OSI/FTAM Programming Reference Manual

Glossary
HP NonStop OSI/FTAM Programming Reference Manual—528611-001
Glossary-21
profile.
profile. (1) A complete set of self-consistent parameters specifying which options in one or
more OSI standards will be supported by a group of implementations for a particular
purpose. For example, the U.S. Government Open Systems Interconnection Profile
(GOSIP) is a profile to which implementations must conform to be eligible for certain
government contracts. (2) For NonStop FTAM, a type of object defining a template that
contains configuration parameters for NonStop FTAM responder processes. When a
profile is specified for a process, the configuration parameters in the profile take
precedence over any corresponding parameters specified for the process. (3) For
NonStop OSI/AS, a type of object defining a template that contains configuration
parameters for OSI/AS dynamic subdevices. When a profile is specified for a
connection, the configuration parameters in the profile take precedence over any
corresponding parameters specified for the service as a whole.
profile type. A particular type of NonStop FTAM or OSI/AS profile. The only valid profile
type for NonStop FTAM is the virtual filestore (VFS) profile.
programmatic interface. A set of procedures and accompanying definitions that enable
programs to request services or operations. Contrast with interactive interface.
protocol. The set of rules governing the format and meaning of the frames, packets, or
messages exchanged by the peer entities within an OSI layer. See also service.
protocol data unit. See PDU.
protocol state machine. The part of a data communications process, such as an FTAM
initiator or responder process, that acts upon occurrences according to the current
state of the protocol.
provider abort. An association abort initiated by the service provider (for example, FTAM).
An abort leaves the status of any interrupted operations undefined. Contrast with user
abort.
PSAP (presentation service access point). The point at which a Presentation Layer
implementation provides presentation services to an Application Layer implementation.
The PSAP is highly system-dependent and generally refers to the way interlayer
communication is accomplished. See also SAP (service access point).
PSAP address. A presentation address that is used to identify a single PSAP. See PSAP
(presentation service access point).
PSEL (presentation selector). A logical address in the Presentation Layer through which
presentation services are made available to Application Layer implementations. On a
NonStop system, the PSEL is a number that uniquely links a TAPS process with a
process that implements Application Layer services—for example, an FTAM initiator or
responder.
PTrace (print trace). A NonStop utility that you can use to select, format, and display
unstructured trace data generated when you issue the SCF TRACE command.