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Blade Glossary

BladeUser.org Glossary of Terms

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1
10GE - 10 Gigabit Ethernet
The Ethernet protocol that support 10 gigabit/second transmission rates.
a
ABIST
Array built-in self-test
AC
Alternating Current
Address Resolution Protocol
A protocol that dynamically maps an IP address to a network adapter address in a local area network.
Advanced Interactive Executive
A UNIX operating system developed by IBM that is designed and optimized to run on POWER microprocessor-based hardware such as servers, workstations, and blades.
Advanced Management Module
A hot-swap BladeCenter module that you use to configure and manage all installed BladeCenter components. The advanced management module provides system management functions and keyboard/video/mouse (KVM) multiplexing for all the blade servers in the BladeCenter unit that support KVM. It controls a serial port for remote connection; the external keyboard, mouse, and video connections for use by a local console; and a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet remote management connection.
AIX - Advanced Interactive eXecutive
A UNIX operating system developed by IBM that is designed and optimized to run on POWER microprocessor-based hardware such as servers, workstations, and blades.
AMM - Advanced Management Module
A hot-swap BladeCenter module that you use to configure and manage all installed BladeCenter components. The advanced management module provides system management functions and keyboard/video/mouse (KVM) multiplexing for all the blade servers in the BladeCenter unit that support KVM. It controls a serial port for remote connection; the external keyboard, mouse, and video connections for use by a local console; and a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet remote management connection.
API - Application Programming Interface
An interface that allows an application program that is written in a high-level language to use specific data or functions of the operating system or another program.
ARP - Address Resolution Protocol
A protocol that dynamically maps an IP address to a network adapter address in a local area network.
AS
Australian Standards
ASM
Advanced system management
ASM Interconnect
A feature of IBM service processors that enables users to connect up to 24 servers to one service processor, thus eliminating the need for multiple modems, telephones, and LAN ports. It provides such out-of-band management functions as system power control, service-processor event-log management, firmware updates, alert notification, and user profile configuration.
ASM Interconnect Gateway
See gateway service processor
ASM Interconnect Network
A network of IBM servers created by using the ASM interconnect feature. The servers are connected through RS-485 ports. When servers containing integrated system management processors (ISMPs) and ASM processors are connected to an ASM interconnect network, IBM Director can manage them out-of-band.
ASM PCI Adapter
An IBM service processor that is built into the Netfinity 7000 M10 and 8500R servers. It also was available as an option that could be installed in a server that contained an ASM processor. When an ASM PCI adapter is used with an ASM processor, the ASM PCI adapter acts as an Ethernet gateway, while the ASM processor retains control of the server. When used as a gateway service processor, the ASM PCI adapter can communicate with other ASM PCI adapters and ASM processors only.
ASM Processor
A service processor built into the mid-range Netfinity and early xSeries servers. IBM Director can connect out-of-band to an ASM processor located on an ASM interconnect, an ASM PCI adapter, a Remote Supervisor Adapter, or a Remote Supervisor II must serve as the gateway service processor.
Association
A visual representation of the members in a group that shows relationships or provides additional information about the members of a group.
AUR
Average unit revenue
Authentication
The security service that provides proof that a user of a computer system is genuinely who that person claims to be. Common mechanisms for implementing this service are passwords and digital signatures. Authentication is distinct from authorization. Authentication is not concerned with granting or denying access to system resources.
b
BASP
Broadcom advanced server program
BGP - Border Gateway Protocol
An Internet Protocol (IP) routing protocol used between domains and autonomous systems.
Binary Digit (bit)
The smallest unit of computer information, which has two possible states that are represented by the binary digits 0 or 1.
BIOS - Basic Input/Output System
The code that controls basic hardware operations, such as interactions with hard disk drives and the keyboard.
Blade
A component that provides application-specific services and components.
Blade Server
An IBM BladeCenter® server. A high-throughput, two-way, Intel® Xeon-based server on a card that supports symmetric multiprocessors {SMP}.
BladeCenter Chassis
A BladeCenter unit that acts as an enclosure. This modular chassis can contain up to 14 blade servers. It enables the individual blade servers to share resources, such as the management, switch, power, and blower modules.
BOOTP - Bootstrap Protocol
A protocol that allows a client to find both its Internet Protocol (IP) address and the name of a file from a server on the network.
Bottleneck
A place in the system where contention for a resource is affecting performance.
BTO
Build to order
Byte
A string that represents a character and usually consists of eight binary digits that are treated as a unit. A byte is the smallest unit of storage that can be addressed directly.
Byte order
The order in which numeric and character values are stored in storage. The Record Framework provides support for converting between different byte orders on a field basis.
c
CAGR
Compound annual growth rate
Calibrated Vectored Cooling
CDP
Cisco Discovery Protocol
CE
Component errors
Chassis
The metal frame in which various electronic components are mounted.
Chassis Detect-and-Deploy Profile
A profile that IBM Director automatically applies to all new BladeCenter chassis when they are discovered. The profile settings include management module name, network protocols, and static IP addresses. If Remote Deployment Manager (RDM) is installed on the management server, the chassis detect-and-deploy profile also can include deployment policies.
CIM - Common Information Model
An implementation-neutral, object-oriented schema for describing network management information. The Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) develops and maintains CIM specifications.
CLI - Command-Line Interface
A type of computer interface in which the input command is a string of text characters.
Client Blades
Blade PCs or blade clients which provide PC functionality in rack subsystem where support and management is centralized. End users access the centralized resources through a local thin-client or keyboard, mouse and monitor as if the blade PC were local.
Cloning
In z/VM®, a copying technique that preserves the characteristics of the original but personalizes instance-specific data. The result of a cloning operation is new instance of an entity (for example, of a virtual disk, a virtual computer system, or an operating system) rather than a backup of the original.
CLP
command-line protocol
Cluster Computing
A group of tightly coupled computers so highly integrated in their functions they can be viewed as a single computer.
CMS
Cisco Management Suite
Component Association
In the IBM Director Rack Manager task, a function that can make a managed system or device rack-mountable when the inventory collection feature of IBM Director does not recognize the managed system or device. The function associates the system or device with a predefined component.
CPM
Copper pass-thru module
CPU - Central Processing Unit
The part of a computer that includes the circuits that control the interpretation and running of instructions.
CRU - Customer-Replaceable Unit
An assembly or part that a customer can replace.
CSM
Cluster systems management
d
DASD - Direct Access Storage Device
A device that allows storage to be directly accessed, such as a disk drive.
DC - Domain Controller
For a Windows NT Server or Windows 2000 Server domain, the server that authenticates domain logons and maintains the security policy and the security accounts master database for a domain. Domain controllers manage user access to a network, which includes logging on, authentication, and access to the directory and shared resources.
DDM
Deployment and management
DDR
Double data rate
DDR2
Double data rate 2
Deployment Policy
A policy that associates a specific bay in a BladeCenter chassis with a Remote Deployment Manager (RDM) noninteractive task. When a blade server is added to or replaced in the bay, IBM Director automatically runs the RDM task.
Desktop Management Interface
A protocol-independent set of application programming interfaces (APIs) that were defined by the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF). These interfaces give management application programs standardized access to information about hardware and software in a system.
DHCP - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
A communications protocol that is used to centrally manage configuration information. For example, DHCP automatically assigns IP addresses to computers in a network.
DIMM - Dual Inline Memory Module
A small circuit board with memory-integrated circuits containing signal and power pins on both sides of the board.
DIN
Discrete input
Directory
An organization of files (or folders) grouped for the user's convenience.
Directory Manager
A facility for maintaining the user directory of one or more z/VM systems.
Discovery
The process of finding resources within an enterprise, including finding the new location of monitored resources that were moved.
Disk Pool
In z/VM Center, a logical grouping of contiguous disk spaces. A disk pool can include disk spaces from multiple physical disks. A disk pool corresponds to a z/VM Directory Maintenance Facility allocation group.
Diskette
A thin, flexible magnetic plate that is permanently sealed in a protective cover. It can be used to store information copies from the disk or another diskette.
DLPAR - Dynamic Logical Partitioning
The ability to move processors, memory, and interactive performance between logical partitions without restarting a logical partition or the server.
DMI - Desktop Management Interface
A protocol-independent set of application programming interfaces (APIs) that were defined by the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF). These interfaces give management application programs standardized access to information about hardware and software in a system.
DNS - Domain Name System
The distributed database system used to map domain names to IP addresses.
DoS - Denial-of-Service Attack
In computer security, an assault on a network that brings down one or more hosts on a network such that the host is unable to perform its functions properly. Network service is interrupted for some period.
DOS - Disk Operating System
An operating system for computer systems that use disks and diskettes for auxiliary storage of programs and data.
DSCP
differentiated services code point
DTP
Dynamic trunking protocol
e
ECC - Error Checking and Correction
In a processing unit, the detection and correction of all single-bit errors, plus the detection of double-bit and some multiple-bit errors.
ECMP
Equal cost multipath
EEPROM
Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory
EGP - Exterior Gateway Protocol
The mechanism that allows the exterior gateway of an autonomous system to share routing information with exterior gateways on other autonomous systems.
EI
Enterprise integration
EIA - Electronics Industry Association
An organization of electronics manufacturers that advances the technological growth of the industry, represents the views of its members, and develops industry standards.
ELA
Error log analysis
Enclosure
A unit that houses the components of a storage subsystem, such as a control unit, disk drives, and power source.
Encryption
In computer security, the process of transforming data into an unintelligible form in such a way that the original data either cannot be obtained or can be obtained only by using a decryption process.
Endian
A data type that is longer than a byte and that is stored in computer memory with the most significant byte first or last.
ERAT - Effective To Real Address Translation
In virtual storage systems, the process of changing the address of an item of data or an instruction from its virtual storage address to its real storage address.
ERP - Enterprise Resource Planning
The planning and management of all the resources in an enterprise.
ESD - Electrostatic Discharge
The flow of current that results when objects having a static charge come into close enough proximity to discharge.
ESM
Ethernet switch modules
eth0
External network interface
eth1
Internal network interface
ETSI - European Telecommunications Standard Industry
A European organization founded in 1988 and responsible for the establishment of technical telecommunications standards. It produces European Telecoms Standards (ETS) for its membership, which consists of network operators, PTT manufacturers, users, and research institutes. Some of these functions used to be performed by the Commission of European Post and Telegraph. ETSI is similar in function to the International Telecommunication Union.
Event
An occurrence of significance to a task or system. Events can include completion or failure of an operation, a user action, or the change in state of a process.
Event Action
The action that IBM Director takes in response to a specific event or events.
Event Filter
A filter that specifies the event criteria for an event action plan. Events must meet the criteria specified in the event filter in order to be processed by the event action plan to which the filter is assigned.
Event-Action Plan
A user-defined plan that determines how IBM Director will manage certain events. An event action plan comprises one or more event filters and one or more customized event actions.
Event-Data Substitution Variable
A variable that can be used to customize event-specific text messages for certain event actions.
f
False Positives
The condition in which spam-filtering software will incorrectly identify a legitimate, solicited or expected e-mail as a spam transmission. As spammers use more and more sophisticated methods of averting spam filters, the filters have to adapt to keep the onslaught of spam at bay. While sophisticated spam filters, such as the ones that use Bayesian filtering, are keeping out the overwhelming majority of spam e-mails, some spam still slips past the filters, and unfortunately some legitimate e-mail is incorrectly identified as spam and filtered out.
FC - Fibre Channel
A technology for transmitting data between computer devices. It is especially suited for attaching computer servers to shared storage devices and for interconnecting storage controllers and drives.
FCSM
Fibre channel switch module
FDB
Forwarding database
FDD - Floppy Disk Drive
A thin, flexible magnetic plate that is permanently sealed in a protective cover. It can be used to store information copies from the disk or another diskette.
File-Distribution Server
In the Software Distribution task, an intermediate server that is used to distribute a software package when the redirected-distribution method is used. 1) Firmware ia proprietary code that is usually delivered as microcode as part of an operating system. Firmware is more efficient than software loaded from an alterable medium and more adaptable to change than pure hardware circuitry. An example of firmware is the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) in read-only memory (ROM) on a PC system board. 2) An ordered set of microcode instructions and data stored in a hardware EPROM. When microcode software is installed in a hardware EPROM, it becomes firmware. Firmware cannot be modified by the user but can be updated by service personnel.
FRU - Field-Replaceable Unit
An assembly that is replaced in its entirety when any one of its components fails.
FTP - File Transfer Protocol
In the Internet suite of protocols, an application layer protocol that uses TCP and Telnet services to transfer bulk-data files between machines or hosts.
g
Gateway Service Processor
A service processor that relays alerts from service processors on an Advanced System Management (ASM) interconnect network to IBM Director Server.
Grid Computing
A form of distributed computing where multiple computing clusters act like a grid because they are composed of resource nodes spread between multiple administrative controls.
Group
A logical set of managed objects. Groups can be dynamic, static, or task-based.
groups
Guest LAN
A virtual local area network (LAN) segment that is emulated by the z/VM Control Program (CP). A Guest LAN can be shared by guest virtual machines on the same z/VM system.
Guest Virtual Machine
In z/VM, the functional equivalent of a System z9 or zSeries system, including the virtual processors, virtual storage, virtual devices, and virtual channel subsystem allocated to a single user. Each guest virtual machine can be controlled by an operating system, such as CMS, z/VSE, z/OS, or Linux.
h
HA - High Availability
Pertaining to a clustered system that is reconfigured when node or daemon failures occur, so that workloads can be redistributed to the remaining nodes in the cluster.
HBA - Host Bus Adapter
An interface card that connects a host bus, such as a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus, to the storage area network.
HCA
Host channel adapter
HDD - Hard Disk Drive
A stand-alone disk drive that reads and writes data on rigid disks and can be attached to a port on the system unit.
HPC
High performance computing
HSIB
High speed InfiniBand
HSSM
High speed switch modules
HTTP - Hypertext Transfer Protocol
An Internet protocol that is used to transfer and display hypertext and XML documents on the Web.
i
IB - InfiniBand
A switched, point-to-point channel based input/output architecture designed to be a true fabric architecture used in high-performance computing systems and clusters.
IBM BP - IBM Business Partner
A non-IBM organization under a contractual relationship with IBM to provide buyers with information solutions that incorporate IBM offerings.
IBM Direct Agent
A component of IBM Director software. When IBM Director Agent is installed on a system, the system can be managed by IBM Director. IBM Director Agent transfers data to the management server using several network protocols, including TCP/IP, NetBIOS, and IPX.
IBM Director Extension
A tool that extends the functionality of IBM Director. Some of the IBM Director extensions are Capacity Manager, ServeRAID Manager, Remote Deployment Manager, and Software Distribution.
IBM PE - IBM Product Engineering
The third-level of IBM service support. Product engineering is composed of IBM engineers who have experience in supporting a product or who are knowledgeable about the product.
IBSM
Infiniband switch module
IDE - Integrated Drive Electronics
A standard interface for connecting storage devices.
IEC - International Electrotechnical Commission
The international standards-setting organization responsible for electrical and electrotechnical issues. IEC often cooperates with ISO via technical committees on the definition of standards.
IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
A professional society accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to issue standards for the electronics industry.
IGMP
Internet Group Management Protocol
IP - Internet Protocol
A protocol that routes data through a network or interconnected networks. This protocol acts as an intermediary between the higher protocol layers and the physical network.
ISL - Inter-Switch Link
The physical connection that carries a protocol for interconnecting multiple routers and switches in a storage area network (SAN).
ISMP - Integrated System Management Processor
A service processor built into some xSeries servers. ISMP is the successor to the Advanced System Management (ASM) processor.
ISP - Internet Service Provider
An organization that provides access to the Internet.
IT - Information Technology
The broad term that encompasses the application of computer systems, including hardware and software.
ITSO -
An IBM organization that provides information technology (IT) professionals and customers with technical information, assistance, guidance, and training. ITSO publishes Redbooks that supplement product manuals by describing installation experiences and scenarios and providing other useful information gathered by the companies' own systems and customer engineers. ITSO also conducts forums and training workshops for IT professionals.
j
Job
A separately executable unit of work defined by a user, and run by a computer.
k
KVM
Keyboard, video, mouse
l
LACP
Link aggregation control protocol
LAN - Local Area Network
A network that connects several devices in a limited area (such as a single building or campus) and that can be connected to a larger network.
LDAP - Lightweight Directory Access Protocol
An open protocol that uses TCP/IP to provide access to directories that support an X.500 model and that does not incur the resource requirements of the more complex X.500 Directory Access Protocol (DAP). For example, LDAP can be used to locate people, organizations, and other resources in an Internet or intranet directory.
LED - Light Emitting Diode
A semiconductor chip that gives off visible or infrared light when activated.
Light Path Diagnostics
A technology that provides a lighted path to failed or failing components to expedite hardware repairs.
linkedin
LPAR - Logical Partition
One or more subsets of a single system that contains hardware resources and operates as an independent system.
LR
Long Range
LU - Logical Unit
A device or controller to which Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) commands are addressed, such as a virtual disk (VDisk) or managed disk (MDisk).
LUN - Logical Unit Number
In the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) standard, a unique identifier used to differentiate devices, each of which is a logical unit (LU).
LVT
LPAR Validation Tool
m
MAC - Media Access Control Address
In a local area network, the protocol that determines which device has access to the transmission medium at a given time.
MAN - Metropolitan Area Network
A network formed by the interconnection of two or more networks which may operate at higher speed than those networks, may cross administrative boundaries, and may use multiple access methods.
Management Module
The BladeCenter component that handles system-management functions. It configures the chassis and switch modules, communicates with the blade servers and all I/O modules, multiplexes the keyboard/video/mouse (KVM), and monitors critical information about the chassis and blade servers.
Management Server
The server on which IBM Director Server is installed.
MAP - Maintenance Analysis Procedure
In hardware maintenance, a step-by-step procedure that assists an IBM service representative to trace a symptom to the cause of the failure.
Master System
In z/VM Center, an operating system instance that has been set up to serve Virtual Server Deployment as a model for creating operating system templates.
MDI
Media dependent interface
MIB
Management information base
Minidisk
A direct access storage device (DASD) or a logical subdivision of a DASD that has its own virtual device number.
MIO
Memory and I/O
MM - Management Module
The BladeCenter component that handles system-management functions. It configures the chassis and switch modules, communicates with the blade servers and all I/O modules, multiplexes the keyboard/video/mouse (KVM), and monitors critical information about the chassis and blade servers.
MPA - Multiplexing Proxy Agent
A gateway that accommodates multiple client access. These gateways are sometimes known as Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) gateways when clients access a secure domain using a WAP. Gateways establish a single authenticated channel to the originating server and tunnel all client requests and responses through this channel.
MPE
Multi processor expansion
MSTP
Multiple spanning tree protocol
MTMS
Machine type, model, and serial number
MTU - Maximum Transmission Unit
The largest possible unit of data that can be sent on a given physical medium in a single frame. For example, the maximum transmission unit for Ethernet is 1500 bytes.
Multiprocessor
A processor complex that has more than one central processor.
MVR
Multicast VLAN registration
n
NAS - Network-Attached Storage
A task-optimized storage device directly attached to a network that operates independently of the general-purpose file servers.
NDCLA
Non-disruptive code load activation
NEBS - Network Equipment Building System
A set of standards that is designed to ensure that network and telecommunications equipment operates reliably in adverse environmental conditions, will not negatively affect other equipment, and will not harm personnel.
NEP
Network equipment provider
Networking
Discuss blade system LAN connectivity.
NIC - Network Interface Card
A printed circuit board that plugs into a personal computer, server, or workstation. It controls the exchange of data over a network and provides the electronic functions for the data-link protocol or access method, such as token ring or Ethernet.
NIM - Network Installation Manager
An environment that provides installation and configuration of software within a network interface.
NOS - Network Operating System
A computer operating system designed to support a network of workstations. It provides peripheral, application and database sharing across the network. Common NOSs are Windows NT / 2000, Novell NetWare and Linux.
NTP - Network Time Protocol
A clock synchronization protocol commonly used on an internet.
NVRAM - Nonvolatile Random-Access Memory
Random access memory (storage) that retains its contents after the electrical power to the machine is shut off.
o
OPM
Optical pass-thru module
OS - Operating System
A collection of system programs that control the overall operation of a computer system.
OSPF - Open Shortest Path First
A function that provides intradomain information transfer. An alternative to the Routing Information Protocol (RIP), OSPF allows the lowest-cost routing and handles routing in large regional or corporate networks.
p
PCI
Peripheral Component Interconnect. A local bus that provides a high-speed data path between the processor and attached devices.
PCI-X
Peripheral Component Interconnect-X. An enhancement to the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) architecture. PCI-X enhances the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) standard by doubling the throughput capability and providing additional adapter-performance options while maintaining backward compatibility with PCI adapters.
PCR
Platform control register
PDU
Power distribution unit
Peer-to-peer computer network
A peer-to-peer (or P2P) computer network is a network that relies primarily on the computing power and bandwidth of the participants in the network rather than concentrating it in a relatively low number of servers. P2P networks are typically used for connecting nodes via largely ad hoc connections.
PFA - Predictive Failure Analysis
A scheduled evaluation of system data that detects and signals parametric degradation which might lead to functional failures.
Physical Platform
An IBM Director managed object that represents a single physical chassis or server that has been discovered through the use of the Service Location Protocol (SLP).
PM
Power Module
POST - Power-On Self-Test
A series of internal diagnostic tests activated each time the system power is turned on.
POWER
Performance optimization with enhanced RISC
PVST
Per-VLAN spanning tree
PXE
Preboot execution environment
q
QoS - Quality of Service
In networking Qos (Quality of Service) is the parameter that defines a guaranteed level of service based on transmission rates, error rates and other network characteristics. Different types of traffic, email, text messaging, voice over IP, or video streams require different levels of QoS to deliver content reliably to users.
Queue
A line or series of items in a list, such as a series of print jobs spooled to a queue based on time or job priorities.
r
RADIUS
Remote authentication dial in user service
RAID - Redundant Array of Independent Disks
A collection of two or more physical disk drives that present to the host an image of one or more logical disk drives. In the event of a physical device failure, the data can be read or regenerated from the other disk drives in the array due to data redundancy.
RAM - Random Access Memory
Computer memory in which any storage location can be accessed directly.
RAS - Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability
Those aspects of hardware and software design and development, solution design and delivery, manufacturing quality, technical support service and other services which contribute to assuring that the IBM offering will be available when the customer wants to use it, that it will reliably perform the job, that if failures do occur, they will be nondisruptive and be repaired rapidly and that after repair the user may resume operations with a minimum of inconvenience.
RDAC
Redundant disk array controller
RDIMM
Registered DIMM
RDM
Remote deployment manager
RDMA - Remote Direct Memory Access
A communication technique in which data is transmitted from the memory of one computer to that of another without passing through a processor. RDMA accommodates increased network speeds.
Real Time Streaming Protocol
A protocol for streamed multimedia data over IP networks. Generally, RTSP offers services similar to a video store with delivery services, a VCR, or cable television. VCR style control functionality includes pause, fast forward, reverse, and absolute positioning.
Redirected Distribution
A method of software distribution that uses a file-distribution server.
Registered State Change Notification
A switch function that allows notification of fabric changes to be sent from the switch to specified nodes.
Remote I/O Enclosure
An IBM Director managed object that represents an expansion enclosure of Peripheral Component Interconnect-X (PCI-X) slots, for example, an RXE-100 Remote Expansion Enclosure. The enclosure consists of one or two expansion kits.
Remote Monitoring
A form of monitoring that extends the basic set of SNMP attributes to include additional attributes for monitoring.
Remote Supervisor Adapter
An IBM service processor. It is built into some xSeries servers and available as an optional adapter for use with others. When used as a gateway service processor, the Remote Supervisor Adapter can communicate with all service processors on the Advanced System Management (ASM) interconnect.
Resource-Monitor Threshold
The point at which a resource monitor generates an event.
RHEL
Red Hat Enterprise Linux
RIP - Routing Information Protocol
In the Internet suite of protocols, a protocol used to exchange intradomain routing information and to determine optimum routes between internet hosts. This protocol determines optimum routes on the basis of route metrics, not link transmission speed.
RISC - Reduced Instruction Set Computer
A computer that uses a small, simplified set of frequently used instructions for rapid processing.
RMON - Remote Monitoring
A form of monitoring that extends the basic set of SNMP attributes to include additional attributes for monitoring.
RSCN - Registered State Change Notification
A switch function that allows notification of fabric changes to be sent from the switch to specified nodes.
RSTP
Rapid spanning tree protocol
RXE Expansion Port
The dedicated high-speed port used to connect a remote I/O expansion unit, such as the RXE-100 Remote Expansion Enclosure, to a server.
s
SAN - Storage Area Network
A dedicated storage network tailored to a specific environment, combining servers, systems, storage products, networking products, software, and services.
SAS
Serial attached SCSI
SAT - Service Address Table
A table that contains information on each node managed by the configurator, including what services are available on each node.
SATA - Serial Advanced Technology Attachment
A standard for connecting storage devices such as hard drives and CD ROM drives to computer systems that is based on serial signaling technology.
Scalable Partition
An IBM Director managed object that defines the scalable nodes that can run a single image of the operating system. A scalable partition has a single, continuous memory space and access to all associated adapters. A scalable partition is the logical equivalent of a physical platform. Scalable partitions are associated with scalable systems and comprise only the scalable nodes from their associated scalable systems.
SCM - Supply Chain Management
The management of resources, functions, and sequence of processes used by organizations involved in the supply of raw materials and products, and their delivery to manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and finally consumers.
SCSI - Small Computer System Interface
An ANSI-standard electronic interface that allows personal computers to communicate with peripheral hardware, such as disk drives, tape drives, CD-ROM drives, printers, and scanners faster and more flexibly than previous interfaces.
SDD - Subsystem Device Driver
An IBM Enterprise Storage Server (ESS) device driver that provides: enhanced data availability, automatic path failover and recovery to an alternate path, dynamic load balancing of multiple paths, and concurrent microcode upgrade.
Server
A software program or a computer that provides services to other software programs or other computers.
Server Blade
A single circuit board that contains all of the computing and memory components needed for a computer server, but that depends on a blade server chassis, which may hold several server blades, for common components such as network connections, storage interfaces, and power.
Service Location Protocol
An Internet protocol that identifies and uses network hosts without having to designate a specific network host name.
SFF
Small-form-factor
SFP - Small Form-Factor Pluggable
An optical transceiver used to convert signals between optical fiber cables and switches.
SIMD - Single Instruction, Multiple Data
A parallel programming technique where multiple processors execute the same instructions on different data at the same time.
SIMM - Single Inline Memory Module
In computer hardware, a small circuit card that carries a number of surface-mounted memory chips in a space-saving configuration with the connector pins protruding in a single line from the edge of the card. Varying numbers of SIMMs can be plugged easily into slots in a memory board to expand random access memory.
SIO
Storage and I/O
SLB
Segment lookaside buffer
SLES
SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server
SLP - Service Location Protocol
An Internet protocol that identifies and uses network hosts without having to designate a specific network host name.
SMBIOS - Systems Management BIOS
A key requirement of the Wired for Management (WfM) 2.0 specification. SMBIOS extends the system BIOS to support the retrieval of management data required by the WfM specification. To run IBM Director Agent, a system must support SMBIOS, version 2.2 or later.
SMP Expansion Module
An IBM xSeries hardware option. It is a single module that contains microprocessors, disk cache, random access memory, and three SMP Expansion Port connections. Two SMP Expansion Modules can fit in a chassis.
SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
An Internet application protocol for transferring mail among users of the Internet.
SNMP - Simple Network Management Protocol
A set of protocols for monitoring systems and devices in complex networks. Information about managed devices is defined and stored in a Management Information Base (MIB).
SNMP Access and Trap Forwarding
An IBM Director Agent feature that enables SNMP to access managed-system data. When installed on a managed system, this feature enables SNMP-based managers to poll the managed system and receive its alerts. If System Health Monitoring is installed on the managed system also, hardware alerts can be forwarded as SNMP traps.
SNMP Device
An embedded device that uses SNMP to monitor network-attached devices, printers, or computers for conditions that require system-management attention.
SOL - Serial over LAN
Serial Over LAN is a mechanism that enables the input and output of the serial port of a system to redirected over an IP network. In blade servers, serial ports are not typically connected to a traditional serial port socket, thus SOL is used to redirect the serial port traffic to the network. The SOL connection provides access to the text-console command prompt on each blade server and enables the blade servers to be managed from a remote location.
SR
Short Range
SSL - Secure Sockets Layer
A security protocol that provides communication privacy. With SSL, client/server applications can communicate in a way that is designed to prevent eavesdropping, tampering, and message forgery.
StFF
Standard form factor
Storage
Electronic memory storage based on either hard disk drives, magnetic tape, or semiconductor components. Blade storage components include disk drives internal to blades, specialized storage blades, and links to NAS subsystems and SANs (storage area networks.
Storage Management Subsystem
Software that automates as much as possible the management of physical storage by centralizing control, automating tasks, and providing interactive controls for system administrators.
STP
Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP) as defined in the IEEE 802.1D is a link management protocol that provides path redundancy while preventing undesirable loops in the network.
SUMA
Service update management assistant
Switch Module
The BladeCenter component that provides network connectivity for the BladeCenter chassis and blade servers. It also provides interconnectivity between the management module and blade servers.
Symmetric Multiprocessor
A system in which functionally identical multiple processors are used in parallel, providing simple and efficient load balancing.
Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory
A type of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) with features a synchronous interface that is clocked synchronized with the computer's system bus. This makes it faster than standard asynchronous DRAM.
System-Managed Buffering
A facility available for system-managed, extended-format, Virtual Storage Access Method (VSAM), data sets in which DFSMSdfp determines the type of buffer management technique, along with the number of buffers needed, based on data set and application specifications.
t
TACACS
Terminal access controller access control system
TCO - Total Cost of Ownership
A methodology for calculating the actual cost of owning a product over the period of ownership and use based on combining costs of acquisition or leasing, training, deployment, support, residual equipment values, return on investment, time to market, and so forth.
TCP - Transmission Control Protocol
A communication protocol used in the Internet and in any network that follows the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards for internetwork protocol. TCP provides a reliable host-to-host protocol in packet-switched communication networks and in interconnected systems of such networks.
TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
An industry-standard, nonproprietary set of communication protocols that provides reliable end-to-end connections between applications over interconnected networks of different types.
TOE
TCP offload engine. A separate coprocessor that handles the processing of the TCP/IP stack, relieving the main processor of this overhead. Use of a a TOE becomes more important as the speed of the communications link becomes faster.
Trivial File Transfer Protocol
In Internet communications, a set of conventions that transfers files between hosts using minimal protocol.
u
UDLD
UniDirectional link detection
UE
Unrecoverable errors
UI
User interface. Everything designed to enable a human to interact with a computing system, including hardware such as keyboard, mouse, writing tablet, and joysticks, and software such as graphical user interfaces, command line interfaces and touch screen interfaces.
v
VGA
Video graphics array. Defined by IBM in 1987, it has been the standard monitor or display interface used in most PCs since that time. It defines a 640x480 pixel resolution. SuperVGA is one of several revisions that support higher resolutions such as 800x600 and 1024x768 pixels. The standards VGA connection is a D-sub connect with 15 pins, shaped like a trapezoid.
VIOS
Virtual Input/Output Server
VLAN - Virtual Local Area Network
A logical association of switch ports based upon a set of rules or criteria, such as Medium Access Control (MAC) addresses, protocols, network address, or multicast address. This concept permits the LAN to be segmented again without requiring physical rearrangement.
VLP
Very low profile
VM - Virtual Machine
A software program that executes programs using shared resources of a centralized or group of computers, as if it were a single physical processor.
VMPS
VLAN membership policy server
VOIP - Voice Over Internet Protocol
Sending telephony voice over Internet Protocol (IP) data connections rather than existing dedicated voice networks, switching and transmission equipment.
VPD - Vital Product Data
Information that uniquely defines system, hardware, software, and microcode elements of a processing system.
VRRP
Virtual router redundancy protocol
VTP
VLAN Trunking Protocol
w
WAN - Wide Area Network
A network that provides communication services among devices in a geographic area larger than that served by a local area network (LAN) or a metropolitan area network (MAN).
WRR
Weighted round-robin
x
x86
The generic name for processors compatible with the original Intel 8086 processor. It covers a wide range of processors including the 286, the 386, the 486 and the 586 and has been extended to include 64-bit processors from Intel and AMD.
XML - Extensible Markup Language
XML is a metalanguage used to define documents in a standard format that can be read by an XML-compatible application. It allows you to freely define items on a page so that you can create a database of information without having to access a separate database.
y
Yellow Book
An ISO 9660 compliant CD-ROM format using mode 1 addressing. Compact discs using the Yellow Book format can be read on the majority of CD-drives in use with PCs as it is the industry standard format for the majority of multimedia programs developed for the PC.
z
ZIF - Zero Insertion Force
A type of CPU socket on a computer motherboard that is designed for easy replacement or removal of the processor IC. A small release lever is used to release the processor and lift it so that it can easily be removed.

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