P

pacing
In SNA, a technique by which a receiving component controls the rate of transmission of a sending component to prevent overrun or congestion.
page
(1) A fixed-length block of instructions, data, or both that has a virtual address and is transferred as a unit between real storage and auxiliary storage. The block may exist in processor storage or on disk.
(2) The information that can be displayed at one time on the screen of a display device or in a window.
pageable link pack area (PLPA)
An element of MVS/ESA virtual storage. This area contains supervisor call routines, access methods, and other read-only system programs along with read-only reenterable user programs selected by an installation to be shared among users of the system. Optional functions or devices selected by an installation during system generation add additional modules to the PLPA. See also link pack area (LPA) and modified link pack area (MLPA).
page allocation map (PAM)
A map containing information used by the storage domain to manage each of its five dynamic storage areas (DSAs).
page chaining
A facility available under full-function BMS. The terminal operator invokes a transaction that communicates with the terminal in the normal way. This invoked transaction might, in turn, build pages that are (if the SEND PAGE command in the invoked transaction specified RETAIN or RELEASE) chained to the pages built by the original transaction. The operator can then retrieve pages for either transaction, for example, for comparison.
page control area (PCA)
A 4-byte area placed by BMS at the end of the device-dependent data stream returned to the application.
page fault
A program interruption that occurs when an active page refers to a page that is not in memory.
page overflow
A condition that occurs when the next BMS map or block of text does not fit on the current page of the target terminal.
paging
The process of transferring instructions, data, or pages between real storage and external page storage.
PAM
See page allocation map (PAM).
PAPL
See participant adapter parameter list (PAPL).
parallel activity
An activity that is being executed at the same time as another, within the same process instance. During the time that the two activities are both running, they are said to be executing in parallel.
parallel session
A single intersystem link that can carry multiple independent sessions. Parallel sessions are supported by CICS intersystem communication (ISC).
Parallel Sysplex
An MVS sysplex where all the MVS images are linked through a coupling facility.
parameter
(1) A variable that is given a constant value for a specified application and that may denote the application.
(2) Data passed between programs or procedures, or presented to a program at startup
parameter manager domain
Major component of CICS providing a facility to inform CICS domains of system parameters during CICS initialization. These parameters are specified in the system initialization table (SIT), as temporary override parameters read from the SYSIN data stream or specified interactively at the system console. It also provides an operator correction facility for incorrectly specified system initialization parameter keywords early in CICS initialization.
parent activity
An activity that starts another activity, its child.
participant adapter parameter list (PAPL)
An area in DRA storage used for communication between CICS and DRA. The PAPL holds CICS request codes and DRA return codes.
partition
(1) In VSE, a division of the virtual address area that is available for program execution.
(2) In BMS, an addressable subset of a display device's internal resources, consisting of a fixed part of the device's screen, and a fixed part of its internal storage. See also presentation space, screen, viewport.
partition balancing, dynamic
In CICS/VSE, A VSE facility that allows the user to specify that two or more or all partitions of the system should receive about the same amount of time on the processor.
partition dump
An unformatted dump of the entire CICS partition. It is produced by CICS from within the partition without operating system assistance.
partitioned data set (PDS)
In an z/OS environment, a data set in direct-access storage that is divided into partitions, which are called members. Each partition can contain a program, part of a program, or data. See also sequential data set.
partitioned data set extended (PDSE)
A system-managed data set that contains an indexed directory and members that are similar to the directory and members of partitioned data sets. See also library.
partition set
In BMS, a group of partitions designed to share the same screen. CICS must load the whole partition set onto a terminal before it can communicate with any of the partitions.
partition specification table (PST)
An IMS control block that contains information about a dependent region. In a CICS-DBCTL environment, the dependent region is CICS.
partner
In distributed processing, any one of the separate communicating parts of an application. In CICS Transaction Server intercommunication, a transaction communicating with a remote transaction or system. A CICS program using the SAA communications interface requires a local PARTNER resource definition for its remote partner. An EXEC CICS INQUIRE|SET PARTNER command can query or change the status of a partner. In FEPI this is equivalent to back-end system.
partner logical unit (partner LU)
In SNA, one of an LU pair between which a session is established.
PassTicket
In RACF secured sign-on, a dynamically generated, random, one-time-use, password substitute that a workstation or other client can use to sign on to the host rather than sending a RACF password across the network.
path
(1) In an online IMS system, the route a message takes from the time it is originated through processing; in a multisystem environment, the route can include more than one IMS system.
(2) In DL/I, the chain of segments within a record that leads to the currently-retrieved segment. The formal path contains only one segment occurrence from each level, from the root down to the segment for which the path exists.
path information unit (PIU)
In VTAM, data sent by the host according to the definition of the VPACING parameter that determines how many messages can be sent in a session to the VTAM application by another VTAM logical unit without requiring that an acknowledgement be sent.
pathlength
The number of instructions executed, for example, per task.
PCA
See page control area (PCA).
PCB
See program communication block (PCB).
PCP
See program control program (PCP).
PDI
See primary delay interval (PDI).
PDIR
See PSB directory (PDIR).
PDS
See partitioned data set (PDS).
PDSE
See partitioned data set extended (PDSE).
peer-to-peer
A form of distributed processing, in which the front-end and back-end of a conversation switch control between themselves. It is communication between equals.
PEM requester
Any APPC device or node capable of initiating a conversation with the architected signon transaction.
PEM server
Any APPC LU that supports the receive side of APPC PEM; that is, it can attach, but not initiate, the signon transaction.
PEP
See program error program (PEP).
performance
A major factor in measuring system productivity. Performance is determined by a combination of throughput, response time, and availability.
performance analysis
The use of one or more performance tools to investigate the reasons for performance deterioration.
performance class data
Detailed transaction-level monitoring data, which includes; Task identification information, resource request counts, CPU and dispatch times, and time spent waiting for I/O. Monitoring of performance (that is, the collection of performance class data) is activated by the MNPER system initialization parameter in CICS Transaction Server or by the MONITOR system initialization parameter in CICS/VSE. See also monitoring record.
performance data section
One of the CICS data sections in a CICS monitoring record. It consists of a string of field connectors followed by one or more performance data records.
performance evaluation
The determination of how well a specific system is meeting or may be expected to meet specific processing requirements at specific interfaces. Performance evaluation, by determining such factors as throughput rate, turnaround time, and constrained resources, can provide important inputs and data for the performance improvement process.
performance improvement
The increase of the average throughput rate and operational capability, or the reduction of turnaround time.
persistent reusable JVM
The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that is created by the IBM Software Developer Kit for z/OS, Java 2 Technology Edition, Version 1.4.2. It is a reusable JVM that includes IBM optimizations for transaction processing, which are the use of the shared class cache (the JVMSet) and resettability.
persistent session
(1) A session that remains active even though there is no activity on the session for a specified period of time.
(2) An LU-LU session that VTAM retains after the failure of a VTAM application program. Following the application program's recovery, the application program restores or terminates the session.
persistent verification (PV)
The retention of a sign-on from a remote system across multiple conversations until it is no longer needed. In CICS Transaction Server, the PVDELAY system initialization parameter defines how long entries can remain in the signed-on-from list relating to a connection for which persistent verification is specified.
PF key
See program function key (PF key).
physical database
An ordered set of physical database records.
physical map
A set of instructions telling BMS how to format a display for a given device. BMS does this by imbedding control characters in the data stream.
physical partition
Part of a central processing complex (CPC) that operates as a CPC in its own right, with its own copy of the operating system.
physical recovery
Restoring a facility to its status at the time of failure.
PI
See program isolation (PI).
PIP
See program initialization parameters (PIP).
pipe
A one-way communication path between a sending process and a receiving process.
PIU
See path information unit (PIU).
planned takeover
In XRF, a planned shutdown of the active system, and takeover by the alternate system, for maintenance or operational reasons.
PlexManager
A service utility that can be used to manage the communication connections between multiple coordinating address spaces (CASs) and between a CAS and associated CICSPlex SM address spaces (CMASs) and CICSplexes.
PL/I
A programming language designed for use in a wide range of commercial and scientific computer applications.
PLPA
See pageable link pack area (PLPA).
PLT
See program list table (PLT).
PLU
See primary logical unit (PLU).
pointer
A variable containing an address. It is used in conjunction with a variable whose data description is applied to the data at the location addressed by the pointer variable. See based addressing.
polling
The process whereby stations are invited, one at a time, to transmit. The polling process usually involves the sequential interrogation of several data stations.
pool
In the CICS/ESA Front End Programming Interface (FEPI), a collection of nodes and targets.
pool thread
A thread which is used by the CICS DB2 attachment facility for transactions and commands that do not use an entry thread or a command thread.
POSIT
A keyword in the ICHERCDE macro that determines the position of a resource class in the RACF class descriptor table (CDT). All classes with the same POSIT value are controlled together by the SETROPTS command.
post-takeover
The XRF phase, immediately following takeover, when the new active CICS system does not have an alternate system.
predicate
A logical expression, typically involving sub-events , used to define a composite event. When the predicate becomes true, the composite event fires.
prefixed save area (PSA)
An element of MVS/ESA virtual storage which contains processor-dependent status information. See MVS storage for more information.
prefixing
Specifying at system initialization that you want CICS to prefix the resource names that it passes to RACF for authorization with the RACF userid under which the CICS region is running.
pregenerated system
A CICS system distributed in a form that has already undergone the system generation process.
prepare
The first phase of a two-phase commit process in which all participants are requested to prepare for commit.
presentation logic
The part of a distributed application that is concerned with the user interface of the application. See business logic.
presentation space
A portion of the device's buffer storage, allocated to a partition, that contains only display data that CICS sends to that partition.
preset terminal security
When a CICS region is started, the signing on of selected terminals as users whose userids are the terminal identifiers. Persons using these terminals have the authorizations given to the terminals.
primary delay interval (PDI)
The interval that must elapse between the apparent loss of surveillance signal from the alternate system and any reaction by the active system. This interval is set by the PDI system initialization parameter and, in CICS/VSE, defaults to 30 seconds. See the CICS Transaction Server System Definition Guide or the CICS/VSE System Definition and Operations Guide for more information.
primary index
In VSAM, the set of primary keys that provide the standard path for access to the data set.
primary key
In each record of a VSAM KSDS, an identifying field. The key of each record is a field in a predefined position within the record. Each key must be unique in the data set.
primary logical unit (PLU)
In SNA, the logical unit (LU) that sends the bind command to activate a session with its partner LU. See also secondary logical unit (SLU).
primary mode
If a program runs in primary mode, the system resolves all addresses within the current (primary) address space. See also AR (access register) mode. See also address space control (ASC) mode.
principal facility
The terminal or logical unit that is connected to a transaction at its initiation. See also alternate facility.
priority
A rank assigned to a task that determines its precedence in receiving system resources.
private area
In CICS Transaction Server, a major element of MVS/ESA virtual storage below the 16MB line. It contains the local system queue area (LSQA), scheduler work area, subpools 229 and 230, a 16KB system region area, and a private user region for running programs and storing data. See The CICS private area for more information. This area is duplicated (except for the 16KB system region area) above the 16MB line as the extended private area.
private partition
In VSE, a partition allocated for the execution of a specific program or application program. Storage in a private partition is not addressable by programs running in other virtual address spaces. See also shared partition.
problem determination
The process of determining the source of a problem; for example, a program component, machine failure, telecommunication facilities, user or contractor-installed programs or equipment, environmental failure such as a power loss, or user error.
process
In Business Transaction Services (BTS), a collection of one or more activities. A process is the largest unit that CICS business transaction services can work with, and has a unique name by which it can be referenced and invoked. Typically, a process is an instance of a business transaction.
process container
A data-container associated with a process. Process containers can be read by all the activities that make up the process. Note that they are not the same as the root activity's containers.
processing intent
The attribute defined in the PSB which specifies the program's database access privileges such as insert, delete, and replace.
processing thread
A connection between an application program and the CICSPlex SM API. A program can establish multiple processing threads, but each one is considered a unique API user; no resources can be shared across the boundary of a thread.
processor
In a computer, a functional unit that interprets and executes instructions. A processor consists of at least an instruction control unit and an arithmetic and logic unit.
Processor Resource/Systems Manager (PR/SM)
The feature that allows the processor to use several MVS images simultaneously and provides logical partitioning capability. See also multi-MVS environment.
process-type
The category to which a process belongs. All the activities in a process inherit the same process-type attribute. Categorizing processes makes it easier to find a particular process or activity - the BTS browsing commands allow filtering by process-type.
product distribution tape
Tape on which CICS Transaction Server or CICS/VSE is supplied to users as a pregenerated system.
profile
(1) Data that describes the characteristics of a user, group, program, device, or remote location. A Tivoli application specifies the template for its profiles, which includes information about the resources that the Tivoli application can manage.
(2) In CICS, a set of options specified in a resource definition that can be invoked by a transaction definition. Profiles control the interactions between the transaction and terminals or logical units.
program check
A condition that occurs when programming errors are detected by a processor during execution.
program communication block (PCB)
DL/I or IMS control block that describes an application program's interface to a DL/I or IMS database or, additionally, for message processing and batch message processing programs, to the source and destination of messages. See also program specification block (PSB).
program compression
An operation performed by program control to relieve space in the DSA during a short-on-storage condition. The PPT is searched to identify programs that have been dynamically loaded and are currently not in use. If a program is not in use, the space it occupied is reclaimed. See also short-on-storage (SOS).
program control program (PCP)
The CICS program that manages CICS application programs.
program error program (PEP)
A user-replaceable program containing code to obtain program addressability, access the COMMAREA, and return control to the CICS abnormal condition program (DFHACP) through an EXEC CICS RETURN command. For programming information, see Program Error Program.
program function key (PF key)
On a keyboard, a key that passes a signal to a program to call for a particular operation.
program initialization parameters (PIP)
In IBM's Systems Network Architecture, initialization information exchanged between two transaction programs belonging to the same logical unit.
program isolation (PI)
A DL/I or IMS facility that separates all the activity of an application program from any other active application program until that application program indicates, via a synchronization point, that the data it has modified or created is consistent and complete.
program library
See partitioned data set (PDS). See also sequential data set.
program list table (PLT)
CICS control table containing a list of programs. The programs in a PLT can be executed as a group during CICS startup or shutdown, and can be enabled and disabled as a group by a single CEMT transaction.
program loading
The use of MVS load under an MVS subtask or a VSE load under a VSE subtask to load programs into CICS storage.
programmable terminal
A user workstation that has computational capabilities.
programmable workstation
A workstation that has some degree of processing capability and allows the user to change its functions.
program manager domain
A CICS domain that provides support for the following: program control functions; transaction ABEND and condition handling; related functions such as invoking user-replaceable modules, global user exits, and task-related user exits; autoinstall for programs, map sets, and partition sets.
program specification block (PSB)
DL/I or IMS control block that describes databases and logical message destinations used by an application program. A PSB consists of one or more program communication blocks (PCBs). See also program communication block (PCB).
program status word (PSW)
An area in storage used to indicate the order in which instructions are executed, and to hold and indicate the status of the computer system.
program temporary fix (PTF)
For zSeries, iSeries, and pSeries products, a fix that is made available to all customers. A program temporary fix is tested by IBM. It contains a PTF record.
program update tape (PUT)
A tape that contains fixes (PTFs) for a particular product. PUTs are cumulative and are identified by number.
property set
In the CICS/ESA Front End Programming Interface (FEPI), the definition of the characteristics of a pool.
PR/SM
See processor resource/systems manager (PR/SM).
PSA
See prefixed save area (PSA).
PSB
See program specification block (PSB).
PSB directory (PDIR)
A list or directory of program specification blocks (PSBs) that define the use of databases by application programs for DL/I. It contains one entry for each PSB to be used during CICS execution, and is loaded during initialization." See the CICS Transaction Server System Definition Guide for more information.
pseudoconversational
(1) A type of CICS application design that appears to the user as a continuous conversation, but that consists internally of multiple tasks. See also conversation.
(2) In BTS, the way in which an activity can be reattached ("reactivated") when a predefined event occurs, in order to take the next in a set of processing steps. See also activation.
pseudorecovery token
A token consisting of eight decimal characters, which can be used in place of the recovery token in certain circumstances. For example, a pseudorecovery token is displayed when the status of an application thread is in-doubt. It is made shorter so that it is easier to note and enter, for example, in certain DBCTL commands. See also recovery token.
PST
See partition specification table (PST).
PSW
See program status word (PSW).
PTF
See program temporary fix (PTF).
publish
To bind a reference to the home of an enterprise bean in a namespace. The naming convention for the namespace is a concatenation of the JNDIPREFIX attribute of the CorbaServer and the name of the bean."
purge
The abending of a task by task control to alleviate a short-on-storage condition.
PUT
See program update tape (PUT)
PV
See persistent verification (PV).
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