Glossary

This glossary defines technical terms and abbreviations used in SAN File System documentation. If you do not find the term you are looking for, refer to the index of the appropriate DFSMS manual or view the Glossary of Computing Terms located at: http://www.ibm.com/ibm/terminology/.

This glossary includes terms and definitions from:

This glossary uses the following cross-reference forms:

See
This refers the reader to one of two kinds of related information:
  • A term that is the expanded form of an abbreviation or acronym. This expanded form of the term contains the full definition.
  • A synonym or more preferred term
See also
This refers the reader to one or more related terms.
ACLI
See administrative command-line interface (ACLI).
administrative command-line interface (ACLI)
A command-line interface used to administer all aspects of the SAN File System. The ACLI runs on all engines that host metadata servers and the administrative server.
administrative log
A log that maintains a history of routine activities and error conditions that are generated by the administrative servers.
administrative server
For SAN File System, a set of servlets running within a customized instance of WebSphere® Application Server that handles all SAN File System administrative requests from the SAN File System console. See also SAN File System console.
alert
A message or other indication that identifies a problem or an impending problem.
audit log
A log that maintains the history of all commands that modify metadata or configuration data and significant operations, including commands that would have made a change but failed to do so.
CIFS
See Common Internet File System.
CIM
See Common Information Model.
CIM client application
A storage management program that initiates CIM requests to the administrative agent for the device.
CIM namespace
The scope within which a CIM schema applies.
CIM object manager (CIMOM)
The common conceptual framework for data management that receives, validates, and authenticates the CIM requests from the client application and then directs the requests to the appropriate component or device provider.
CIMOM
See CIM object manager.
client
For SAN File System, a client is a system that can access the SAN File System. These clients act as servers to a broader clientele, providing Network File System or Common Internet File System access to the global namespace or hosting applications (such as database servers or Web-hosting services that use multiple servers).
CLI
See Administrative command-line interface.
client state manager (CSM)
A component of the client kernel that provides protocol support for the client.
cluster
A group of metadata servers that is managed as a set and presents a single point of control for configuration and service activity.
cluster log
A log that maintains a history of routine activities and error conditions that are generated by all metadata servers in the cluster.
cluster state
A status condition of the cluster. Cluster states can be inactive (Not running or Forming), active (Online, Offline, Partly quiescent, or Fully quiescent) or unknown. See also Forming, Fully quiescent, Not running, Offline, Online, and Partly quiescent.
Common Information Model (CIM)
A set of standards from the Distributed Management Task Force Inc. (DMTF). CIM provides a conceptual framework for storage management and an open approach to the design and implementation of storage systems, applications, databases, networks, and devices.
Common Internet File System (CIFS)
A protocol that enables collaboration on the Internet by defining a remote file-access protocol that is compatible with the way applications already share data on local disks and network file servers.
container
See fileset.
coordinated universal time (UTC)
The time scale, based on the System International (SI) second, as defined and recommended by the Comitb Consultatif International de la Radio (CCIR) and maintained (using an atomic clock) by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM).
CSM
See client state manager.
default user storage pool
A storage pool that stores file data that SAN File System has not assigned (using the active policy) to a user storage pool, as well as file data that is assigned directly to this storage pool. There is only one default user storage pool; however, you can assign any user storage pool as the default storage pool. See also user storage pool
dynamic fileset
A fileset that is dynamically assigned to a metadata server by SAN File System.
engine
The hardware unit that hosts the software for the metadata server.
event log
A log that maintains a history of event messages issued by all metadata servers in the cluster. It is a subset of the cluster log.
IBM® Term: A log that contains information about events for a particular system or group, for a particular metric, or for all the events that are associated with a specific monitor.
failover
The automatic recovery of resources in the event of a network outage, or failure of the hardware or software.
file metadata
Information about the file, such as owner, permission, and physical location. This information is stored in the system storage pool.
file-management rule
A rule that controls into what storage pool SAN File System moves a file in the global namespace or whether to delete a file. See also rule and global namespace.
file-placement rule
A rule that controls in what storage pool SAN File System places files in the global namespace. See also rule and global namespace.
fileset
A hierarchical grouping of files managed as a unit for balancing workload across a cluster.
FlashCopy® image
A space-efficient image of the contents of part of the SAN File System at a particular moment.
forming
A status condition where the cluster has a master and is in the process of forming. This state is always the initial one whenever a cluster is newly formed.
fully quiescent
A status condition that cuts off all client communication with the cluster.
global fileset
The root fileset in the global namespace.
global namespace
A single file system that provides complete, shared access to both Windows® and UNIX® clients in the same environment.
ID
See identifier.
initializing
A status condition during which a metadata server or the entire cluster is set up for the first time.
lease
The amount of time that a client can hold a lock.
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
An open protocol that uses TCP/IP to provide access to directories that support an X.500 model and that does not incur the resource requirements of the more complex X.500 Directory Access Protocol (DAP). For example, LDAP can be used to locate people, organizations, and other resources in an Internet or intranet directory.
lock
A restriction that allows clients to have exclusive access to files. Types of locks include data locks, session locks, and range locks.
logical unit (LU)
In open systems, a logical disk drive.
logical unit number (LUN)
In the small computer system interface (SCSI) protocol, a unique number used on a SCSI bus to enable it to differentiate between up to sixteen separate devices per SCSI ID address, each of which is a logical unit.
LU
See logical unit.
LUN
See logical unit number.
managed object format (MOF)
A compiled language for defining classes and instances. A MOF compiler offers a textual means of adding data to the CIM Object Manager repository. MOF eliminates the need to write code, thus providing a simple and fast technique for modifying the CIM Object Manager repository. (D)
master console
In a system with multiple consoles, the basic console used for communication between the operator and the system.
master metadata server
In SAN File System, the metadata server in a cluster that is responsible for physical-space allocation.
master volume
The first volume assigned to the system storage pool that stores the most critical system metadata.
metadata
The data that describes the characteristics of stored data; descriptive data.
metadata server
In SAN File System, a server that offloads the metadata processing from the data-storage environment to improve SAN performance. An instance of the SAN File System runs on each engine, and together the metadata servers form a cluster. See also cluster.
metadata server log
A log that maintains a history of routine activities and error conditions that are generated by a metadata server.
MOF
See managed object format.
Network File System (NFS)
A protocol, developed by Sun Microsystems, Incorporated, that allows any host in a network to mount another host's file directories. After a file directory is mounted, it appears to reside on the local host.
not running
A condition in which the cluster cannot perform any functions because the master metadata server has not completed the start up procedure to the point where the cluster is able to service filesets or perform administration functions.
A status condition where the metadata server is not running and cannot perform any functions.
OBDC
See one-button data collection.
Offline
A status condition during which clients are not being serviced and the cluster is responding only to administrative requests.
one-button data collection
A utility that gathers data for diagnosing errors or failures associated with metadata servers and clients. It is intended primarily for first-failure data-capture capabilities useful for investigating problems upon their initial occurrence, without requiring problem recreation or subsequent tracing.
online
A status condition that indicates the normal operational state for the cluster.
partly quiescent
A status condition that allows existing metadata activity and client communication to continue on the cluster, but prohibits new communication.
policy
A list of rules that define placement or management of files. Several policies can be defined within the configuration, but only one policy is active at one time. See also file-placement rule and file-management rule.
pool
See storage pool.
primary administrative server
The administrative server that runs on the same engine as the master metadata server. It processes all administrative requests that are initiated from the SAN File System console and those requests initiated from the ACLI that are logged into the master metadata server.
quota
A size limitation, such as the limit on the amount of disk space or size of a fileset.
remote access
A serviceability feature that enables remote IBM service personnel to access the system to assist in diagnosing and resolving problems.
Remote Supervisor Adapter II (RSA II)
A high-performance PCI adapter that provides remote access to and control of xSeries servers, including remote management independent of server status, remote control of hardware and operating systems, and remote updates.
rogue metadata server
A metadata server that is not reachable from the cluster, fails to respond to requests, and might be running or have latent queued I/O.
root squashing
The process of a root or Administrator user logging into a client that is not a privileged client.
rule
The lines within a policy that specify which actions will occur when certain conditions are met. Conditions include attributes about an object (file name, type or extension, dates, owner, and groups) and the fileset name associated with the object.
SAN File System console
A Web user interface used to monitor and control the SAN File System remotely by using any standard Web browser.
secondary administrative server
The administrative server that runs on the same engine as a subordinate metadata server and processes only those administrative requests that are initiated from the administrative command-line interface (CLI) that is logged into that subordinate metadata server.
security log
A log that maintains a history of administrator login activity generated by the administrative server.
service alert
A serviceability feature that automatically notifies the IBM Support Center about a problem that occurred.
service location protocol
A directory service that the CIM client application calls to locate the CIMOM.
shutdown
A status condition that describes when the cluster is shut down as intended.
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
In the Internet suite of protocols, a network management protocol that is used to monitor routers and attached networks. SNMP is an application-layer protocol. Information on devices managed is defined and stored in the application's Management Information Base (MIB).
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) trap
In the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), a message sent by a managed node (agent function) to a management station to report an exception condition. See also simple network management protocol.
SLP
See service location protocol.
spare metadata server
An idle metadata server that has no statically assigned filesets. It is used for failover to take on the workload of another metadata sever that goes off-line.
starting
A status condition when a metadata server is starting as designed but is not ready to accept connections from clients.
static fileset
A fileset that is manually assigned to a specific metadata server by the administrator.
storage pool
A named set of storage volumes that is the destination for storing client data.
system metadata
Information that is create and managed by the metadata server, such as information about filesets, storage pools, volumes and policies. This information is stored in the system storage pool.
system storage pool
A storage pool that contains the system metadata (system and file attributes, configuration information, and metadata server state) that is accessible to all metadata servers in the cluster. There is only one system storage pool. See also metadata server.
trace log
A log that maintains of history of trace activity on the metadata server.
user storage pool
An optional storage pool that contains blocks of data that compose the files that are created by SAN File System clients. See also storage pool and default user storage pool.
volume
A labeled logical unit, which can be a physical device or a logical device. For SAN File System, there is a one to one relationship between volumes and LUNs. See also logical unit number.
UTC
See coordinated universal time
worldwide node name
A unique 64-bit identifier for a host containing a fibre-channel port. See also worldwide port name.
worldwide port name
A unique 64-bit identifier associated with a fibre-channel adapter port. The WWPN is assigned in an implementation-independent and protocol-independent manner.
WWNN
See worldwide node name
WWPN
See worldwide port name

Parent topic: Reference

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