Compatibility Guide

Glossary 135
BGA
Abbreviation for ball grid array, an integrated circuit (IC) package that uses an
array of solder balls, instead of pins, to connect to a system board.
binary
A base-2 numbering system that uses 0 and 1 to represent information. The system
performs operations based on the ordering and calculation of these numbers.
BIOS
Acronym for basic input/output system. Your system's BIOS contains programs
stored on a flash memory chip. The BIOS controls the following:
• Communications between the microprocessor and peripheral devices, such as
the keyboard and the video adapter
• Miscellaneous functions, such as system messages
bit
The smallest unit of information interpreted by your system.
BMC
Abbreviation for baseboard management controller, which is a controller that
provides the intelligence in the IPMI structure.
boot routine
When you start your system, it clears all memory, initializes devices, and loads
the operating system. Unless the operating system fails to respond, you can reboot
(also called warm boot) your system by pressing <Ctrl><Alt><Del>;
otherwise, you must perform a cold boot by pressing the reset button or by turning
the system off and then back on.
bootable diskette
You can start your system from a diskette. To make a bootable diskette, insert a
diskette in the diskette drive, type
sys a: at the command line prompt, and
press <Enter>. Use this bootable diskette if your system will not boot from the
hard drive.
bpi
Abbreviation for bits per inch.
bps
Abbreviation for bits per second.