Tandem Failure Data System (TFDS) Manual

Glossary
HP Tandem Failure Data System (TFDS) Manual—540122-003
Glossary-4
firmware
On an HP NonStop™ system, the Guardian file system for an Expand node is a subset
of the OSS virtual file system. Traditionally, the API for file access in the Guardian
environment is referred to as the Guardian file system.
In some UNIX and NFS implementations, the term file system means the same thing
as fileset. That is, a file system is a logical grouping of files that, except for the root of
the file system, can be contained only by directories within the file system. See also
fileset.
firmware. Code in memory that is necessary for the power-up initialization and
communication with a host or device. The software for components of the ServerNet
architecture (for example, an adapter) is called firmware. Some firmware for ServerNet
components is downloaded when the system or component is loaded.
generic process. A process created and managed by the Kernel subsystem; also known as
a system-managed process. A common characteristic of a generic process is
persistence.
Guardian. An environment available for interactive or programmatic use with the HP
NonStop™ operating system. Processes that run in the Guardian environment usually
use the Guardian system procedure calls as their application program interface.
Interactive users of the Guardian environment usually use the HP Tandem Advanced
Command Language (TACL) or another HP product’s command interpreter. Contrast
with Open System Services (OSS).
Guardian environment. The Guardian application program interface (API), tools, and
utilities.
Guardian services. An application program interface (API) to the HP NonStop™ operating
system, plus the tools and utilities associated with that API. This term is synonymous
with Guardian environment. See also Guardian.
HEF. Hardware error freeze.
HP NonStop™ advanced architecture (NSAA). An architecture that encompasses the
new HP Integrity NonStop server, related NSAA database and transaction processing
software, and the ability to deploy advanced storage area network products from the
HP StorageWorks product family. In the server, NSAA components include a NonStop
Blade Complex (NSBC) for each set of four logical processors. A logical processor, the
equivalent to a CPU in other systems, consists of a logical synchronization unit (LSU)
and multiple microprocessors, or microprocessor cores, known as processor elements
(PEs), each located in a different NonStop Blade Element (NSBE). The LSU
represents the logical processor and compares the outputs of the processor elements,
ensuring consistency while taking advantage of the built-in self-checking capabilities of
the individual processor elements. The NSAA allows for either duplex (or dual-modular
redundancy (DMR)), or triplex (or triple-modular redundancy (TMR)) processor
configurations.