MPE/iX Glossary of Terms and Acronyms (32650-90887)

44 Chapter1
Glossary of Terms
communicate with one another.
metadata A data dictionary term that means data that describes other data.
microcode Directions that define machine language instructions. Each machine
instruction is a complete microprogram. Microcode directly controls how
the hardware functions. Microcode runs in a fast memory called a control
store.
microcomputer A small computer, based on a microprocessor, designed to serve one user
at a time.
microprocessor A computer chip containing the circuitry the computer needs to
interpret and execute instructions and to perform calculations. Some
microprocessors contain a small amount of memory. The microprocessor is
the heart of every personal computer.
millicode The 900 Series HP 3000 utilizes millicode routines to perform some of the
more frequently executed complex tasks. Millicode routines are sequences
of instructions that can be accessed and executed very efficiently by
MPE/iX.
million instructions per second (MIPS) A term used to measure how fast a CPU can
operate. For example, one machine might be rated to operate at 4.5 MIPS,
another at 6.7 MIPS.
minicomputer A medium-sized computer that can serve many users and peripherals.
modem Modulator/demodulator. A device allowing communication between
computer systems. The modem converts digital signals generated by the
sending (initiating) computer into a form that can be transmitted by
telephone (modulation). At the receiving facility, the telephone signal is
reconverted into a digital signal (demodulation) and is input to the
computer.
module 1. A hardware device that sits on a bus, such as an I/O interface card.
Each has its own set of memory-mapped registers to which it responds.
2. Within a software context, a piece of code.
monitor See control program.
motherboard A printed circuit assembly into which circuit boards are plugged. The
motherboard provides an organized means to transmit data and control
information/power between the components and devices controlled by the
circuit boards.
mountable volumes See nonsystem volumes.
mounting The act of making a data storage device accessible. To physically mount
the device, you load the media onto the device. To logically mount the
device, you tell the operating system which device you want to use and it
allows you access to that resource.
multileaving remote job entry (MRJE) A distributed system network (DSN) product
that provides a link between an HP 3000 and a mainframe computer using
remote job entry communications protocol.