NonStop System Glossary

constitute the processor memory. The memory units in certain models of PMF CRU are not
replaceable by customers or in the field.
MEM_RESTORE
The action taken by TNS/E millicode when AC returns after MEM_BACKUP has completed and
the processor has gone to LOW_POWER.
message monitor process (MSGMON)
A helper process for the ServerNet cluster monitor process (SNETMON) that runs in each processor
on every node of a ServerNet cluster. MSGMON is started by the persistence manager process,
$ZPM. It performs duties for SNETMON in those instances where SNETMON needs an agent in
each system processor. In addition, MSGMON monitors the connections within the processor and
reports changes back to SNETMON when required.
method
An object-oriented term for a function, procedure, or routine.
MFIOB
See multifunction I/O board (MFIOB).
MIC
See Media Interface Connector (MIC).
microcode
Any machine code or data that can run in a microprocessor. HP produces two types of microcode
for NonStop systems: volatile and nonvolatile. Volatile microcode is loaded into the volatile
random-access memory (RAM) of some types of printed wiring assemblies (PWAs) and is not
retained in a host PWA when power to the PWA is interrupted. For nonvolatile microcode, see
firmware. See also millicode.
midplane
A board that has connectors, on one or both sides of the board, into which circuit board assemblies
plug. Midplanes are located inside enclosures.
millicode
The system’s lowest-level machine-dependent code, often coded in assembler language. TNS/R
millicode and TNS/E millicode are functionally similar to the microcode on TNS systems. The
system has several types of millicode, including machine interrupt handlers, operating system
primitives, routines implicitly called from native-compiled code, emulators for TNS floating-point
arithmetic, and emulators for privileged-only or long-running TNS machine operations.
millicode transfer table
A table containing addresses of all millicode entry points used by Object Code Accelerator (OCA)
generated code in the TNS emulation library and the TNS and native shared millicode library. The
emulation library builds this table rather than relying on the global offset table (GOT) because the
correct execution of the code depends on the order of the table entries being predictable and
unchanging.
MIPS Computer Systems, Incorporated
RISC processor manufacturer.
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