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BM or bill of materials
A list of specific types and amounts of direct materials or parts that are expected to be used to
produce a job, quantity of output, or product.
BOB
beginning-of-block
BOP
Beginning-of-partition.
BOT
Beginning-of-tape
buffer
A routine or storage that is used to compensate for a difference in rate of flow of data or time of
occurrence of events, when data is transferred from one device to another.
bus
A facility for transferring data between several devices that are located between two end points, only
one device able to transmit at a specific moment.
BVPD
Backup vital product data.
byte
A group of eight adjacent binary digits (or bits).
C
calib
Abbreviation for 'calibration' that is used in some tables in this MI.
canister
Hardware into which a drive can be installed, creating a drive canister. Contrast with drive. See also
drive canister
cartridge identifier (CID)
Worldwide cartridge identifier is the preferred term.
cartridge memory (CM)
A passive, silicon storage device that is stored in each 3592 data cartridge, and is updated just before
the cartridge is unloaded. Cartridge memory includes read-only information (like statistics about
cartridge and media performance) in a protected area.
caution (notice)
Alerts the reader to possible personal harm to people. Contrast with attention and danger.
CCW
Channel command word.
CCW chain
A list of channel command words to be completed in sequence.
CDB
Command descriptor block.
CE
IBM customer engineer.
CE cartridge
Synonym for CE scratch tape.
CEM
Customer engineering memorandum.
CE scratch tape
A tape cartridge that the IBM service representative can use to run various tests, make an FMR tape,
or copy a memory dump to tape.
Synonymous with diagnostic cartridge and scratch tape.
Glossary 299