![[About]](/inf-html/about.gif)
![[Toc]](/inf-html/toc.gif)
![[Index]](/inf-html/idx.gif)
0.9b (c) 1995 Peter Childs 0.9b (c) 1995 Peter Childs
The following terms are often used in conjunction with OS/2:
Term Definition
APAR A bug fix which has been (or will be) created by IBM to
address a very specific problem. (Example: "Please
send me APAR 09761.")
CID "Configuration/Installation/Distribution": a term
usually used to refer to the ability to install an
operating system or application remotely, over a
network. (Example: "IBM TCP/IP 2.0 for OS/2 is now
CID-enabled.") See (4.2) Installing from Drive B.
CSD "Corrective Service Diskette(s)": see (4.6) Corrective
Service Diskettes.
DASD "Direct Access Storage Device": disk space (most
commonly a hard disk drive). (Example: "I do not have
enough DASD for this new application.")
DMA "Direct Memory Access": circuitry provided on all PCs
to allow peripherals (such as disk controllers) to
transfer data to memory directly, without the
assistance of the computer's processor. Appropriate
use of DMA can often help to improve overall system
performance.
EA "Extended Attribute": up to 64K of assorted data stored
with any file under OS/2. Such data may include file
type (e.g. "Plain Text"), icons, comments, and other
information which is best left outside the file itself.
Only OS/2 applications can create and modify extended
attributes.
ES "Extended Services": see (3.10) Extended Services.
FAT "File Allocation Table": the disk format introduced by
DOS. See HPFS.
GA "General Availability": available for purchase as a
shrinkwrapped product from IBM and its dealers.
HPFS "High Performance File System": see (1.5) High
Performance File System.
IFS {{ "Installable File System": refers to an OS/2 driver
used to manage a file system type. Available IFSes
include NFS (used with TCP/IP networks), CD-ROM, HPFS,
and HPFS386 (supplied with IBM LAN Server Advanced). }}
IPL "Initial Program Load": starting a PC's operating
system (i.e. booting or rebooting). (Example: "Please
IPL your system now.") See also RIPL.
LA "Limited Availability": available only from IBM to
certain customers.
multitasking Running two or more applications "simultaneously,"
dividing the computer processor's attention among them.
(In fact, the two or more applications only appear to
run simultaneously because the processor switches
between them rapidly.) Cooperative multitasking, such
as that found in Microsoft Windows and Macintosh System
7, requires that each application be written so as to
"surrender" the computer's processor at regular
intervals so that it can devote attention to other
running applications. If one application for some
reason refuses to yield the processor, all other
applications stop running. Preemptive multitasking, as
found in OS/2 and Unix, for example, leaves the
operating system in charge of delegating processor time
to each running application. The amount of attention
given depends on the operating system's scheduler, the
logic which assesses (and perhaps adjusts) the
priorities of various tasks and assigns processor
attention accordingly.
multithreading An operating system's ability to manage what are
sometimes called lightweight processes, namely subtasks
which are spawned by applications. For example, a word
processor may be written so that any printing operation
is put in a separate thread. This thread is then run
alongside the word processor itself, in the background,
so that control returns immediately to the user of the
word processor. See multitasking.
PM "Presentation Manager": the underlying services used by
programmers and the Workplace Shell (see WPS) to
provide windows, scroll bars, dialog boxes, and other
essential interface elements.
PMR "Problem Management Record": a number assigned by IBM
to track a customer-reported problem. (Example: "I
have opened PMR Number 9X534; please reference this
number if you call again.")
RIPL "Remote Initial Program Load": the capability to boot
(start) a PC (load its operating system) over a
network. See IPL.
seamless Refers to the ability to run Windows applications
alongside OS/2 and DOS applications on the Workplace
Shell (see WPS) desktop as opposed to the full screen
Win-OS/2 desktop. (Example: "Will this video driver
support seamless Windows?")
SMP "Symmetric Multiprocessing": a set of technologies in
which two or more computer processors (CPUs) are
managed by one operating system to provide greater
computing power to applications. With SMP, processors
are treated more or less equally (with applications
able to run on any or perhaps all processors in the
system, interchangeably, at the operating system's
discretion). Simple MP usually involves assigning each
processor to a fixed task (such as managing the file
system), reserving the single main CPU for general
tasks. OS/2 currently supports so-called HMP (Hybrid
Multiprocessing), a version of MP which provides some
elements of SMP, using add-on IBM software called MP/2.
OS/2 SMP is slated for release in mid 1994.
SP "Service Pak": see CSD. Sometimes numbered (e.g. "SP
2") to refer to a particular Service Pak.
Win-OS/2 IBM's customized version of Windows, based on
Microsoft's own source code, which provides
compatibility with Windows applications under OS/2.
WPS "Workplace Shell": OS/2's most commonly used user
interface which provides icons, folders, drag-and-drop
configuration, settings notebooks, and other features
necessary for user interaction with the operating
system and its applications.
Related information:
(1.5) High Performance File System (HPFS) (3.10) Extended Services (4.2) Installing from Drive B (4.6) Corrective Service Diskettes
Inf-HTML End Run - Successful