System Startup, Configuration, and Shutdown Reference Manual (32650-90892)

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preventive maintenance (PM) The regular housecleaning chores performed to keep the
system from suffering performance degradation and to prevent problems from developing
on the system.
primary boot path The path used to boot the system from disk-resident software.
priority request The use of the optional parameter ;HIPRI in the HELLO and JOB
commands. This capability, granted to system supervisors and system managers, allows a
job to be dispatched or a session to be initiated, overriding the current jobfence or
execution limit.
private volumes MPE V/E removable disk volumes that are not included in the system
I/O configuration table and, therefore, must be brought online with an explicit LMOUNT
command. To access a private volume, a user's logon group and account must be assigned
to a specific volume set with the VS parameter of the ALTGROUP and ALTACCT commands.
Private volumes are nonsystem domain devices. Equivalent to MPE/iX mountable or
nonsystem volumes.
privileged mode capability (PM capability) A capability assigned to accounts, groups,
or users allowing unrestricted memory access, access to privileged CPU instructions, and
the ability to call privileged procedures.
process The unique execution of a program or procedure by a particular user at a
particular time. If several users execute the same program, each is a separate process.
Similarly, if the same user runs several programs, each execution is also considered a
distinct process.
process handling capability (PH capability) A capability optionally assigned to
accounts, groups, and users allowing a currently executing process to create other
processes. PH capability also allows process suspension, interprocess communication, and
process deletion. Since the proliferation of processes results in heavy system resource
usage, PH capability is typically restricted to only a few users.
process identification number (PIN) A number assigned to a process by MPE when
the process is created. It is used internally by MPE (in the process control block (PCB)
table) and during requests for system resources at the console (when the operator responds
to requests by referencing the PIN in the REPLY command).
processor dependent code (PDC) An MPE/iX hardware routine to read and initialize
the I/O paths used for booting or rebooting the system.
program A sequence of instructions that tells the computer how to perform a specific
task.
programmatic sessions capability (PS capability) A capability allowing a user to
execute the STARTSESS command and to call the STARTSESS and ABORTSESS intrinsics.
prompt The character(s) displayed at the terminal screen indicating that the system is
ready for a command. The default MPE command interpreter's prompt is a colon (:). Other
subsystems have different prompts.