User Guide

Ampex 1308911-02 A-7
Glossary and Acronyms Glossary
Interface Parameters
A set of attributes that control the characteristics of an open interface
to a device. Most interface parameters are configured as static device
special file attributes. Others, such as the data block size, can be
changed on the fly after the device is opened.
ioctl A system call that performs a device I/O control operation on behalf of
the calling program.
Kilobyte (KB) 2
10
(1024) bytes.
Layout A format parameter that determines how partitions are allocated with
respect to system zones.
Load Establishes the position on tape, enabling the DST drive to accept
medium access commands. Sometimes synonymous with Insert. See
Insert.
Logical Data Block See Data Block.
Logical Data Block Number (LDBN)
The ordinal number that identifies a data block within a file section or
a partition.
Longitudinal (Linear) Tracks
Three lengthwise tracks used to record servo, logical address, and
physical address information about each block of helically recorded
data.
Megabyte (MB) 2
20
(1024*1024 or 1,048,576) bytes.
mtio Interface A device interface compatible with the standard mtio device. The
mtio-compatible interface includes device special files that perform
default operations when the device is opened or closed.
Off-line The state in which a tape is not loaded. A tape that is off-line must be
put on-line before data can be transferred to or from it. For a device,
refers to the state in which its communication channel to other devices
is not open and the device is not responding normally to
communications over that channel.
On-line The state in which a tape is loaded and ready for data transfer. For a
device, refers to the state in which its communication channel to other
devices is open and the device is able to respond to communications.
For example, a DST tape drive is on-line when it can receive
commands from a host computer and respond to those commands.