NonStop System Glossary

TNS to native-mode access shell
A shell object file, generated by the shell generator, that supports procedure calls from TNS object
files to a particular TNS/R native-mode or TNS/E native-mode library routine. The shell suspends
TNS code emulation, copies and reformats parameters from the TNS execution stack to the native
execution stack, calls the desired routine in native mode, copies back the function result, and
resumes TNS code emulation. A custom shell exists for each native-mode library routine that can
be called from TNS object files. See also shell generator and shell map.
TNS user data segment
In a TNS process, the segment at virtual address zero. Its length is limited to 128 kilobytes. A TNS
program's global variables, stack, and 16-bit heap must fit within the first 64 kilobytes. See also
compiler extended-data segment.
TNS user library
A user library available to TNS processes in the Guardian environment.
TNS word
An instruction-set-defined unit of memory. A TNS word is 2 bytes (16 bits) wide, beginning on any
2-byte boundary in memory. See also word, MIPS RISC word, and Intel Itanium word.
TNS/E
Refers to fault-tolerant HP computers that support the NonStop operating system and are based on
the Itanium processor. TNS/E systems run the Itanium instruction set and can run TNS object files
by interpretation or after acceleration. TNS/E systems include all NonStop systems that use NSE-x
processors. Contrast with TNS and TNS/R.
TNS/E library
A TNS/E native-mode library. TNS/E libraries are always dynamic-link libraries (DLLs); there is no
native shared runtime library (SRL) format.
TNS/E native C compiler
The C compiler that generates TNS/E object files. Contrast with TNS C compiler and TNS/R native
C compilerTNS/R native C compiler.
TNS/E native compiler
A compiler in the TNS/E development environment that generates TNS/E native object code,
following the TNS/E native-mode conventions for memory, stack, registers, and call linkage. The
TNS/E native C compiler is an example of such a compiler. Contrast with TNS compiler and TNS/R
native compiler.
TNS/E native mode
The primary execution environment on a TNS/E system, in which native-compiled Itanium object
code executes, following TNS/E native-mode compiler conventions for data locations, addressing,
stack frames, registers, and call linkage. Contrast with TNS interpreted mode and TNS accelerated
mode. See also TNS/R native mode.
TNS/E native object code
The Itanium instructions that result from processing program source code with a TNS/E native
compiler. TNS/E native object code executes only on TNS/E systems, not on TNS systems or
TNS/R systems.
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