B

back-end (system)
The CICS or IMS system in which existing applications run. Equivalent to partner system. See also front-end (system).
back-end transaction
In synchronous transaction-to-transaction communication, a transaction that is started by a front-end transaction.
background partition
An area of virtual storage in which programs are executed under control of the system. By default, the partition has a processing priority lower than any of the existing foreground partitions.
backout
(1) An operation that reverses all the changes made during the current unit of recovery or unit of work. After the operation is complete, a new unit of recovery or unit of work begins. See also commit.
(2) The process of restoring to a previous state all or part of a system. The process of removing all the updates against protected resources such as files and DL/I databases performed by an application program that either has terminated abnormally or was inflight at the time of a CICS or MVS or VSE image failure. Backout can by done dynamically in the case of an application abend, or during restart in the case of CICS or MVS or VSE failure.
backup
The process of making a copy of a data file that can be used if the original file is destroyed.
backup session
The session that replaces the failing primary extended recovery facility (XRF) session between a terminal user and the active subsystem.
backup while open (BWO)
A means of taking backups of VSAM files that CICS is concurrently updating. Backups taken with this facility are accepted as input by the CICSVR forward recovery program.
backward recovery
The process of restoring integrity to databases and other recoverable resources following a failure.
BAS
See Business Application Services (BAS).
base cluster
In systems with VSAM, a key-sequenced or entry-sequenced file over which one or more alternate indexes are built.
based addressing
A form of addressing in which a data description is associated with a storage area by a variable address held in a separate pointer area. This is implemented in COBOL by BLL cells and in VS COBOL II by the ADDRESS special register.
base locator for linkage (BLL)
In DOS/VS and OS/VS COBOL, a mechanism used to address storage outside the working storage of an application program.
base map
Normal BMS full-screen map that can be used as a base for simulated windows. See also canned map and overlay map.
base segment
The portion of a RACF profile that contains basic information needed to define a user, group, or resource to RACF. Also called RACF segment.
base state
The state of a terminal that is set by CICS in the absence of any instructions from a user application program, and before CICS sends data to it. In this state, the terminal behaves as an ordinary display device.
basic conversation
In APPC, a conversation between two programs in which the sending program must construct generalized data stream (GDS) records for the receiving program. See also mapped conversation.
basic direct access method (BDAM)
An access method used to retrieve or update particular blocks of a data set on a direct access device.
basic mapping resource map (BMS map)
A map controlling the display of input and output data by describing where fields are to be positioned on the screen and what display attributes they are to have. They are not needed for text data output. Every BMS mapping command names a map that contains formatting (mapping) instructions. Each map has two forms: physical and symbolic.
basic mapping support (BMS)
An interface between CICS and application programs that formats input and output display data and routes multiple-page output messages without regard for control characters used by various terminals.
basic sequential access method (BSAM)
An access method for storing or retrieving data blocks in a continuous sequence, using either a sequential access or a direct access device.
Basic Telecommunications Access Method (BTAM)
An access method that permits read and write communication with remote devices.
Basic Telecommunications Access Method-Extended Storage (BTAM-ES)
An IBM supplied telecommunications access method that permits read and write communication with remote devices.
batch data interchange
A program that is used to extend the facilities of CICS terminal control to simplify further the handling of data streams in a network.
batched repository-update facility
A CICSPlex SM facility, invoked from the CICSPlex SM end user interface, for the bulk application of CICSPlex SM definitions to a CMAS data repository.
batch message processing program (BMP, BMP program)
An IMS batch processing program that has access to online databases and message queues. BMPs run online, but like programs in a batch environment, they are started with job control language (JCL).
batch processing
A method of running a program or a series of programs in which one or more records (a batch) are processed with little or no action from the user or operator.
batch program
A program that is processed in series with other programs and therefore normally processes data without user interaction.
BB
See begin bracket (BB).
BDAM
See basic direct access method (BDAM).
before image
A record of the contents of a data element before it is changed. Before images are used to backout incomplete or incorrect changes in the event of a failure.
begin bracket (BB)
In SNA, an indicator defining the start of a conversation. The value of the indicator (binary 1) in the request header of the first request in the first chain of a bracket denotes the start of a bracket. See also conditional end bracket (CEB), FMH-5.
BID
In SNA, a command used to request permission to initiate a bracket.
binary digit (bit)
The smallest unit of computer information, which has two possible states that are represented by the binary digits 0 or 1.
binary synchronous communication (BSC)
Data transmission in which synchronization of characters is controlled by timing signals generated at the sending and receiving stations. See also SDLC.
bind
In SNA, a request to activate a session between two logical units (LUs). See also unbind session (UNBIND).
bind request
A request to establish a connection between systems.
bind-time security
In LU6.2 and MRO, the level of security applied when a request to establish a session is received from, or sent to, a remote system. Used to verify that the remote system is really the system it claims to be. Also known as session security. See also BIND, link security, and user security.
bit
See binary digit (bit).
bit map
In temporary storage, a control block used by intrapartition transient data to show the VSAM control intervals (or BSAM tracks) that have been used and are available. It is updated whenever a control interval or track is assigned to or released from a destination.
bits per inch (bpi)
The density, measured in number of bits per inch, at which information can be stored on magnetic tape.
bits per second (bps)
In serial transmission, the instantaneous bit speed with which a device or channel transmits a character.
BLL
See base locator for linkage (BLL).
blocking
The process of combining two or more records into one block. See also deblocking.
block-level data sharing
A kind of IMS data sharing that allows multiple subsystem access to the same database, controlled by means of a lock manager. Sharing is at the physical-block level for ISAM or OSAM databases and at the control-interval level for VSAM databases.
BMP
See batch message processing program (BMP).
BMP program
See batch message processing program (BMP).
BMS
See basic mapping support (BMS).
BMS map
See basic mapping resource map (BMS map).
BMS map definition
The use of macros (DFHMSD, DFHMDI, and DFHMDF) to define the size, shape, position, potential content, and properties of BMS map sets, maps, and fields within maps.
BMS message routing
The routing of data to one or more terminals other than the originating terminal.
BMS page building
The building and display of multiple, logically-connected pages of mapped or text data.
BMS text building
The formatting of unmapped text data.
BNN
See boundary network node (BNN).
bottleneck
A place in the system where contention for a resource is affecting performance.
boundary network node (BNN)
In SNA, a subarea node that provides protocol support for adjacent peripheral nodes, for example, transforming network addresses to local addresses and vice versa, and providing session-level support for these peripheral nodes. In XRF, the point at which terminal sessions are switched from the failing active system to the new active system. The communication controller (or, in CICS/VSE, an XSWITCH mechanism) at the BNN must be able to operate in an XRF configuration.
bpi
See bits per inch (bpi).
bps
See bits per second (bps).
bracket
In SNA, one or more chains of request units and their responses, representing a complete transaction, exchanged between two session partners.
bracket protocol
In SNA, a protocol that prevents the interruption of a transaction between CICS and a logical unit. A bracket can also delimit conversations between CICS and the logical unit or merely the transmission of a series of data chains in one direction. Bracket protocol is used when CICS communicates with specific logical units.
browse token
Identifier of a particular browse of BTS objects within a CICS region. The same token returned on a STARTBROWSE command must be supplied on the corresponding GETNEXT and ENDBROWSE commands. CICS discards it after the ENDBROWSE.
BSAM
See basic mapping support (BMS)
BSC
See binary synchronous communication (BSC).
BTAM
See basic telecommunications access method (BTAM).
BTAM-ES
See Basic Telecommunications Access Method-Extended Storage (BTAM-ES).
BTS
See CICS business transaction services (BTS).
BTS activity
One part of a process managed by CICS BTS. Typically, an activity is part of a business transaction.
BTS-set
The set of CICS regions across which related BTS processes and activities may execute.
buffer
A routine or a portion of storage used to hold data temporarily in order to compensate for different speeds of data flow or timings of events between one device or system and another.
buffer address
In 3270 data stream, the address of a location in the character buffer (screen image).
builder
A module in CICS that, in conjunction with other builders, makes the autoinstall process possible, allows the terminal control table (TCT) to be changed dynamically on a running CICS system, and reduces the times needed for warm and emergency restart on systems that use autoinstall.
built-in function
In CICS, the field de-editing function provided by the EXEC CICS BIF DEEDIT command. The BIF DEEDIT command removes alphabetic and special characters from an EBCDIC data field, and right-justifies the remaining digits, padding to the left with zeros as necessary.
bulk loading
A performance feature of VS COBOL II that supports the loading of selected library routines into the CICS region at CICS initialization time, or into the LPA at MVS initialization time or SVA at VSE initialization time.
business application
Any set of CICS resources that represent a meaningful entity to an enterprise or a user (such as Payroll).
Business Application Services (BAS)
The component of CICSPlex SM that provides the ability to define and manage business applications in terms of their CICS resources and associated CICS systems. BAS provides a central definition repository for CICS systems, complete with installation facilities and the ability to restrict a CICSPlex SM request to those resources defined as being part of the business application.
business logic
The part of a distributed application that is concerned with the application logic rather than the user interface of the application. See presentation logic.
business transaction
A self-contained business function, for example, the booking of an airline ticket. Traditionally, in CICS a business transaction might be implemented as multiple user transactions; the booking of the airline ticket might be undertaken by transactions that inquire about availability, reserve the seat, deal with payment, and print the ticket, for example. Using BTS, a business transaction might be implemented as multiple activities.
business transaction services
An application programming interface (API) and support services that allow users to manage complex busniess transactions. See business transaction.
BWO
See backup while open (BWO).
byte
A string that represents a character and usually consists of eight binary digits that are treated as a unit. A byte is the smallest unit of storage that can be addressed directly.
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