TS/MP System Management Manual (G06.24+, H06.03+)

Glossary
NonStop TS/MP System Management Manual—541819-001
Glossary-6
descriptor
descriptor. For each elementary data item, the SCREEN COBOL compiler builds a data
structure that describes the size, type, usage, and dependencies of the item. All of the
information that pertains to a given item makes up the descriptor for that item. For
example, the PICTURE specification is included in the descriptor. The descriptors are
passed to the TCP in the pseudocode and provide a dictionary of information for
interpreting and handling incoming data. When the MAP or SMAP compiler option is
used, the descriptors appear in the compiler map at the end of the listing.
diagnostic screen. A screen of information that is displayed to inform the terminal operator
of error conditions and termination status.
disk process. In the Tandem environment, the portion of the operating-system software
that performs read, write, and lock operations on disk volumes and creates TMF audit
records. See also file system.
display attribute. A terminal display feature that is given a screen data name. The screen
data name can be associated with a predefined system name in the SPECIAL-NAMES
paragraph and thus be manipulated by a SCREEN COBOL program.
distributed data. Information (for example, customer names and addresses, inventory
items, and personnel records) that resides on more than one node in a network and
can be accessed by authorized users from any node in that network.
distributed processing. A type of processing environment in which resources are
distributed among CPUs within a single system or spread across a network of systems.
A user on any network node can, if properly authorized, access resources and
database files anywhere within the network.
Distributed Systems Management (DSM). A group of tools for managing a variety of
subsystems in a distributed processing environment.
distributed transaction processing (DTP). The coordination of transactions among
application servers residing within an Expand network and possibly accessing different
database management systems (NonStop SQL/MP and Enscribe). DTP allows the
coordination of multiple, autonomous actions as a single logical unit of work.
double-byte character. A character represented in two bytes. See also double-byte
character set.
double-byte character set (DBCS). A character set, such as Tandem Kanji, that uses two
bytes of data to represent a single character.
DSM. See Distributed Systems Management (DSM).
dumb terminal. See fixed-function terminal.
dynamic server. A server process that the PATHMON process creates after a TCP or
LINKMON process has waited for a specified time period for a static server to become