NonStop System Glossary

APE
See Accelerated Program Examiner (APE).
API
See application program interface (API).
appearance side
The side of a NonStop S-series system enclosure that contains disk customer-replaceable units
(CRUs) and power monitor and control unit (PMCU) CRUs that do not require cables. The
appearance side always has a short door and panel, or a tall door, that is required for cooling
the enclosure. The appearance side is opposite the service side. The appearance-side door is
lockable for security purposes. See also service side.
application binary interface (ABI)
The conventions used to call functions and access global or external data.
application development environment (ADE)
A set of methods and tools that are used throughout the lifecycle of an application project to design,
code, and manage that project.
application program interface (API)
A set of services (such as programming language functions or procedures) that are called by an
application program to communicate with other software components. For example, an application
program in the form of a client might use an API to communicate with a server program.
application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)
A custom-built integrated circuit (IC) used to perform highly specialized functions.
Apply
The Distributed Systems Management/Software Configuration Manager (DSM/SCM) action of
executing the instructions contained in an activation package, such as placing new software on
the target system and taking a snapshot of the new target system.
appropriate privileges
In the Open System Services (OSS) environment, an implementation-defined means of associating
privileges with a process for function calls or function call options that need special privileges.
archive
1. A collection of files of a similar type. For example, one archive might contain only Guardian
executable files and another might contain only Java servlets or only configuration files. Archives
are used for convenience, such as moving similar files between multiple environments (UNIX to PC
to Guardian). There are many software utilities for creating archives; the best known is the UNIX
ar utility.
2. For DSM/SCM, a set of unstructured files used to collect the software received onto the host
system. Files received as input are placed in the DSM/SCM archive, and attributes of the files are
stored in the host database. You can use the Archive and Database Maintenance Interface to
specify the archive location in the Configuration Manager profile.
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