NonStop S-Series Planning and Configuration Guide (G06.26+)

Glossary
HP NonStop S-Series Planning and Configuration Guide—523303-017
Glossary-77
parent directory
give it a value. The TACL process stores the values of parameters assigned by the
PARAM command and sends the values to applications that request parameter values.
parent directory. A particular directory in the hierarchy of directories within a file system.
The parent directory for a directory contains an entry for that specific directory and is
identified in that directory as the directory immediately above it in the hierarchy. The
parent directory for a file contains an entry for that file.
parent process. The process that created a given process or (if the creating process has
stopped) a process that has inherited a given process. See also child process
.
parent process ID. In the Open System Services (OSS) environment, an attribute of a child
process determined by the parent process. The parent process ID is the OSS process
ID of the current parent process.
parity. The use of an extra bit on memory chips that serves as a checksum so the operating
system can detect if single-bit memory errors are occurring.
passthrough terminator. See SCSI passthrough terminator.
path. The route between a processor and a subsystem. If a subsystem is configured for
fault tolerance, it has a primary path (from the primary processor) and a backup path
(from the backup processor).
pathname. In the Open System Services (OSS) file system and Network File System
(NFS), the string of characters that uniquely identifies a file within its file system. A
pathname can be either relative or absolute. See also ISO/IEC IS 9945-1:1990
(ANSI/IEEE Std. 1003.1-1990 or POSIX.1), Clause 2.2.2.57.
pathname component. See filename.
pathname resolution. In the Open System Services (OSS) environment, the process of
associating a single file with a specified pathname.
pathname-variable limits. Limits that can vary within the Open System Services (OSS) file
hierarchy; that is, the limits on a pathname variable that can vary according to the
directory in which pathname resolution begins.
path prefix. In the Open System Services (OSS) environment, a pathname with an optional
final slash (
/) character that refers to a directory.
PDP. See power distribution panel (PDP).
PDU. See power distribution unit (PDU).
peak load current. The maximum instantaneous load over a designated interval of time.
PEEK. A utility program that reports statistics on resource use in a processor. PEEK is used
to ensure proper allocation of memory and processes in a system after system load.