“SAD” to “Systems Network Architecture”

SAD

See STREAMS Administrative Driver.

SAF

See Service Access Facility.

sandbox

(n.) A collection of several cooperating system components, ranging from security managers that execute as part of the application, to security measures designed into the Java virtual machine and the language itself. The sandbox ensures that an untrusted, and possibly malicious, application cannot gain access to system resources.

SBus

(n.) A 32-bit self-identifying bus that is used mainly on SPARC^TM workstations. The SBus provides information to the system so that it can identify the device driver that needs to be used. An SBus device might need to use hardware configuration files to augment the information that is provided by the SBus card. See also PCI bus.

SBus bridge

(n.) A device that provides additional SBus slots by connecting two SBuses. Generally, a bus bridge is functionally transparent to devices on the SBus. However, in some instances (for example, bus sizing) bus bridges can change the exact way a series of bus cycles are performed. Also called an SBus coupler.

SBus controller

(n.) The hardware that is responsible for performing arbitration, addressing translation and decoding, driving slave selects and address strobe, and generating timeouts.

SBus device

(n.) A logical device that is attached to the SBus. This device might be on the motherboard or on an SBus expansion card.

SBus expansion card

(n.) A physical printed circuit assembly that conforms to the single-width or double-width mechanical specifications. Also contains one or more SBus devices.

SBus expansion slot

(n.) An SBus slot into which you can install an SBus expansion card.

SBus ID

(n.) A special series of bytes at address 0 of each SBus slave that identifies the SBus device.

Scalable Coherent Interface

(SCI) (n.) In a Sun^TM Cluster configuration, a high-speed interconnect hardware that is used as the cluster interconnect.

scalable resource

(n.) A resource of type “scalable.” These resources run on multiple nodes (an instance on each node) that use the cluster interconnect to give the appearance of a single service to remote clients of the service.

scalable service

(n.) A data service that is implemented to run on multiple nodes simultaneously.

A “pure” scalable service enables any instance of the service to respond to client requests.

After the connection is established between a client and a specific instance of the service, a “sticky” scalable service enables the client to send requests always to that same instance of the service. Effectively, the requests are not redirected to other instances of the service.

An “ordinary sticky” scalable service directs client requests always to the same node, using a specific port.

A “wildcard sticky” scalable service directs client requests always to the same node, but the request can use dynamically assigned port numbers.

SCCS

See Source Code Control System.

SCD

See SPARC Compliance Definition.

scheduler

(1) (n.) A program that manages other shared resources, such as printers.

(2) (n.) An automated calendar program.

scope

(1) (n.) The range over which an action or definition applies.

(2) (n.) A characteristic of an identifier that determines where the identifier can be used. Most identifiers in the Java^TM programming environment have either class or local scope. Instance and class variables and class methods have class scope. These variables and methods can be used outside the class and its subclasses only by prefixing them with an instance of the class or (for class variables and methods) with the class name. All other variables are declared within methods and have local scope. These variables can be used only within the enclosing block.

SCP

See SunLink^TM communications processor.

scratch file

(n.) A file that is used as a work area.

screen capture

(n.) The act of duplicating text or text and graphics that are displayed on a screen, and saving them in a file. The screen capture results in a graphics file.

screen editor

(n.) An editing program in which text is operated on that is relative to the position of the pointer on the screen. Commands for entering, changing, and removing text involve moving the pointer to the area to be altered and performing the necessary operation. You can view changes on the screen as they are made. Examples include the UNIX® vi program. Contrast with line editor.

screen lock

(n.) A function that locks the workstation screen, barring further input till the valid user password is typed.

screen saver

(n.) A utility that causes the workstation, after a specified time, to switch off the display or to vary the images that are displayed, thereby prolonging the life of the screen.

script

(n.) A program that another program interprets or runs.

scroll

(v.) To shift the focus of text up, down, or across the screen.

scroll arrow

(n.) In a scrollbar, one of the arrows that the user can click to move through displayed information in the corresponding direction (up or down in a vertical scrollbar, left or right in a horizontal scrollbar). See also scrollbar.

scrollbar

(n.) A component that enables the user to control what portion of a document or list (or similar information) is visible on screen. A scrollbar consists of a vertical or horizontal channel, a scroll box that moves through the channel of the scrollbar, and two scroll arrows. In the Java^TM look and feel, scrollbars are created by using the JScrollBar component. See also scroll arrow, scroll box, scroll pane.

scroll box

(n.) A box that the user can drag in the channel of a scrollbar to cause scrolling in the corresponding direction. The scroll box's position in the scrollbar indicates the user's location in the list, window, or pane. In the Java^TM look and feel, the scroll box's size indicates what proportion of the total information is currently visible on screen. A large scroll box, for example, indicates that the user can peruse the contents with just a few clicks in the scrollbar. See also scrollbar.

scroll pane

(n.) A container that provides scrolling with optional vertical and horizontal scrollbars. In the Java^TM look and feel, scroll panes are created by using the JScrollPane component. See also scrollbar.

SCSA

(n.) Sun Common SCSI Architecture.

SCSI ID

(n.) SCSI device identifier.

SCSI tray

(n.) On Sun^TM server systems, a tray that holds a maximum of six SCSI-2 devices and the control card. The chassis accommodates one SCSI device tray.

SDS

(n.) Solstice DiskSuite.

SEA

(adj.) Solstice DiskSuite Enterprise Agent.

secondary

(n.) A cluster member that is available to master disk device groups and resource groups if the primary fails. See also primary.

secondary hostname

(n.) The name that is used to access a node on a secondary public network. See also primary hostname.

secondary prompt

(n.) A cue that is displayed in a Shell Tool window to inform you that the command which is typed in response to the primary prompt is incomplete. The UNIX® system default secondary prompt is the greater-than character (>).

secondary window

(n.) A modal or modeless window that is created from and dependent on a primary window. Secondary windows set options or supply additional details about actions and objects in the primary window. Secondary windows are dismissed when their associated primary window is dismissed. In the Java^TM look and feel, secondary windows are created by using either the JFrame or the JDialog component. See also dialog box.

seek

(n.) Usually, a disk seek, that is, positioning the read/write head of the disk so that data can be read or written.

segmentation fault

(n.) A condition that occurs when a process has attempted to access an area of memory that is restricted or does not exist. See also bus error.

select

(1) (v.) To distinguish an object (or objects) on the screen so that they can be operated on. Contrast with deselect.

(2) (v.) To indicate a span, a contiguous sequence of characters, by pointing at and clicking.

selection

(1) (n.) A span of characters, highlighted in inverse video, underlining, or gray shading.

(2) (n.) In the X protocol, a way to communicate between clients by using properties and events. To the user, a selection is an item of data that can be highlighted in one instance of an application and pasted into another instance of the same or a different application.

separator

(n.) A line graphic that divides menu items into logical groupings. In the Java^TM look and feel, separators are created by using the JSeparator component.

server

(n.) A network device that manages resources and supplies services to a client. See also caching-only server, communications server, X server.

Service Access Facility

(SAF) (n.) A tool which is provided with the SunOS^TM 5.3 operating system that controls access to local and network system services, such as printers, modems, and terminals. SAF lets the user manage access to all services in a similar way, whether those services are on the network or attached only to local systems. SAF uses Service Access Control (SAC) commands to set up and manage services.

service interface

(n.) In STREAMS, a set of primitives that define a service at the boundary between a service user and a service provider. Also, the rules (typically represented by a state machine) that determine allowable sequences of the primitives across the boundary. At a Stream/user boundary, the primitives are typically contained in the control part of a message. Within a Stream, primitives are contained in M_PROTO or M_PCPROTO message blocks.

service procedure

(n.) A STREAMS routine in a module or driver that is associated with a queuethat receives messages which are queued for it by the appropriate put procedure. The procedure is called by the STREAMS scheduler. The service procedure can perform processing on the message and generally passes the message to the put procedure of the following queue.

servlet

(n.) A server-side program that gives Java^TM technology-enabled servers additional features.

shadow file

(n.) The SunOS^TM 5.0 (minimum) file in the /etc directory that contains user passwords.

Shapes

(n.) A graphics software product for 2-D applications and the platform on which the X11/NeWS^TM system is implemented.

shared-address resource

(n.) A network address that can be bound by all scalable services which are running on nodes within the cluster to make them scale on those nodes. A cluster can have multiple shared addresses, and a service can be bound to multiple shared addresses.

shared object

(n.) A function that is part of a shared library.

shell

(1) (n.) The outer layer of a program, or a user interface.

(2) (n.) The command shell is a programmable command interpreter. The shell provides direct communication between the user and the operating system. UNIX® systems use the C shell, Bourne shell, and Korn shell.

shell procedure

(n.) An executable file that is not a compiled program. A shell procedure calls a shell to read and execute commands that are contained in a file. This process enables you to store a sequence of commands in a file for repeated use. Also called a command file or shell program.

shell variable

(n.) In the UNIX® system, a facility that affects how the shell runs and is displayed. For example, certain variables specify the list of arguments on the current command line. A shell variable also can set the number of command lines that are saved in a command history.

shortcut

(n.) A mouse gesture that simplifies the completion of a dialog box. For example, double-click an item in the Filename list box to select it and choose OK in one action.

shortcut key

(n.) A keyboard key sequence that activates a menu command. Shortcut keys usually include a key sequence that uses a special accelerator key, or an underlined letter (mnemonic) sequence. For example, press Alt+F4 or Alt+F+P to choose the command FilePrint.

signal

(n.) An electrical quantity that transmits a sound or prompt. Also, a C library function, the software signaling facility. A signal is generated by some abnormal event. Most signals cause a process to terminate if no action is taken.

SIMD

(n.) Single Instruction, Multiple Data.

simple path name

(n.) A file or directory name, without mention of any associated directories, that you use to access a file or directory in the working directory. See also absolute path name, relative path name.

single-instance resource

(n.) A resource for which at most one resource can be active across the cluster.

single-precision

(adj.) Characteristic of a floating-point number that contains the least amount of precision, compared to two or more options that are given in a programming language. See also double-precision.

single system

(n.) A system that is not connected to a network, has its own disk, and does not require support from any other system. Also called standalone system.

single-user mode

(n.) A mode that allows a user to log in to a system as superuser and perform administrative tasks without interference from other users.

slave cycle

(n.) The portion of a bus cycle that begins with placing an address on the physical address lines and ends with the address strobe signal being asserted.

slave driver

(n.) A STREAMS-based device that is supported by the pseudo-terminal subsystem. A slave driver works with a line-discipline module and hardware-emulation module to provide an interface to a user process. Also called pts.

slave server

(n.) A server system that maintains a copy of the network information service (NIS) database. A slave server has a disk and a complete copy of the operating system.

sleep

(v.) To halt an operation without termininating it. A sleep process can remain temporarily suspended in memory till a predetermined event “awakens” it.

slice

(1) (n.) See partition.

(2) (n.) A sample 2-D data array that is gathered through one of several methods, such as CAT-scan and magnetic resonance imaging, for 3-D image reconstruction.

slider

(n.) A control that enables the user to set a value in a range—for example, the RGB values for a color. In the Java^TM look and feel, sliders are created by using the JSlider component. See also progress bar.

slot

(SBus expansion slot) (n.) An SBus entity for which there is an independent slave–select wire.

SMP

(1) (n.) shared memory multiprocessor.

(2) (n.) See symmetric multiprocessing.

socket

(n.) A software endpoint for network communication. Two programs on different machines each open a socket to communicate over the network. A socket is the low-level mechanism that supports most networking programs.

soft limit

(n.) For disk quotas, a threshold limit on file system resources (blocks and inodes) that you can temporarily exceed. Exceeding the soft limit starts a timer. When you exceed the soft limit for the specified time (default of one week), no further system resources are allocated till you reduce file system use below the soft limit.

software distribution

(n.) A collection of software clusters and packages that is to be installed. An example is an installation CD-ROM.

source

(n.) The original data that is contained on a disk or in a file.

source code

(n.) The uncompiled version of a program that is written in a language such as C or Pascal. The source code must be translated to machine language by a compiler before the computer can execute the program.

Source Code Control System

(SCCS) (n.) A software development utility for tracking file versions during a lengthy software development or documentation project.

SPARC Compliance Definition

(SCD) (n.) A formal specification of the system hardware and software to be met by manufacturers of SPARC^TM systems to ensure that those systems run compliant applications. The SCD also specifies the interfaces that an application can safely use. This specification also assures that the application binary runs on all compliant SPARC hardware platforms.

SPARC^TM system

(n.) The 32-bit Scalable Processor ARChitecture from Sun Microsystems. SPARC is based on a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) concept. Sun and its suppliers designed the architecture to significantly improve price and performance.

SPARCprinter^TM

(n.) A video interface laser printer.

SPARCprinter^TM port

(n.) One of two ports on the SPARCprinter SBus printer card. The SPARCprinter port connects the system to the SPARCprinter.

spare

(n.) In a Sun^TM Cluster configuration, a cluster node that is available to be converted to secondary if a failover occurs. See also secondary.

spd

(n.) The video port on the NeWSprinter^TM SBus printer card. Also, the device driver that controls the port.

special character

(n.) A character that is not alphabetic or numeric, or a space. An example is a punctuation mark. See metacharacter.

special file system

(SPECFS) (n.) A pseudo-file system that provides access to character special devices and block devices.

specific address

(n.) See absolute address.

split brain

(n.) A condition in which a cluster breaks into multiple subclusters, where the nodes in each subcluster have no knowledge of the other subclusters. Each subcluster then continues functioning as the original cluster, thereby compromising data integrity. The Sun^TM Cluster quorum mechanism ensures that only one set of nodes remains active at any one time, thereby preventing the split-brain condition from occurring.

split pane

(n.) A container that enables the user to adjust the relative size of two adjacent panes. In the Java^TM look and feel, split panes are created by using the JSplitPane component.

spooler

(n.) A software device that holds data.

square bracket

(n.) Computer jargon for either of the bracket signs, [ and ], used for connecting or enclosing words. Contrast with curly bracket ({ and }).

SSL

(n.) Secure Socket Layer.

stack

(n.) An area of reserved memory that contains important programming data.

stale NFS file handle

(n.) A data structure that contains data with a creation date that does not match the file to which it refers.

standalone

(1) (n.) A computer that does not require support from any other machine. Also called single system.

(2) (n.) A standalone diagnostic means that the program can load from either local disk or Ethernet and the program runs in an environment other than UNIX®.

standard error

(n.) An open file that is normally connected directly to a primary output device, such as a terminal, printer, or screen. Error messages and other diagnostic output normally go to this file and then to the output device. You can redirect the standard error output into another file instead of to the printer or the screen.

standard input

(standard input device) (n.) The device from which a program or system normally takes its input. A standard input device is usually a terminal or the keyboard.

standard output

(standard output device) (n.) The device to which a program or system normally sends its output. A standard output device is usually a terminal or the screen.

Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation

(SPEC) (n.) A group of participating computer system manufacturers that develops a series of accepted test programs to measure system computing performance.

statement

(n.) In a programming language, each line of code and an individual instruction.

static

(n.) A noise on an electronic gadget that is incurred by electrical interference with a signal.

static allocation

(n.) The allocation at startup time of certain memory. Static allocation remains in that state till the program is finished.

static field

(n.) See class variable.

static linking

(n.) The process in which external references in a program are linked with their definitions when an executable is created.

stderr

(n.) The UNIX® file pointer to standard error output. The file is opened when you start a program.

sticky data service

See scalable service.

stopped job

(n.) A job that you have halted temporarily and one that you can resume with a command.

storage pool

(n.) A collection of storage resources that can be constructed from storage components (such as disks or RAID sets), from other storage pools, or from both.

The components of a storage pool can be automatically determined by the underlying hardware or by conformance to a policy, or an administrator can manually specify the components. A storage pool can have associated qualities such as data redundancy (for example, RAID). The storage pool components can be immediately available to consumers, can require preparation, or be a combination of both.

stream

(n.) An open file with its associated buffering.

Stream

(n.) A kernel aggregate that is created by connecting STREAMS components, resulting from an application of the STREAMS mechanism. The primary components are the Stream head, the driver, and zero or more pushable modules between the Stream head and the driver.

Stream end

(n.) A Stream component that is furthest from the user process and that contains a driver.

Stream head

(n.) A Stream component that is closest to the user process. A Stream head provides the interface between the Stream and the user process.

STREAMS

(n.) A kernel mechanism that supports development of network services and data communications drivers. STREAMS defines interface standards for character input/output within the kernel, and between the kernel and user level. The STREAMS mechanism includes integral functions, utility routines, kernel facilities, and a set of structures.

STREAMS Administrative Driver

(SAD) (n.) A driver that provides an interface to the autopush mechanism.

STREAMS-based pipe

(n.) A mechanism for bidirectional data transfer that is implemented by using STREAMS. A STREAMS-based pipe is also a mechanism for sharing properties of STREAMS-based devices.

string

(n.) A connected sequence of characters, words, or other elements.

string variable

(n.) A sequence of characters that can be the value of a shell variable. See also variable.

striping

(n.) The combining of one or more physical disks (or disk partitions ) into a single logical disk. The operating system views a logical disk the same as any other disk-based file system.

stroke font object

(n.) In the XGL^TM library, an object that defines the stroke font which is used by the context object.

structure

(n.) In the Programmer's Hierarchical Interactive Graphics System (PHIGS), a sequence of structure elements that describes graphical objects, and possibly invokes other structures in a hierarchical manner.

subclass

(1) (n.) A class that is derived from a particular class, perhaps with one or more classes in between. See also superclass, supertype.

(2) (n.) A widget class that is created from another widget class. A subclassed widget is created by modifying and specializing another widget class which is called the superclass. The subclass inherits some or all of the characteristics of its superclass. See also inheritance.

subdirectory

(n.) A directory that resides within another directory.

submenu

(n.) A menu that is displayed when the user chooses a certain menu item in a higher-level menu. In the Java^TM programming language, submenus are created by using the JMenu component.

Sun^TM Cluster API

See Resource Management API (RMAPI).

Sun^TM Cluster software

(n.) The software portion of the SunPlex system. See also SunPlex.

SUN-DES-1

(n.) An authentication protocol that the X11/NeWS^TM system uses to authenticate client connections. The SUN-DES-1 authorization protocol was developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. SUN-DES-1 is based on Secure remote procedure call (RPC) and requires data encryption software (DES) support. The authorization data is the machine-independent netname, or network name, of a user. This data is encrypted and sent to the server as part of the connection packet. The server decrypts the data and, if the netname is known, the connection is allowed.

SunGKS^TM library

(n.) The Sun^TM software graphics library that is based on the graphical kernel system standard.

SunINGRES system

(n.) The Sun^TM version of INGRES, a database system that is produced by RTI.

SunLink^TM communications processor

(SCP) (n.) A printed circuit board that enables multivendor connection with either synchronous or asynchronous operation. The SCP works with SNA 3270 and X.25 SunLink^TM software products.

SunLink^TM ISDN

(n.) The software that was developed to work with the SunISDN-BRI/SBI^TM card.

SunMC Change Manager

(n.) A mechanism that supports customizable Solaris Flash archives. The archive can be customizable if the software stack creator makes software-related parameters available to the Change Manager user interfaces. When the deployment user creates a per-host profile, the user can specify parameter values on a per-host basis. When the user creates a shared profile, the user can supply parameter values for a number of managed hosts.

SunPHIGS^TM library

(n.) The Sun^TM software graphics library that is based on the Programmer's Hierarchical Interactive Graphics System (PHIGS) standard.

SunPlex^TM system

(n.) The integrated hardware and Sun^TM Cluster software system that is used to create highly available and scalable services.

superblock

(n.) A block on the disk that contains information about a file system, such as name and size in blocks. Each file system has its own superblock.

superclass

(1) (n.) A class from which a particular class is derived, perhaps with one or more classes in between. See also subclass.

(2) (n.) A widget class that is modified and specialized to create another widget class (a subclass). The subclass inherits some or all of the characteristics of the superclass.

SuperSPARC^TM Module

(n.) A 3-by-5-inch card that contains one SuperSPARC processor, cache memory, and a cache controller. A system board can have two SuperSPARC modules. A SPARCserver^TM 1000 system can have a maximum of four such boards that equal eight modules.

supertype

(n.) One of the interfaces and classes of a type that are extended or implemented by that type. See also superclass.

superuser

(n.) A special user who has privileges to perform all administrative tasks on the system. Also called root.

suspend

(v.) To put a tprocess emporarily on hold. See also sleep.

swap

(v.) To write an active file from RAM to a hard disk space.

swap file

(n.) A disk partition or file that temporarily holds the contents of a memory area till it can be loaded back into memory.

SWAPFS

(n.) A pseudo-file system that the kernel uses for swapping.

swap space

(n.) The memory that is used for the transfer of a currently operating program from system memory to an external storage device. Also called swapping area.

Swing classes

(n.) A set of graphical user interface components, featuring a pluggable look and feel, that are included in the Java^TM Foundation Classes (JFC). The Swing classes implement the Java Accessibility API and supply code for interface elements such as windows, dialog boxes and choosers, panels and panes, menus, controls, text components, tables, lists, and tree views. See also Abstract Window Toolkit.

Swing Set

(n.) The code name for a collection of graphical user interface (GUI) components that runs uniformly on any native platform which supports the Java virtual machine. Because they are written entirely in the Java programming language, these components may provide functionality above and beyond that provided by native-platform equivalents. (Contrast with Abstract Window Toolkit.)

switch

(1) (n.) Usually, a command-line argument, such as -r or -d.

(2) (n.) A circuit element that controls a signal.

switchover

(n.) The orderly transfer of a resource group or device group from one master (node) in a cluster to another master (or multiple masters, if resource groups are configured for multiple primaries). A switchover is initiated by an administrator by using the scswitch(1M) command. A switchover can also be invoked by a failover.

symbolic link

(n.) A special file or directory that points to another file or directory so that both files or directories have the same contents.

symmetric multiprocessing

(n.) A form of multiprocessing in which more than one processor can run kernel-level code simultaneously.

sync

(1) (n.) The process of synchronizing the scanning of receiving, processing, or display equipment with a video source.

(2) (n.) A signal that consists of just the horizontal and vertical elements that are necessary to accomplish synchronization.

(3) (n.) The component of a video signal that conveys synchronizing information. See also sync level, sync pulse.

synchronized

(adj.) In the Java^TM programming language, characteristic of a keyword that, when applied to a method or code block, guarantees that at most one thread at a time executes that code.

synchronous

(adj.) Characteristic of being under the control of a clock or timing mechanism.

sync level

(n.) The level of a sync signal or component.

sync pulse

(n.) A normal line sync pulse, equalization pulse, or broad pulse.

syntax

(n.) The order in which you type the parts of an operating system command. The grammar of a programming language.

syntax error

(n.) A grammatical error in the programming language syntax.

synthetic image

(n.) An image that was generated originally with computer-graphics techniques, contrasted with an image that was originally acquired with a camera. The latter type of image, after electronic digitization and storage, is called a captured image.

system

(n.) A computer and its peripherals that enable you to run computer programs. A system can also include software that operates the system.

system administration

(n.) The tasks of a person who performs system maintenance.

system administrator

(n.) The person who performs system maintenance.

system board

(n.) On Sun^TM server systems, a printed circuit board that can contain two or moreSuperSPARC^TM modules and associated SIMMs. The board also accommodates three optional SBus cards.

system call

(n.) A program's request that an action be performed by the UNIX® system kernel.

system controller

(n.) In Sun Fire^TM configurations, a device that is used specifically to communicate with cluster members.

system ID

(n.) A sequence of numbers, and sometimes letters, that is unique to each system and is used to identify that system.

system kernel

(n.) See kernel.

system message

(n.) A message that the system generates automatically to provide you important information, such as new mail or login information.

system name

(n.) A unique name that is assigned to the network system.

system number

(n.) A unique number that is assigned to the network system.

System Service Processor

(SSP) (n.) In Enterprise 10000 configurations, a device, external to the cluster, that is used specifically to communicate with cluster members.

system state object

(n.) An object that maintains state information about all operations which occur during a single XGL^TM library session.

system type

(n.) The name that identifies a specific kind of system, such as a Sun-4^TM system or a Sun386i^TM system.

system unit

(n.) The part of a workstation that contains the central processing unit (CPU), the disk, and other devices that are essential to operate the system.

System V

(n.) A version of the UNIX® operating system that was produced by AT&T.

Systems Network Architecture

(SNA) (n.) The proprietary network architecture of IBM.