# Glossary ## A ### API (Application Programming Interface) A set of protocols and tools for building software applications. RiOS provides RESTful APIs for programmatic access. ### Auto-scaling Automatic adjustment of computing resources based on demand. RiOS supports both horizontal (more instances) and vertical (more resources per instance) scaling. ## B ### Bandwidth The rate of data transfer, typically measured in Mbps or Gbps. RiOS's DMoE architecture significantly reduces bandwidth requirements. ### Billing The system for calculating and charging for resource usage. RiOS uses per-second billing with ROS tokens. ### Blockchain A distributed ledger technology used by RiOS for transparent token transactions and reward distribution. ## C ### CLI (Command Line Interface) A text-based interface for interacting with RiOS services. The `rios` CLI provides commands for deployment and management. ### Container A lightweight, standalone executable package that includes everything needed to run software. RiOS uses Docker containers. ### Computing Node A server or machine that provides computing resources to the RiOS network. Also called a "worker node." ## D ### Dashboard The web-based graphical interface for managing RiOS services at [cloud.rios.com.ai](https://cloud.rios.com.ai). ### Decentralization Distribution of control and resources across multiple nodes rather than a central authority. Core principle of RiOS architecture. ### Deployment An instance of an application running on RiOS infrastructure. ### DMoE (Decentralized Mixture of Experts) RiOS's core technology for distributing AI model computation across multiple nodes efficiently. ### Docker A platform for developing, shipping, and running applications in containers. ## E ### Endpoint The URL or address where an application or API can be accessed. ### Expert Module A specialized component of an AI model in the DMoE architecture, designed to handle specific types of tasks. ## F ### Failover Automatic switching to a backup system when the primary system fails. RiOS provides automatic failover for high availability. ### Fault Tolerance The ability of a system to continue operating properly in the event of failure of some components. ## G ### GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) Specialized hardware for parallel processing, essential for AI and machine learning workloads. ### gVisor A container runtime sandbox that provides enhanced security isolation for RiOS workloads. ## H ### Health Check Automated monitoring to verify that a service is running correctly. RiOS performs regular health checks on all deployments. ### High Availability (HA) System design approach that ensures a certain level of operational performance, usually uptime, for a higher than normal period. ### Horizontal Scaling Adding more instances of an application to handle increased load. ## I ### Infrastructure The underlying foundation of computing resources (hardware, network, storage) that supports applications. ### IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) A distributed file storage protocol that influences RiOS's storage architecture. ## J ### JWT (JSON Web Token) A compact token format used for authentication in RiOS APIs. ## K ### Kubernetes (K8s) A container orchestration platform. RiOS can integrate with Kubernetes for certain deployment scenarios. ## L ### Latency The time delay between a request and response. RiOS's distributed architecture aims to minimize latency. ### Load Balancer A system that distributes network traffic across multiple servers to optimize resource use and maximize throughput. ## M ### Metrics Quantitative measurements of system performance, such as CPU usage, memory consumption, and request rates. ### Microservices An architectural style that structures an application as a collection of loosely coupled services. ### Mining In RiOS context, the process of earning ROS tokens by providing computing resources to the network. ## N ### Node A single computing unit in the RiOS network. Can be a user's deployment or a worker providing resources. ### NFT (Non-Fungible Token) While not currently used, RiOS may integrate NFTs for unique digital asset management in future versions. ## O ### Orchestration Automated configuration, coordination, and management of computer systems and software. RiOS's DMoE orchestrator manages distributed computations. ### OAuth An open standard for access delegation, used as an authentication method in RiOS. ## P ### P2P (Peer-to-Peer) A decentralized network architecture where each node can act as both client and server. Used in RiOS worker communication. ### Pod In Kubernetes terminology, a group of one or more containers. RiOS uses similar concepts for deployment units. ### PoS (Proof of Stake) The consensus mechanism used in RiOS's blockchain layer for validating transactions. ## R ### Rate Limiting Controlling the rate of requests to an API to prevent abuse. RiOS implements rate limiting at the API gateway. ### Replica A copy of an application instance. Running multiple replicas provides redundancy and scalability. ### REST (Representational State Transfer) An architectural style for APIs. RiOS provides RESTful APIs for all services. ### ROS Token The native cryptocurrency of the RiOS network, used for payments and rewards. ### Router Network In DMoE, the intelligent system that determines which expert modules should handle a given request. ## S ### Sandbox An isolated environment for running untrusted code. RiOS uses sandboxing for security. ### Scalability The capability to handle increasing amounts of work or to be enlarged to accommodate growth. ### SLA (Service Level Agreement) A commitment between a service provider and client regarding aspects like uptime and performance. RiOS offers SLAs for dedicated deployments. ### Smart Contract Self-executing contracts with terms directly written into code, used in RiOS's blockchain layer. ### SSL/TLS Security protocols for encrypted communication over networks. RiOS uses TLS 1.3 for all data transmission. ## T ### Tensor A multi-dimensional array used in machine learning computations. In DMoE, tensors are passed between expert modules. ### Throughput The amount of work completed in a given time period, often measured in requests per second. ### Token In blockchain context, a digital asset. ROS tokens are used within the RiOS ecosystem. ## V ### Vertical Scaling Increasing the resources (CPU, RAM) of an existing instance rather than adding more instances. ### Virtual Machine (VM) An emulation of a computer system. RiOS primarily uses containers, which are more lightweight than VMs. ## W ### Wallet A digital tool for storing and managing cryptocurrency. Users need a ROS wallet to pay for and receive tokens. ### Worker Node A computing resource provider in the RiOS network that executes user workloads and earns ROS tokens. ### Workload A specific task or application running on computing infrastructure. ## Z ### Zero Trust A security model based on the principle of "never trust, always verify." RiOS implements zero trust architecture across all components. *** **Don't see a term you're looking for?** Please let us know at or contribute to this glossary on [GitHub](https://github.com/rios/docs). --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://finwhale.gitbook.io/rios/additional-resources/glossary.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.