control"; therefore, it will not support audio or video, but it can be used to send text messages and voice. A ZigBee network will be able to control lights, fire or smoke detectors, thermostats, or home security systems. It could also be used as a cable replacement technology. See 802.15.4.

ZigBee Alliance
A vendor initiative started by Philips Semiconductor, Honeywell and Invensys Metering Systems and now including more than 20 companies. It is responsible for developing applications — as well as a certification process, program, logo and marketing strategy — for technology based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, which the alliance calls "ZigBee." See 802.15.4 and ZigBee.

zip
The principle form of file-by-file data compression in the Windows environment.

ZLE (zero-latency enterprise)
A strategy that aims for instantaneous awareness and appropriate responses to events across an entire virtual enterprise. As soon as new information is captured by any application, it is made available to all other interested parties. The ZLE concept is closely related to that of the real-time enterprise (RTE), a strategy to progressively remove delays in the execution of an enterprise's critical business processes. The ZLE supports RTE strategies by focusing on the goal of making information available when and where it is needed — and on the technology infrastructure required to achieve that goal. See RTE.

z/OS
The 64-bit operating system for IBM's zSeries mainframe servers. Introduced in 2000, z/OS succeeds 31-bit OS/390, which had been IBM's premier mainframe operating system since 1996. See zSeries and OS/390.

zSeries
IBM's 64-bit mainframe product line, which includes its z800, z900 and z990 mainframe servers. The zSeries products are a re-branding of, and major upgrade to, IBM's S/390-class mainframe computers.