Distributed Name Service (DNS) Management Operations Manual

Glossary
31258 Tandem Computers Incorporated Glossary–3
context-sensitive server. A server that retains information about previous processing.
For instance, in performing a command on a list of objects, a context-sensitive server
might retain, between reply messages, the name of the object it last processed.
Context-sensitive servers limit or complicate the requester’s ability to interrupt or
abandon the continuation of a series of replies.
continuation. The packaging of a response in multiple reply messages. The server uses
a context token to indicate that the response is continued to another message.
Continuation implies that the response consists of multiple response records; a single
reply message can contain multiple response records, but a single response record
cannot span two reply messages.
control and inquiry. Those aspects of object management related to the state or
configuration of an object. Such aspects include actions that affect the state or
configuration of an object, inquiries about the object, and commands pertaining to the
session environment (for example, commands that set default values for the session).
Compare event management.
copied name definition. A copy of a name definition that can be altered on a node other
than the definition node for the name; a copy of the remote definition that can be
locally updated. Such copies are requested through the DNS COPY command,
typically issued when the definition node becomes unavailable but the user still needs
to change the name definition immediately. The alteration affects only the local node’s
view of the name definition. See also restored name definition.
creation environment. A set of values established by the DNSCOM SET command, for
use in place of the standard default parameters in subsequent ADD commands. Such
ADD commands then define names with attributes based upon the creation
environment.
current name manager. The DNS name-manager process with which the user is currently
communicating through DNSCOM.
creation values. A set of values established by the DNSCOM SET command for use in
place of the standard default parameters in subsequent ADD commands. Such ADD
commands than define names with attributes based upon the creation values.
data communications subsystem. Tandem subsystems that manage data communications
objects, such as communications lines or network devices.
definition authority. The security attribute value required to add, alter, or delete
subsystems, or alias, composite, or subsystem-object types in DNS.
definition mode. The DNSCOM operating mode that allows users to initialize DNS and
add, alter, or delete subsystems or alias, composite, and subsystem-object types. Only
users with DEFINITION authority can use DNSCOM in definition mode.
definition node. With respect to a particular DNS name, the node where the name was
originally defined. All future changes to the original definition must be made at this
node.
Distributed Name Service (DNS). A Tandem subsystem that manages a distributed
database of names. It allows you to store in your database the names (and aliases) of