minicomputer

Synonymous with midrange computer. A medium-size computer that is less capable than a mainframe, but more so than a microcomputer.A minicomputer is designed to handle intensive and complex computational tasks, support a large number of users, and make use of large volumes of secondary storage. Minicomputers commonly are networked and share computational tasks in a distributed processing architecture. A minicomputer often is used as a front-end processor (FEP), managing the interface between a wide area network and a mainframe, and serving to manage user access privileges, deal with security issues, and otherwise relieve the mainframe of routine tasks. See also Internet, LAN, mainframe computer, and personal computer.