Glossary

absolute OID

An object identifier (OID) that specifies a unique path to a managed object from the root of the OID tree.

Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1)

A formal notation used to define data types and encode data values. A language that describes the data structures that make up an abstract syntax. ITU-T (formerly CCITT) specification X.409 is equivalent to ASN.1. ASN.1 is used to define a management information base (MIB). ASN.1 is a common requirement of the SNMP and CMIP network management protocols.

agent

1) A component of a network management system that exchanges data about managed objects with a manager at a network management workstation. At a manager's request, agents provide a software interface to, and gather data about, managed resources. 2) In a two-phase commit syncpointing sequence (LU6.2 or MRO), a task that receives syncpoint requests from an initiator (a task that initiates syncpointing activity). 3) See SNMP agent.

agent-manager model

A model where a manager communicates with many distributed agents through a system management protocol.

alarm

A means of reporting that a managed object is in an abnormal state (that is, a managed object has passed a predefined threshold).

API

See application programming interface.

application programming interface (API)

1) The verbs and environment that exist at the application level to support a particular system software product. 2) A set of code that enables a developer to initiate and complete client/server requests within an application. 3) A set of calling conventions that define how to invoke a service.

architecture

The structure and interrelationship of components in a system or in an environment.

ASN.1

See Abstract Syntax Notation One.

atomic set

A behavior of SNMP agents that operates as follows: When an SNMP agent receives an SNMP Set request that contains more than one variable, the agent either sets all requested objects or sets none. This behavior is a requirement of the SNMP standard.

bandwidth

The transmission capacity of a computer or communications channel.

BEA Tuxedo

A robust middleware engine for developing and deploying business-critical client/server applications. It handles distributed transaction processing, application messaging, and the full complement of services necessary to build and run enterprise-wide applications.

client/server

1) A model used in distributed systems where one host acts as a system server, and the other host acts as a client. 2) A distribution model in which there are two types of applications: client applications that request that tasks be performed, and server applications that perform those tasks. 3) A programming model in which application programs are structured as clients or servers. A client program is an application program that requests services to be performed. A server program is an entity that dispatches service routines to satisfy requests from client programs. A service routine is an application program module that performs one or more specific functions on behalf of client programs.

CMIP

See Common Management Interface Protocol.

columnar object

A MIB "leaf" object—that is, a MIB object that does not have any objects below it in the OID tree—which can have zero or more instances. A columnar object represents one column in a table.

Common Management Interface Protocol (CMIP)

An protocol for network management defined by ISO standards.

database

A collection of interrelated or independent data items stored together without redundancy to serve one or more applications.

database management system (DBMS)

A program or set of programs that let users structure and manipulate the data in the tables of a database. A DBMS ensures privacy, recovery, and integrity of data in a multi-user environment.

DBMS

See database management system.

Distributed Program Interface (DPI)

The Distributed Program Interface (DPI) protocol extension to SNMP agents. Permits end-users to dynamically add, delete, or replace variables in the local MIB without recompiling the SNMP agent, by creating a subagent that communicates with the agent via the SNMP-DPI protocol.

DPI subagent

See Distributed Program Interface.

Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP)

A protocol used to advertise the set of networks that can be reached within an autonomous system. EGP enables this information to be shared with other autonomous systems.

Factory

An interface used by a client to obtain an object reference to a CORBA object. Object references to factories are obtained by the client using an object reference to a Factory Finder interface. The Factory Finder interface is advertised by the system and is made available to the client as part of client bootstrap processing.

Factory-based routing

A feature of WLE used to distribute processing to specific server groups. Routing is done when a factory creates an object reference in its call to a TP framework. The framework executes the routing algorithm based on the routing criteria specified by the administrator.

field

1) In a record, a specified area used for a particular category of data. 2) An area within a segment that is the smallest referable unit of data. 3) Any designated portion of a segment. 4) A way of addressing a single item of data in a database table. 5) An area of a window where data displays.

graphical user interface (GUI)

A high-level interface that uses windows and menus with graphic symbols instead of system commands typed at a prompt to provide an interactive environment for a user.

group

See MIB group.

GUI

See graphical user interface.

host

A computer that is attached to a network and provides services other than acting as a communication switch.

host computer

The primary or controlling computer in a data communication system.

ident string

See identification string.

identification string

Portions of a file that get expanded by RCS and SNMP Agent utilities to contain file and identification information. If compiled, these strings are placed into object file functions, where the information is made available.

instrumentation

Facilities that provide access to the attributes of managed resources, to retrieve or modify values of these attributes. Access to managed resources used by agents to respond to management requests.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

An international organization whose membership includes standards and research groups from various nations. ISO establishes standards for computer network communications and many other technologies.

ISO

See International Organization for Standardization.

managed object

A software entity, defined within the management information base, that represents a feature of a managed resource (such as a process, a piece of hardware, or system performance attribute) and is controlled by a management device.

managed resource

The physical resource whose attributes are represented by managed objects in a management information base. A managed resource can be a software entity such as an application or queue, or a hardware device, such as an interface card or hub.

management framework

A system that provides a unified view of hardware and software resources on distributed systems and enterprise-wide networks to help network or system administrators to manage and control these resources.

management information base (MIB)

1) A virtual storage database that uses ASN.1 notation. The MIB contains each object that the BEA SNMP Agent software monitors and controls. These objects are written in ASN.1 notation. Each has a unique object name and a unique object identifier. See also Tuxedo MIB.

management station

The machine on which the SNMP manager application runs.

mask

An SNMP means of hiding selected SNMP traps, so that alarms are generated only for specified instances.

master agent

The single point of contact for the SNMP manager on a managed node. The master agent receives requests from the SNMP manager and contacts the appropriate subagents to fulfill the requests.

message (log message)

A means for sending data and values across applications. Messages represent statistical or status information about application processes, and consist of a header, containing message ID data, and a body containing user-defined information.

message definition block

The total body of data that comprises a message definition, such as the command name, the subsystem name, and the internal and external recommendations.

MIB

See management information base.

MIB group

Ancestor object of MIB objects within the OID (or registration) tree. A MIB group may contain other MIB groups, or it may contain scalar or tabular objects.

monitor

Allows an SNMP-capable management station to watch the status of the Tuxedo system.

MOPS

Management operations per second

object identifier (OID)

A unique number assigned to each object in the SNMP MIB. These OIDs fall into specific categories and form a tree. When the SNMP agent accesses a specific object, it traverses the OID tree in the MIB file to find the object. An OID identifies an object by specifying a unique path to the object from the root of the OID tree.

OID

See object identifier.

OLTP

See online transaction processing.

online transaction processing (OLTP)

The execution of units of work in a performance-critical environment that appears to the user as immediate; real-time; usually having internal recoverability, history-keeping and consistency-assurance features.

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)

A consortium that facilitates communication between different types of computer systems.

OSI

See Open Systems Interconnection.

PID

See process ID.

polling

An activity in which a manager interrogates an agent at periodic intervals, checking to determine whether a managed object value has crossed a specified threshold. The agent reports the values of specified managed objects.

private MIB

A MIB that is defined under the private MIB directory

process ID (PID)

A unique number that identifies a process.

relative OID

An object identifier (OID) that specifies a path to a managed object only relative to some node in the OID tree below root.

requester

A process that receives messages from clients, converts these messages to a common internal form, determines the appropriate server or servers for the transaction request, and forwards the request to a server.

Requests For Comments (RFC)

Documents in which Internet standards, as approved by the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), are published.

RFC

See Requests for Comments.

scalar object

A MIB "leaf" object—that is, a MIB object that does not contain other MIB objects below it in the OID tree—that can have only one instance.

server

1) Software that performs a task requested of it by a client. 2) In client/server terminology, a server application typically stores and manipulates the data, as opposed to the client, which contains the user interface. 3) A software module that accepts requests from clients and other servers and returns responses.

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

A de facto standard network management protocol developed by the Internet community.

SMUX

Stands for SNMP multiplexing. A protocol for master agent/subagent communication defined by RFC 1227.

SMUX subagent

The SNMP multiplexing (SMUX) protocol allows the creation of subagents that communicate with the agent and resolve management operations for specific objects in the MIB module.

SNMP

See Simple Network Management Protocol.

SNMP agent

An agent that uses the SNMP protocol to exchange data with a system manager.

SNMP MIB

Any SNMP format MIB including, but not limited to, Tuxedo MIB for SNMP.

standard MIB

A MIB developed as a standard by the Internet community. Examples are MIB I and MIB II.

subagent

A component of the master agent protocol that fulfills requests and replies to the master agent.

system manager

The part of a network management system that requests data from an agent and takes actions based on that data.

TCP/IP

See Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.

token

An individual element in the message definition block, such as the command or the subsystem name.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

1) A provider of network services that is supported by the transport layer interface. 2) Communications protocol standard.

trap

An SNMP data packet that contains information about an error that occurred with a managed object. Traps are unsolicited event notifications, that is, notifications generated by an agent on its own initiative.

Tuxedo MIB

A Tuxedo internal data structure for resources. Specifically, it is a Tuxedo or WLE framework component that provides a complete definition of the object classes and their attributes that together constitute the Tuxedo or WLE framework. The total Tuxedo System management information base is organized into a generic MIB and component-specific MIBs for each major component. Configuration and administration of the Tuxedo or WLE framework can be done programmatically.

Tuxedo MIB for SNMP

An SNMP MIB that defines Tuxedo or WLE objects. See also SNMP MIB.

UDP

See user datagram protocol.

user datagram protocol (UDP)

The TCP/IP datagram transport layer protocol.