Ethernet Adapter Installation and Support Guide

Glossary
Ethernet Adapter Installation and Support Guide—425684-003
Glossary-7
base computing platform
independent. A component failure in one processor has no effect on any other
processor.
base computing platform. The minimum software implementation that is the foundation for
the X/Open common applications environment (CAE).
base enclosure. An enclosure that is placed on the floor and can have other enclosures
stacked on top of it. A base enclosure is installed on a frame base. Contrast with
stackable enclosure.
base profile. In an X/Open compliant system, a minimum set of software components
required to create a common applications environment.
battery load. The electrical current drain imposed on a battery.
BEB. See back-end board (BEB).
BIC. Backplane interconnect card. Not applicable to HP NonStop™ S-series servers. See
ServerNet adapter.
BIND. A program invoked during system generation that creates TNS object (file code 100)
system code files and system library files.
Binder. A program development tool that enables you to read, link, and modify TNS and
accelerated object files.
bit-synchronous. A type of Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Layer-2 protocol that uses
synchronous transmission but does not require a character code to define terminal and
line control sequences.
block. A grouping of one or more system enclosures that an HP NonStop™ S-series
system recognizes and supports as one unit. A block can consist of either one
processor enclosure, one I/O enclosure, or one processor enclosure with one or more
I/O enclosures attached.
blocked signal. A programmatic signal that is currently in the pending signal mask of a
process and, when generated, is not delivered to the process because of the signal
mask setting. Some signals cannot be blocked.
block special file. In the Open System Services (OSS) environment, a device that is
treated as a file for which all input or output must occur in blocks of data. Traditionally,
such files are disk or tape devices. Block special files provide access to a device in a
manner that hides the hardware characteristics of the device. Contrast with character
special file.
bond. A reliable connection that ensures the required electrical conductivity between
conductive parts that must be electrically connected.