Glossary

abend

Abnormal end of task. An application can issue an EXEC CICS ABEND command to terminate a task abnormally. Synonymous with abnormal termination.

ABEND

EXEC CICS command used to terminate a task abnormally.

COMMAREA

Communication area. An area that is used to pass data between tasks that communicate with a given terminal. The area can also be used to pass data between programs within a task.

conversational transaction

One in which dialog with the user (typically a SEND/RECEIVE sequence) is carried on while the transaction is active.

Customer Information Control System (CICS)

An IBM licensed program that enables transactions entered at remote terminals to be processed concurrently by user-written application programs. It includes facilities for building, using, and maintaining databases.

CWA

Common work area. An area within the task-shared pool that can be used by application programs for user data that needs to be accessed by any task in the system. This area is acquired during system initialization.

data file

Made up of one or more data blocks that contain record(s).

data segment

The file that contains the data portion of a cluster.

dataset

See VSAM dataset.

EBCDIC

Extended binary-coded decimal interchange code. A coded character set consisting of 8-bit coded characters used for information interchange among many data processing systems, data communicating systems, and associated equipment.

entry-sequenced dataset (ESDS)

A variable-length VSAM file that contains data records in entry sequential order.

environment variables

Variables that define the location of program files and applications. Both clients and the servers use environment variables.

exec interface block (EIB)

A control block associated with each task in a CICS program. The EIB contains information that is useful during the execution of an application program (such as the transaction identifiers) and information that is helpful when a dump is being used to debug a program.

extrapartition queue

Sequential file containing all data written to a queue identified in the DCT -Extrapartition Destinations screen. The file is opened with the record format and length specified in the entry.

File Control Table (FCT)

Sun MTP table that contains information about VSAM data files accessed by Sun MTP application programs. Associated with each file is a set of characteristics, which are used by Sun MTP command routines to validate and execute commands issued by application programs.

index files

Contains key pointers that are made up of a block number and the highest key on that block. The keys point to records.

job control language (JCL)

A control language used to identify a job to an operating system and to describe the job's requirements.

key-sequenced dataset (KSDS)

An indexed VSAM file of variable-length records that are referenced by keys.

man page

Use the man command to display usage information about a command. For example, to display information about the grep command, type man grep at the prompt.

make facility

A utility used to rebuild a Sun MTP system.

Native Recovery File System (NRFS)

A recovery method supported by Sun MTP that uses a raw disk partition to store recovery information.

Program Control Table (PCT)

Sun MTP table that contains control information used by Sun MTP to identify and initialize transactions.

Program List Table (PLT)

Sun MTP table that contains program names that are initiated automatically by Sun MTP on system start-up, user start-up or system shutdown.

region

See Sun MTP region.

relative-record dataset (RRDS)

A VSAM dataset whose records are retrieved by the number of the position they occupy in the dataset.

segment

One portion of a spanned file. See spanned file.

spanned files

Files that are segmented across multiple file systems.

SQL

Structured Query Language. A relational database language used to access and update sets of information.

Sun Mainframe Batch Manager software (Sun MBM)

A batch manager product that provides a facility for executing batch jobs in a controlled environment. Sun MBM processes the batch production workload, scheduling jobs by the parameters assigned, such as start time, maximum number of batch processes and job priority.

Sun Mainframe Transaction Processing software (Sun MTP)

A user application that uses facilities, such as interprocess communications services, sockets, and COBOL or other languages for application execution. All components of Sun MTP, except for clients, are started by the main server process, unikixmain.

Sun MTP region

A set of processes, resources, and environment variables that define separate applications on a system.

syncpoint

A logical point in execution of an application program where the changes made to the databases by the program are consistent and complete and can be committed to the database. The output, which has been held up to that point, is sent to its destination(s), the input is removed from the message queues, and the database updates are made available to other applications. When a program terminates abnormally, recovery and restart facilities do not back out updates prior to the last completed syncpoint.

Systems Network Architecture (SNA)

The logical structure, formats, protocols and operational sequences for transmitting information units through, and controlling the configuration and operation of networks.

Table Manager

Sun MTP facility that you use to define a region's resources in the Sun MTP tables.

TCP/IP

A suite of network protocols on which the Internet is based. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is a protocol that provides a reliable, full-duplex data stream. Internet Protocol (IP) is a protocol that provides the packet delivery services for TCP. The TCP protocol interacts with the IP, not the user process.

TCTUA

Terminal User Area. Used to pass data between transactions associated with a terminal.

Terminal Control Table (TCT)

Sun MTP table that contains identifying information for terminals, printers and remote system connections.

Temporary Storage Table (TST)

Sun MTP table that defines the storage and recovery of local and remote temporary storage queues.

TN3270 protocol

An extension of the traditional TCP/IP Telnet protocol that enables non-ASCII, block mode devices, such as IBM-3270s, and applications, such as Sun MTP, to communicate over TCP/IP. Also includes TN3270E.

TN3270 server

Enables Sun MTP to support 3270 emulators running on PCs, Macintosh, and UNIX systems using the TCP/IP - TN3270 protocol. Also supports TN3270E.

trace facility

Creates trace entries in memory that are accessed by using the kixdump command. Used for debugging purposes.

unikixmain server

The Sun MTP main server process.

unikixrc.cfg file

Resource file that contains information about the unikixdcl, unikixqm and unikixtnemux Servers. At startup, the Sun MTP Communications Manager reads the unikixrc.cfg file and starts the appropriate servers.

Virtual Storage Access Method (VSAM)

A method of accessing records by the various access methods:

ESDS, entry-sequenced dataset, records recorded and accessed sequentially

RRDS, relative-record dataset, records retrieved by the number of the position they occupy in the dataset

KSDS, key-sequenced dataset, records retrieved by their index or key

VSAM cluster

The highest order of naming in the VSAM structure. The name of the cluster is the primary access name. The cluster also includes the data definition, the index definition and any secondary indices.

VSAM Configuration Table (VCT)

Control table that defines the basic Sun MTP configuration parameters.

VSAM dataset

A named collection of related data organized, stored and accessed according to VSAM rules.