Glossary

address

(1) A number used by the system software to identify a storage location. (2) In networking, a unique code that identifies a node to the network.

ASIC

Application-specific integrated circuit

Asynchronous

An operation that is not synchronized with the timing of any other part of the system.

boot

To load the system software into memory and start it running.

boot PROM

In Sun workstations, the boot PROM contains a PROM monitor program, a command interpreter used for booting, resetting, low-level configuring, and simple testing.

DAT

Digital audio tape

DIMM

Dual in-line memory module. A small printed circuit card that contains dynamic random-access memory chips.

DMA

Direct memory address

DRAM

Dynamic random-access memory. Read/write dynamic memory in which the data can be read or written in approximately the same amount of time for any memory location.

DTAG

Dual tag or data tag

DVD

Digital video disk

EEPROM

Electrically erasable programmable read only memory

EMI

Electromagnetic interference. Electrical characteristic that directly or indirectly contributes to a degradation in performance of an electronic system.

ESD

Electrostatic discharge

Ethernet

A type of local area network that enables real-time communication between network devices, connected directly together through cables. A widely implemented network from which the IEEE 802.3 standard for contention networks was developed, Ethernet uses a bus topology (configuration) and relies on the form of access known as CSMA/CD to regulate traffic on the main communication line. Network nodes are connected by coaxial cable (in either of two varieties) or by twisted-pair wiring. See also 10BASE-T, and
100BASE-T.

FC-AL

Fiber channel arbitrated loop

FIFO

First-in, first-out

flash PROM

A type of programmable read-only memory (PROM) that can be reprogrammed by a voltage pulse. See also PROM.

FRU

Field-replaceable unit

Gbyte

Gigabyte, 10⁹bytes

HSI

High speed serial interface

I/O

Input/output

Kbyte

Kilobyte, 10³ bytes

LED

Light-emitting diode

LOMlite2

Lights Out Management

MBps

Megabyte per second

Mbps

Megabit per second

Mbyte

Megabyte, one million bytes

MHz

Megahertz

Network

A configuration of data processing devices and software connected together for information exchange.

NG-DIMM

Next generation dual inline memory module

Node

An addressable point on a network. Each node in a Sun network has a different name. A node can connect a computing system, a terminal, or various other peripheral devices to the network.

Nanosecond, 10^-9 seconds

NVRAM

Nonvolatile random-access memory. A type of RAM that retains information when power is removed from the system. In Sun systems, contains the system hostID number and Ethernet address. In Netra 20 systems, this information is stored on the system configuration card.

OBP

OpenBoot PROM. A routine that tests the network controller, diskette drive system, memory, cache, system clock, network monitoring, and control registers.

PCI bus

Peripheral component interconnect bus. A high-performance 32 or 64 bit-wide bus with multiplexed address and data lines.

PCIO

PCI-to-EBus/Ethernet controller. An ASIC that bridges the PCI bus to the EBus, enabling communication between the PCI bus and all miscellaneous I/O functions, as well as the connection to slower on-board functions.

Peripheral assembly

Removable media assembly. Can include a card reader, CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, 4-mm tape drive, a diskette drive, and any other 3.5-inch device.

PID

Process ID

POR

Power on reset

POST

Power on self-test. A series of tests that verify that system board components are operating properly. Initialized at system power-on or when the system is rebooted

PROM

Programmable Read-Only Memory. A type of read-only memory (ROM) that allows data to be written into the device with hardware device called a PROM programmer. After the PROM has been programmed, it is dedicated to that data and cannot be reprogrammed.

QFE

Quad fast Ethernet

RAID

Redundant array of inexpensive disks

SAI

Serial asynchronous interface

SBus

Serial bus

SCC

System configuration card

SCCR

System configuration card reader

SCSI

Small computer system interface

SLVM

Sun Logical Volume Manager

SRAM

Static random access memory

STP

Shielded twisted-pair

SunVTS

Validation Test Suite, a diagnostic application designed to test hardware.

Synchronization

The action of forcing certain points in the execution sequences of two or more asynchronous processes to coincide in time.

TIP

A connection that enables a remote shell window to be used as a terminal to display test data from a system.

TPE

Twisted-pair Ethernet

UTP

Unshielded twisted-pair

10BASE-T

An evolution of Ethernet technology that succeeded 10BASE5 and 10BASE2 as the most popular method of physical network implementation. A 10BASE-T network has a data transfer rate of 10 megabits per second and uses unshielded twisted-pair wiring with RJ-45 modular telephone plugs and sockets.

100BASE-T

Also known as Fast Ethernet, an Ethernet technology that supports a data transfer rate of 100 megabits per second over special grades of twisted-pair wiring. 100BASE-T uses the same protocol as 10BASE-T. There are three subsets of the 100BASE-T technology: 100BASE-TX defines digital transmission over two pairs of shielded twisted-pair wire. 100BASE-T4 defines digital transmission over four pairs of unshielded twisted-pair wire. 100BASE-TX defines digital transmission over fiber-optic cable.