AT&T IPC-1600 manual Glossary, Bios

Glossary

ACU

address

ASCII Code

BIOS

boot

boot block

boot program buffer

character device

configuration

controller

An Automatic Calling Unit is a device used to make calls (dial) on a telephone network.

A number, label, or name that indicates the location of information in the computer’s memory.

American Standard Code for Information Interchange—An 8-bit code that is used when transmitting data between computers or between a computer and a terminal.

Basic Input/Output System provides a standardized software/device communications interface.

To start the operating system, so called because the kernel must bootstrap itself from secondary storage into an empty machine. No login [3] or process persists across a boot.

The first block of a file system [1], which is reserved for a booting program.

Loads the operating system into core.

1.A staging area for input/output where arbitrary-length transactions are collected into convenient units for system operations; the file system [3] uses buffers, as does stdio.

2.To use buffers.

A device upon which a file system [1] cannot be mounted, such as a terminal or the null device.

The arrangement of the software or hardware of a system, peripheral, or network as defined by the nature, number, and chief characteristics of its functional units.

A device that directs the transmission of data over the data links of a network.

GLOSSARY GL-1