ASCII
American National Standard Code for Information Interchange.
A 7 bit coded character set (8 bits including parity check) that consists of control characters and
graphic characters.
ASCQ
Additional sense code qualifiers.
asm
Assembly.
Assigning a device
The establishing of the relationship of a device to a running task, process, job, or program.
assignment
The naming of a specific device to complete a function.
asynchronous
Pertaining to two or more processes that do not depend upon the occurrence of specific events such
as common timing signals.
Attention (notice)
Alerts the reader to the possibility of risk to a program, device, or system, or to data. Contrast with
caution and danger.
ATTN
Attention.
B
backhitching
Magnetic tape that makes a slight backward motion before it moves forward.
backup
To make extra copies of documents or software for safekeeping.
baud
A unit of signaling speed equal to the number of discrete conditions or signal events per second.
In asynchronous transmission, the unit of modulation rate corresponding to one unit interval per
second. That is, if the duration of the unit interval is 20 milliseconds, the modulation rate is 50 baud.
Also, see baud rate.
baud rate
In remote communications, the transmission rate that is synonymous with signal events. The baud
rate, or signal change rate, is expressed in bits per second. Stated another way, the baud rate is a
measure of how many times per second a signal changes or might change.
The default rate of the IBM 3592 is 9600 baud, with the potential for 115.2 K baud. Also, see baud.
beginning-of-tape (BOT)
The location on a magnetic tape that indicates the start of the permissible recording area.
bezel
Decorative, safety, or functional cover or faceplate.
On the 3592 drive, it is the item that is located ahead of the mouth and the throat of the drive canister
and is used primarily by the operator. It contains fiducials, the eight-character display, and the Reset
button.
bifurcated
Describes a cable with a standard plug on one end, but splits into two cables on the other end.
A Y-cable is an example of a bifurcated cable.
bit
Binary digit.
Either of the digits 0 or 1 when used in the binary numeration system.
298 IBM 3592 TS1140, TS1150, TS1155, and TS1160 Tape Drives: Maintenance Information
