OSI/FTAM Programming Guide

Glossary
HP NonStop OSI/FTAM Programming Guide—528612-001
Glossary-3
arc.
arc. A directed link between two nodes in a hierarchical file.
arc length. The number of node levels in a file hierarchy from the root node to a given
node. For example, the arc length of an FTAM-2 document is always 1.
ASE (application service element). A set of functions to be performed—such as file
transfer, mail service, or transaction processing—along with all the elements necessary
to perform that type of work, to support a particular application.
ASI (additional service information). An internal data format used by NonStop FTAM. ASI
format is displayed in some of the USER and ASN1 trace records. The NonStop
initiator and responder processes transform ASI into the transfer syntax negotiated for
the association, and vice versa.
ASN.1 (Abstract Syntax Notation-1). The type and value syntax or notation language for
representing semantics of protocol that is described in ISO 8824. The Basic Encoding
Rules (ISO 8825) standard defines a set of encoding rules that can be applied to
values of types defined using the notation specified in ISO 8824. See also abstract
syntax.
association. A connection between Application Layer entities. See connection. Association
Control Service Element. See ACSE.
attach. An operation performed by a NonStop OSI subsystem, on behalf of an application,
to wait for an incoming associate or connect indication from a remote entity.
attribute. An identifiable characteristic of an object. For example, two attributes of an FTAM
file are its name and its date and time of creation. In DSM, two attributes of a process
are the location of its code file and its execution priority. See also file attributes. and
activity attributes.
attribute group. One of the four groups of file attributes defined by ISO FTAM. They are the
kernel group, which must be supported by all FTAM implementations; the security
group and the storage group, which are negotiated during association establishment;
and the private-use group, which is also negotiated but whose definition is outside the
scope of ISO FTAM.
backup CPU. The central processing unit (CPU) number of the NonStop processor on
which the backup process will run. See backup process.
backup opener. The backup process that has an open to an FTAM initiator or responder
process. See backup process.
backup process. In a NonStop system, a process that is identical to the primary process
and is created at the same time as the primary process. These two processes act as a
NonStop process pair. The backup process takes over if the primary process fails. See
primary process.