HP OpenVMS Systems Documentation

This glossary defines key terms in the context of an OpenVMS Alpha computing environment.

boot, bootstrap: The process of loading system software into a processor's main memory. This guide uses the term boot to refer to this process.

boot server: An Alpha computer that is part of a local area OpenVMS Cluster system. The boot server is a combination of a MOP server and a disk server for the satellite system disk. See also satellite node.

CI-only Cluster: A computer system consisting of a number of computers. It uses only the computer interconnect (CI) to communicate with other computers in the cluster. These computers share a single file system.

computer interconnect (CI): A type of I/O subsystem. It links computers to each other and to HSx devices (for example, an HSC or HSD).

device name: The name used to identify a device on the system. A device name indicates the device code, controller designation, and unit number.

disk server: A computer within a local area cluster that provides an access path to CI, DSSI, and locally connected disks for other computers that do not have a direct connection.

HSx device: A self-contained, intelligent, mass storage subsystem (for example, an HSC or HSD) that lets computers in a cluster environment share disks.

HSx drive: Any disk or tape drive connected to an HSx device (for example, an HSC or HSD). A system disk on an HSx drive can be shared by several computers in an OpenVMS Cluster environment.

InfoServer: A general-purpose disk storage server that allows you to use the distribution compact disc to install the operating system on remote client systems connected to the same local area network (LAN).

local area OpenVMS Cluster system: A configuration consisting of one or more computers that act as a MOP server and disk server, and a number of low-end computers that act as satellite nodes. The local area network (LAN) connects all of the computers. These computers share a single file system.

local drive: A drive, such as an RRD42 CD-ROM drive, that is connected directly to a computer. If you have a standalone computer, it is likely that all drives connected to the system are local drives.

media: Any packaging agent capable of storing computer software (for example, compact discs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, disk packs, and tape cartridges).

mixed interconnect OpenVMS Cluster: A computer system consisting of a number of computers. It uses CI, Ethernet, and DSSI adapters to communicate with other computers in the cluster.

MOP server: A computer system running DECnet software that downline loads OpenVMS Cluster satellites using the DECnet maintenance operations protocol.

OpenVMS Cluster environment: A computer system consisting of two or more Alpha or VAX computers (or two or more instances in an OpenVMS Galaxy configuration). There are many types of cluster interconnects that can be used to create a cluster environment: for example, CI, DSSI, and LAN devices in a local area network, and Shared Memory CI (SMCI) for OpenVMS Galaxy instances. An OpenVMS Cluster can consist of a single interconnect or a mixed-interconnect cluster with any combination of cluster interconnects.

OpenVMS Galaxy instance: The OpenVMS operating system running on either a soft or a hard partition of a hardware platform.

satellite node: A computer that is part of a local area cluster. A satellite node is downline loaded from a MOP server and then boots remotely from the system disk served by a disk server in the local area cluster. See also boot server, disk server, MOP server.

scratch disk: A blank disk or a disk with files you no longer need.

source drive: The drive that holds the distribution kit during an upgrade or installation, or the drive from which you restore files to a target disk.

standalone system: A computer system consisting of just one computer.

system disk: The disk that contains or will contain the OpenVMS operating system.

target drive: The drive that holds the system disk during an upgrade or installation, or the drive you designate when backing up the system disk.

UETP (User Environment Test Package): A software package that tests all the standard peripheral devices on your system, various commands and operating system functions, the system's multiuser capability, DECnet software, and the cluster environment.