MSI

Medium-scale integration.

multiprocessing

A processing method that replicates the sequential computer and interconnects the col- lection so that each processor can execute the same or a different program at the same time.

must be one (MBO)

A field that must be supplied as one.

must be zero (MBZ)

A field that is reserved and must be supplied as zero. If examined, it must be assumed to be UNDEFINED.

NaN

Not-a-Number. An IEEE floating-point bit pattern that represents something other than a number. This comes in two forms: signaling NaNs (for Alpha, those with an initial fraction bit of 0) and quiet NaNs (for Alpha, those with an initial fraction bit of 1).

NATURALLY ALIGNED

See ALIGNED.

NATURALLY ALIGNED data

Data stored in memory such that the address of the data is evenly divisible by the size of the data in bytes. For example, an ALIGNED longword is stored such that the address of the longword is evenly divisible by 4.

NMOS

N-type metal-oxide semiconductor.

NVRAM

Nonvolatile random-access memory.

OBL

Observability linear feedback shift register.

octaword

Sixteen contiguous bytes starting on an arbitrary byte boundary. The bits are numbered from right to left, 0 through 127.

OpenVMS Alpha operating system

The version of the open VMS operating system for Alpha platforms.

operand

The data or register upon which an operation is performed.

Alpha 21264/EV67 Hardware Reference Manual

Glossary–11

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Compaq 21264, EV67 specifications Msi, Naturally Aligned, Nmos, Nvram, Obl