Distributed Name Service (DNS) Management Programming Manual

Glossary
Glossary–6 46958 Tandem Computers Incorporated
DNS database. The collection of all names defined to DNS, and their attributes.
DNS object name. An alias or a composite, domain, or group name.
DNS owner. The Guardian 90 user ID that “owns” DNS. By default, DNS is first
initialized through this user ID.
DNS type name. An alias, subsystem-object, or composite-type name.
DNSCOM. An interactive program provided by DNS to install and initialize DNS on a
node, initially create the DNS database, control processes running under DNS, handle
inquiry and update operations against the DNS database, and to start, stop, and
determine the status of DNS.
DNSCOM 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.
DNSCOM user mode. The DNSCOM operating mode that allows users to add, alter, or
delete composites, domains, aliases, groups, subsystem-object names, and subsystem
managers; start and stop DNS; obtain the status of DNS; and display information in
the DNS database.
Domain. The set of nodes or processes under the control or within the scope of a
controlling process or a specific command. In DNS, the set of nodes on which DNS
replicates the initial definition of an alias, group, or composite name, or an update to
that definition; the user specifies the domain when defining the name.
Domain name. A name assigned by a user to identify a domain to DNS.
Downward compatibility. The ability of a requester to operate properly with a server of a
lower revision level. In this case, the requester is downward-compatible with the
server, and the server is upward-compatible with the requester. Compare Upward
compatibility.
Empty list or variable. A list that has no members, or a variable that has no content.
Empty response record. A response record containing only the return token with a value
that means “no more response records.” See Return token.
EMS. Abbreviation for Event Management Service.
End-list token. A syntax token that ends a list. SPI defines a single end-list token, whose
token code is ZSPI-TKN-ENDLIST. Compare with List token; see also Syntax token.
Enumerated type. A 16-bit signed data type that has one of a specified list of values with
designated meanings. The enumerated type is one of the standard token data types
defined by SPI; but the list of acceptable values and what they mean varies depending
on the token number and is defined by the subsystem.
Error. A condition that causes a command or other operation to fail. Compare with
Warning.