I

Return to IBM i glossary.

I18N: See internationalization.
IBM® i: The IBM licensed program that can be used as the operating system for IBM System i5® and eServer™ i5 products as of Version 5 Release 3. See also iSeries, Operating System/400®, System i5.
IBM i user profile: A user profile that is used to sign on to IBM i. IBM i user profiles are created with the CRTUSRPRF (Create User Profile) CL command.
IAB: See Internet Architecture Board.
IAR: See instruction address register.
I-beam pointer: A pointer that indicates that the pointer is over an area that can be edited, for example, an entry field.
IBM Developer Kit for Java™: The IBM licensed program that is a compatible implementation of the Sun Microsystems, Inc. Java Technology.
IBM PC double-byte encoding scheme: The graphic characters have the following range: The first byte is in the range 81 to FC. The second byte is in the range 40 to 7E and 80 to FC. No other 16-bit patterns are valid as graphic characters. The space character is always assigned to code point 8140.
IBM PC single-byte encoding scheme: An extension of the ISO 646 version 7-bit structure to an 8-bit structure. The IBM PC single-byte structure has a valid code point range for 00 to FF. The graphic characters have the following range: The first byte is in the range 81 to FC. The second byte is in the range X'40' to X'7E' and X'80' to X'FC'. No other 16-bit patterns are valid as graphic characters.
IBM Tivoli® Directory Server for IBM i (Directory Server): A function of the IBM i operating system that enables the system to run a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) server.
IBM Toolbox for Java: A library of Java classes that gives Java-program access to System i® data and resources.
IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Storage Server® (ESS): A member of the Seascape product family of storage servers and attached storage devices (disk drive modules). The ESS provides for high-performance, fault-tolerant storage and management of enterprise data, providing access through multiple concurrent operating systems and communication protocols. High performance is provided by multiple symmetrical multiprocessors, integrated caching, RAID support for the disk drive modules, and disk access through a high-speed serial storage architecture (SSA) interface.
ICE: See interval control element.
ICF: See intersystem communications function.
ICF file: A device file that allows a program on one system to communicate with a program on another system. There can be one or more sessions with the same or different communications devices at the same time.
ICMP: See Internet Control Message Protocol.
ICMP code: A number that is used in conjunction with an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) type to provide a more detailed description of the ICMP message.
ICMP redirect message: An out-of-bound message that is designed to inform a host of a more optimal route through a network, but possibly used maliciously for attacks that redirect traffic to a specific system.
ICMP scan: A check that determines if a host responds to Internet Control Message Protocol requests, such as a ping.
ICMP service: A user-defined combination of an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) type and an ICMP code.
ICMP type: A number that describes the information that is contained in the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) message.
icon: A graphical representation of a choice or object for the user to select. An icon can represent something a user wants to work with, such as a document, file, application, or user-created object or list. An icon can also represent an action a user wants to do.
icons view: A standard contents view in which each object contained in a list object is displayed as an icon.
ID: See identifier. See also data name.; See Identification Division.
IDDU: See interactive data definition utility.
Identification Division (ID): One of the four main parts of a COBOL program. In addition to identifying the source program and the object program, this part may also describe the author's name, the location where written, and the date written.
identified user: A concurrent user (a user who is signed on to a program simultaneously with another user) of the IBM i licensed program who is known and reported on by the license management function of IBM i.
identifier (ID): A sequence of bits or characters that identifies a user, program, device, or system to another user, program, device, or system. See also data name.; In COBOL, a data name that is unique or is made unique by the correct combination of qualifiers, subscripts, or indexes.; In the C language, a sequence of letters, digits, and underscores used to identify a data object or function.
identity assertion: The invocation credential that is asserted to the downstream server. This credential can be set as the originating client identity, the server identity, or another specified identity, depending on the RunAs mode for the enterprise bean.
identity column: A column that provides a way for the DB2® database manager to automatically generate a numeric value for each row that is inserted into a table. Identity columns are defined with the AS IDENTITY clause. A table can have no more than one identity column.
ideographic: Pertaining to 2-byte characters consisting of pictograms, symbolic characters, and other types of symbols.
IDLC: See ISDN data link control.
idle connection: A connection between two systems where no data is transferred.
IDL mangled: Pertaining to Java names that are altered or "mangled" so that they can be mapped to equivalent IDL names. When a Java name contains characters that are not permitted in IDL names, these characters are removed and the remaining characters are used to form the IDL name.
IDP: See interchange document profile.
IDU: See interface data unit.
IEEE: See Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
IETF: See Internet Engineering Task Force.
I frame: See information frame.
IGC: Abbreviation used in commands and keywords to represent double-byte character set functions.
IGP: See Interior Gateway Protocol.
IGS: See interchange group separator.
IKE: See Internet Key Exchange.
ILAN: See internal local area network.
ILE: See Integrated Language Environment®.
ILE C: See Integrated Language Environment C.
ILE COBOL: See Integrated Language Environment COBOL.
ILE RPG: See Integrated Language Environment RPG.
ILU: See independent logical unit. See also dependent logical unit.
IM1: A data tower of an Intelligent Printer Data Stream (IPDS) construct that represents image data.
image: An electronic representation of an original document or picture produced by a scanning device or created from software.
image area: In AFP Utilities, an area on the display where the image of an AFP resource is displayed when a user designs the resource.
image catalog: An object on the system that contains image catalog entries. Each catalog is associated with one user-specified integrated file system directory. The system-recognized identifier for the object type is *IMGCLG. Image catalogs can have the following statuses: ready, not ready.
image catalog entry: A position (index) within an image catalog that contains information about an optical image file (byte-stream file) that is located in the image catalog directory. Examples of image catalog entry information include optical image file name, volume identifier, index position in the catalog, and a text description of the image. Image catalog entries can have the following statuses: (1) loaded, (2) mounted, (3) unloaded.
image data stream: An Advanced Function Printing data stream that represents image data.
Image Object Content Architecture (IOCA): A defined data stream used to store raster image data. The images in a Mixed Object:Document Content Architecture document are stored using IOCA.
image part: A part that displays a picture on a window. The picture is displayed by retrieving the contents of a picture file, such as a bit map.
image symbol set (ISS): In the GDDM function, a graphics symbol set in which each character is treated as a small image and is described by a rectangular array of display points. Characters in an image symbol set are always drawn in a fixed size. See also vector symbol set.
imaginary line: In the GDDM function, a construction line used to build a fillet. The beginning and ending points of imaginary lines are defined, but the lines themselves do not appear as part of the picture.
IMAP: See Internet Message Access Protocol.
imbedded blank: See embedded blank.
immediate maintenance: A method of maintaining keyed access paths for database files. This method updates the access path whenever changes are made to the database file associated with the access path. See also delayed maintenance, rebuild maintenance.
immediate message: A message that is created when it is sent. See also predefined message.
imperative statement: In COBOL, a statement that either begins with an imperative verb and specifies an unconditional action to be taken or is a conditional statement that is delimited by its explicit scope terminator (delimited scope statement). An imperative statement can consist of a sequence of imperative statements.
IMPI: See internal microprogram instruction.
implement: A Java programming language keyword that is optionally included in the class declaration to specify any interfaces that are used by the current class.
implementation: The specification of what instance variables implement an object's state, and what procedures implement its methods.
implementer name: In COBOL, an IBM-defined name that includes assignment names, computer names, function names, and language names.
implicit: Capable of being understood from something else, though unexpressed.
implicit connection: A connection that is made to a database without a user ID or password.
implicit disconnection: In DB2 for IBM i, the ending of the conversation between an application requester and an application server.
implicit scope terminator: In COBOL, a separator period that ends the scope of any preceding unterminated statement, or a phrase of a statement that by its occurrence indicates the end of the scope of any statement contained within the preceding phrase.
implied semicolon: In REXX, an assumed semicolon at the end of each line.
import: In ILE binder language, a reference to an external symbol defined in another module or program. See also export.; In VisualAge® RPG, a function that allows an application to use data that was created by another application. It usually involves some file conversion.
impulsive noise: Noise produced without cause.
inaccessible: Pertaining to an object for which the client does not possess a valid designator or handle.
inactive connection: A broken connection between two systems where no data can be transferred.
inactive record: An inactive subfile record or any record format that is not currently shown on a display. See also active record.
inactive subfile record: A subfile record that either was not added to a subfile by a write operation or was described as inactive by the data description specification (DDS) keywords SFLINZ and SFLRNA. See also active subfile record.
inbound DTE attribute: In OSI, an attribute specified by the local node to regulate inbound connection requests from an adjacent node to the local node over an X.25 subnetwork. The inbound DTE attributes are accept calls and reverse charging.
inbound intrusion: An intrusion that originates from a remote system and targets a port and IP address on the local system.
inches per second (ips): A measure of tape drive speed and performance.
include file: A text file that contains declarations that are used by a group of functions, programs, or users.
include statement: A computer language preprocessor statement that directs the processor to retrieve a specific file that contains instructions and data the program may need.
incremental backup: The process of backing up files or directories, or copying pages in the database, that are new or changed since the last full or incremental backup. See also cumulative backup.
incremental save operation: In Backup, Recovery, and Media Services, a backup operation that includes only those objects in a control group that have been changed since the last backup operation or archive operation.
independent data item: In COBOL, a data item in the Working-Storage Section that has no relationship to other data items.
independent disk pool: One or more storage units that are defined from the disk units or disk-unit subsystems that make up addressable disk storage. An independent disk pool contains objects, the directories that contain the objects, and other object attributes such as authorization ownership attributes.
independent logical unit (ILU): A unique connection to an application program that is able to activate an LU-to-LU session without assistance from a system services control point (SSCP). An independent logical unit can be used as either a primary logical unit (PLU) or a secondary logical unit (SLU), and can have one or more active LU-toLU sessions at a time. Currently, only an LU 6.2 can be an independent LU. See also dependent logical unit.
independent workstation: See programmable workstation.
index: A set of pointers that is logically ordered by the values of a key. Indexes provide quick access to data and can enforce uniqueness of the key values for the rows in the table.; A relative number (1-64) of an image catalog entry within an image catalog.; A computer storage position or register, the contents of which identify a particular element in a table.; In VisualAge RPG, the identifier of an entry in a part, such as a list box or a combination box.
index data item: In COBOL, a data item in which the contents of an index can be stored without conversion to subscript form.
indexed data name: In COBOL, a data name identifier that is subscripted with one or more index names.
indexed organization: In COBOL, the file structure that identifies each record by the value of one or more keys within that record.
index key: The set of columns in a table that is used to determine the order of index entries.
index name: In COBOL, a user-defined word that names an index.
index queue: A list of requests to either add or remove a document to or from text search services.
index search: A searchable part of the online information. Using index search, application programmers can create and write their own index search topics for their applications. The system-recognized identifier for the object type is *SCHIDX.
indication: In OSI, a service primitive issued by a service provider to call a procedure by a service user.
indicator: A 1-character or 2-character code that is used by a program to test a field or record or to tell when certain operations are to be performed.; In the RPG licensed program, a 2-character code that is used as a logical variable or statement label.; An internal switch used by a program to remember when a certain event occurs and what to do when that event occurs.
indicator variable: A variable used to represent the null value in an application program. If the value for a selected column is null, a negative value is placed in the indicator variable.
indirect destination: In CICS®, a type of transient data destination that points to another destination within the destination control table, rather than directly to a queue.
individual address: In communications, an address associated with a particular station on the network. See also group address.
INFDS: See file information data structure.
infinity: A name referring to an indefinitely great number.
informational event: In OSI, an event that is a part of normal operation but that may be of interest to an observer. Information events are logged but do not generate a message to the operator.
informational message: A message that provides information about the system and is not the result of an error condition. This message does not require a response.
information area: A part of a window in which information about the object or choice that the cursor is on is displayed. The information area can also contain a message about the normal completion of a process.
information category: IBM-defined grouping of online books into a bookshelf. The books in the bookshelf can be accessed using the InfoSeeker function on the system or by workstations using the IBM Library Reader licensed program or the BookManager® licensed program.
information display: A display that presents information to a user, such as the status of the system, but that rarely requests a response.
information element: In ISDN, the messages that are exchanged over the D-channel between the system and ISDN. For example, when a call is set up, a message is sent to the network containing several information elements, one of which is the number of the remote system. Other information elements may be present.
information frame (I frame): In communications, a transmission frame that is sequentially numbered and used to transmit data.
Information Presentation Facility (IPF): A tool used to create online help on a programmable workstation. This tool is used by the application programmer and the information author.
Information Presentation Facility file (IPF file): The source file in which the application help is stored.
information system: A system that consists of people, machines, voice communications, data communications, and methods organized to accomplish specified operations on data that represent information. Information systems support the running of the customer's business, but do not necessarily make up the customer's business.
inheritance: An object-oriented programming technique in which existing classes are used as a basis for creating other classes. Through inheritance, more specific elements incorporate the structure and behavior of more general elements.
initial chaining value: In Cryptographic Support, an 8-byte, pseudo-random number used to start a cipher block chaining operation.
initialization file: An OSI Communications Subsystem file that contains a set of commands that activate OSI Communications Subsystem resources each time OSI Communications Subsystem is started.
initialization stall: In CICS, a wait that occurs during initialization when a CICS system appears to be running normally but is not actually progressing through the various stages of initialization.
initialization vector: A binary string that is used by some block cipher modes in an exclusive-OR (XOR) operation with the first block of data. It is used to help hide any patterns that might appear in the first block of ciphertext and, therefore, makes various cryptographic attacks more difficult.
initialize: To set the addresses, switches, or the contents of storage to zero, or to the starting value set by the manufacturer.
initial menu: The menu that is specified in the user profile to be the first menu displayed after a user signs on.
initial program: A user-profile program that runs when the user signs on and after the command processor program QCMD is started. QCMD calls the first program.; In COBOL, a program that is placed into an initial state every time the program is called in a run unit.
initial program load (IPL): The process that loads the system programs from the system auxiliary storage, checks the system hardware, and prepares the system for user operations.
initial state: In COBOL, the state of a program when it is first called in a run unit.
initial thread: The thread that is started automatically by the system when a job or process is started. See also secondary thread.
initiation queue: A local queue on which the queue manager puts trigger messages.
initiator: In OSI Communications Subsystem, the application entity that starts an application association.; The role of a node using the two-phase commit protocol when its local transaction program issues a commit operation that begins the two-phase commit flows. The initiator is the root node of a transaction program network. See also responder.
inline: Pertaining to spooled input data that is read into a job by a reader.
inline data file: A file created by a Data (//DATA) command that is included as part of a job when the job is read from an input device or a database file. The file is deleted when the job ends.
input field: An area in a presentation space into which the program accepts input.; A field specified in a display file or database file that is reserved for information supplied by a user. See also output field.
input file: A file that has been opened in order to allow records to be read.
input mode: In COBOL, the state of a file after running an OPEN statement, with the INPUT phrase specified for that file, and before running a CLOSE statement, without the REEL or UNIT phrase specified for that file.
input/output (I/O): Pertaining to a device, process, channel, or communication path involved in data input, data output, or both.
input/output adapter (IOA, I/O adapter): For devices, the electrical circuits on a logic card that connect one device to another.; A functional unit or a part of an I/O controller that connects devices to an I/O processor.
input/output channel (I/O channel): In a data processing system, a functional unit, controlled by the processing unit, that transfers data between main storage and attached devices.
input/output controller (I/O controller, IOC): A functional unit that combines the I/O processor and one or more I/O adapters, and directly connects and controls one or more input or output devices.
input/output data: Data provided to the computer or data resulting from computer processing.
input/output file: A file opened for input and output use.
input/output processor (IOP, I/O processor): A processor dedicated to controlling channels or communication links.
input/output section: In COBOL, the section of the Environment Division that names the files and external media needed by an application program. It also provides information required for sending and handling data when the program is run.
input/output statement: In COBOL, a statement that causes files to be processed by performing operations on individual records or on the file as a unit. The input-output statements are ACCEPT, CLOSE, DELETE, DISPLAY, OPEN, READ, REWRITE, SET (with the TO ON or TO OFF phrase), START, and WRITE.
input PIN-protection key: In Cryptographic Support, a key-encrypting key that encrypts a personal identification number (PIN) that is received from another location. While a PIN is being used on the system, it remains encrypted under the input PIN-protection key.
input specification: The means by which a programmer describes input records and their fields, adds RPG functions to an externally described file, or defines a data structure and its subfields.
input stream: In RJE, data sent to the host system. See also output stream.; A group of records submitted as a batch job that contains CL commands for one or more jobs or data from one or more inline data files.
inquiry message: A message that gives information and requests a reply.
inquiry mode: An operation during which the current job running from a display station is interrupted so that other work can be done. The operator presses the Attn key to put the display station in inquiry mode.
inquiry program: A program that allows an operator to get information from a disk file.; A program that runs while the system is in inquiry mode.
insert mode: A keyboard operation that puts new text within existing text at the cursor position.
insert rule: A condition enforced by the database manager that must be met before a row can be inserted into a table.
insert trigger: A trigger that is activated by an insert operation on the table or view that is specified in the trigger definition. See also delete trigger, trigger, instead of trigger, update trigger, read trigger.
installable object: An object that contains a combination of the objects to be installed and list of the objects to be installed, associated with the name of the target library, folder, or path where they must be created when the installable object is installed.
installation device: A tape or optical device [CD-ROM or a digital video disc (DVD)] that is used on a type D IPL to load Licensed Internal Code (LIC) segments into main storage. The installation device must be on the same input/output processor (IOP) as the load source. This device can be used to load LIC code from the tape or optical device onto the load source during restore or installation operations.
installation IPL: The process of loading code into main storage and preparing for system operation from an input/output hardware unit other than the system's primary load-source disk unit. This is also referred to as a type D IPL or D-mode IPL.
installation media: The media used in the installation of software, usually CD/ROM, CD-R, or tape media provided by IBM or another supplier for the purpose of distributing software to customers. See also distribution media.
installation profile: An object that can be tailored and used to control the automatic installation of a system.
installation verification procedure (IVP): A program or programs that are run at the end of installation of an IBM licensed program, in order to verify that the program is working correctly.
instance: In object-oriented programming, an object of a particular class. See also object.
instance ID: In query management, an identifier in the communications area. An instance ID is used to identify a particular query instance being used by an application program.
instance method: In Java, any method that is started with respect to an instance of a class.; A method valid for an object instance. An instance method that an object responds to is defined by the object's class or is inherited from an ancestor class. See also class method.
instance parameter: A configuration value or setting that is specified for a server instance.
instance variable: A variable declared for use within the method procedures of a class.
instead of trigger: A trigger that is associated with a single view and is activated by an insert, update, or delete operation on the view and that defines how to propagate the insert, update, or delete operation on the view to the underlying tables of the view. See also delete trigger, insert trigger, trigger, update trigger, read trigger.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE): A professional society accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to issue standards for the electronics industry.
instruction: In COBOL, one or more clauses, the first of which starts with a keyword that identifies the instruction. Instructions affect the flow of control, provide services to the programmer, or both.; A program statement that specifies an operation to be performed by the computer, along with the values or locations of operands. This statement represents the programmer's request to the processor to perform a specific operation. [OSF]; In REXX, one or more clauses that describe some course of action to be taken by the language processor. Instructions may be assignments, keyword instructions, or commands.
instruction address register (IAR): A register in the processor that contains the address of the next instruction to be processed.
instrusion detection scan: A system program that detects attempts to hack into, disrupt, or deny service to the system.
insynch: In cross-site mirroring, pertaining to the mirror copy data state that indicates that the production and mirror copy have exactly the same contents.
integer: A positive or negative whole number, or zero.; In COBOL, a numeric constant or a numeric data item that does not include any digit position to the right of the assumed decimal point.; In DB2 for IBM i, a data type indicating that the data is a binary number with a precision of 31 bits.
integrated file system: A function of the IBM i operating system that supports stream input/output and storage management in a manner that is similar to personal computer and UNIX operating systems, while providing an integrating structure over all information stored on a system.
Integrated Language Environment (ILE): A set of constructs and interfaces that provides a common runtime environment and run-time bindable application program interfaces (APIs) for all ILE-conforming high-level languages.
Integrated Language Environment C (ILE C): An IBM licensed program that is the C programming language available on the system. The ILE C licensed program uses the ILE model.
Integrated Language Environment COBOL (ILE COBOL): The IBM licensed program that is the COBOL programming language available on the system, including system-specific functions.
Integrated Language Environment RPG (ILE RPG): An IBM-licensed program that includes a set of RPG compilers to be used for commercial and business applications on System i hosts. The compilers include: System/36E RPG (RPG II), System/38 RPG (RPG III), RPG/400® (RPG III), and ILE RPG (RPG IV).
integrated server: A combination of hardware and software that enables the IBM i operating system to manage storage, removable media devices, virtual Ethernet connectivity, and other attributes of a Windows or VMware ESX server. The integrated server hardware includes the processor and memory. All of the integrated server storage is managed by IBM i.
Integrated Server Support: A feature of the IBM i operating system that allows users to combine Microsoft Windows and VMware ESX servers with IBM i in a single system. Integrated Server Support can help reduce the cost and complexity of x86-based servers and better manage the delivery of personal productivity applications.
integrated services: A quality-of-service policy that uses the resource reservation setup protocol (RSVP) to provide end-to-end traffic management. In integrated services, an application requests resources from a network. The network handles the data by request.
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN): An international communications standard for sending voice, video, and data over digital telephone lines.
Integrated xSeries Adapter (IXA): A PCI expansion card that can be installed in selected System x models and that provides a high-speed link to a System i product.
Integrated xSeries Server (IXS): An Intel server that fits inside System i products to support larger Windows application demands.
integrity: In computer security, assurance that the information that arrives at a destination is the same as the information that was sent.
integrity protection: The set of controls that prevents users from accessing or changing any objects on the system, including user data, except by using the system-provided interfaces that enforce authority rules.
intelligent agent: A Java-based software component that is capable of learning certain behaviors over time through complex autonomic algorithms. Intelligent agents can have many different capabilities, from simply monitoring for certain events to more complex actions like analyzing network problems, monitoring disk space, or managing storage.
intelligent peripheral interface (IPI): A standard developed by ANSI that defines the electrical, data link protocol, and functional interfaces.
Intelligent Printer Data Stream (IPDS): An all-points-addressable data stream that allows users to position text, images, graphics, and bar codes at any defined point on a printed page.
intelligent routing: The distribution of output from the PDF subsystem in multiple ways based on values specified in a mapping program and the Print Services Facility™ (PSF) configuration object. The entire input spooled file or any segment of the input spooled file is electronically mailed as a PDF file, stored as a PDF stream file in the integrated file system, spooled as a PDF file, spooled as an Advanced Function Presentation (AFP) file, or any combination of those. See also mapping program, PDF subsystem.
interactive: Pertaining to the dialog-like exchange of information between people and a computer. See also batch.
interactive data definition utility (IDDU): A function of the operating system that can be used to externally define the characteristics of data and the contents of files.
interactive job: A job started for a person who signs on to a work station. In the capacity planning tool, interactive jobs cause interactive and non-interactive transactions. See also batch job.
interactive mode: In query management, the query mode associated with a query instance that allows users to interact with the query commands while a procedure is running.
interactive processing: A processing method in which each operator action causes a response from the program or the system. See also batch processing.
interactive source debugger (ISDB): A function of the Application Development ToolSet feature that is used for source-level debugging of programs on IBM i.
interactive SQL (ISQL): A function of the DB2 Query Manager and SQL Development Kit for IBM i licensed program that allows SQL statements to run dynamically instead of in batch mode. Every interactive SQL statement is read from the work station, prepared, and run dynamically.
interactive subsystem: A subsystem in which interactive jobs are processed.
interactive terminal facility (ITF): An asynchronous communications function that allows a system to communicate with applications that can send and receive data, such as electronic mail, memos, library members, and data files.
interactive transaction: The work done by the system when the Enter key or a function key is pressed. See also noninteractive transaction.
interactive user profile: An area used by some IBM licensed programs to store information between successive calls of those programs (such as the file and library last used, or the setup last used).
interblock gap: An area or space on a data medium (tape or ) to indicate the end of a physical record or block.
intercept: In a GDDM chart, a method of describing the position of one axis relative to another. For example, the horizontal axis can be specified so that it intercepts (crosses) the vertical axis at the bottom, middle, or top of the plotting area of a chart.
interchange document profile (IDP): The Document Interchange Architecture object that contains information associated with each document. For example, the interchange document profile can contain authors, keywords, dates, and so on. The interchange document profile is one of many model objects that DIA has defined to keep information about the document. A profile consists of a set of subprofiles.
interchange format: A print descriptor naming convention required to send a print descriptor from one system to another.
interchange group separator (IGS): A character used to indicate that blanks were removed from a string of data and are to be reinserted.
interface: A shared boundary between independent systems. An interface can be a hardware component used to link two devices, a convention that supports communication between software systems, or a method for a user to communicate with the operating system, such as a keyboard.; In Java, a group of methods that can be implemented by several classes, regardless of where the classes are in the class hierarchy.
interface data unit (IDU): In OSI, data contained in a buffer passed between layers.
interface name: A logical name for an Ethernet or token-ring line that is created when TCP/IP is installed on the system. Each name is unique and consists of 1 to 128 characters.
Interface Repository (IR): A byte-stream file that contains the data used to build the run-time objects.
interface specification: Internet Protocol (IP) information that is used to transfer data in a network. Examples of IP information include an address, network mask, line description, line type, current status, maximum transmission unit, and type of service.
Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP): An Internet protocol that is used by gateways in an autonomous system to transfer routing information.
intermediate assistance level: The type of displays that supports all system tasks and uses computer terminology. Complicated tasks can be done using the intermediate assistance level.
intermediate block check: In BSC, a check that verifies each record, rather than the contents of the total block, when large blocks of data are received.
intermediate representation of a program: The result of the first translation phase of language compilers for the extended program model. The intermediate representation of a program is in the form of machine instruction source and is used as the input to the compiler's final phase, the program resolution monitor.
intermediate routing function: A routing function that allows a network location to receive session data from an adjacent location and route it to the next location on the session path.
intermediate system: See also adjacent destination node. See relay open system.
intermediate system routing: In OSI, the process of selecting the intermediate systems through which a CLNS connection is to be routed. A set of quality-of-service values specifies the basis to be used in routing the connection.
intermediate-text-block character (ITB character): The BSC transmission control character used to divide a block of text into smaller groups of text for an intermediate block check.
internal data: Data that is recognized only by the procedure or OPM program that defines it. Local data is deleted when the procedure returns control to the calling program or procedure. See also external data.; In COBOL, the data described in a program excluding all external data items and external file connectors. Items described in the Linkage Section of a program are handled as internal data.
internal decimal item: See also zoned decimal format. See packed decimal format.
internal file connector: In COBOL, a file connector that is accessible to only one program in the run unit.
internal local area network (ILAN): A local area network (LAN) that allows APPC and APPN communications between operating systems running on the same system without requiring a physical communications link. The connection takes place within the lower levels of the software. Communications to other systems requires a physical link.
internal microprogram instruction (IMPI): The complex instruction set computer (CISC) processor on which the licensed programs run.
internal object: An object that the system program uses to store the information needed to perform some system functions. Internal objects cannot be displayed by a user. For example, you cannot use a display command (like the Display Library [DSPLIB] command) to display internal objects. See also external object.
internal routine: In REXX, a routine that exists inside the user's program and is identified by a label.
internal space object: An index that tracks the internal space objects that store message information. The internal space object is an internal object that is automatically created in the QUSRSYS library when the Start Mail Server Framework (STRMSF) command is used.
internal storage: All main and auxiliary storage in the system.
internal system journal: A journal that is used by IBM programs to manage and recover some system functions such as system-managed access-path protection. Internal system journals cannot be used explicitly by users.
internal trace: In CICS, an option whereby trace entries are written to an internal control region table. The table, which can be specified to wrap when full, is most appropriate if the user does not need to capture a large number of trace entries.
internationalization (I18N): In software engineering, the process of producing a product that is independent of any particular language, script, culture, and coded character set.
internationalized: In national language support, pertaining to a program that can operate in all language environments without any change to the program.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO): An international body charged with creating standards to facilitate the exchange of goods and services as well as cooperation in intellectual, scientific, technological, and economic activity.
International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission 10646 UCS-2 level 1 (ISO/IEC 10646): An international encoding scheme that has full character data integrity with Unicode. ISO/IEC 10646 assigns 16 bits for each character, which can be used to represent most of the written languages in the world. The ISO/IEC 10646 character set is supported by System i products with a fixed character set.
International Program License Agreement (IPLA): A licensing program that regulates the sale and purchase of licensed programs.
international standard: A standards document that is given final approval by the International Organization for Standardization.
internet: In TCP/IP, a collection of interconnected networks that function as a single, large network.
Internet: The worldwide collection of interconnected networks that use the Internet suite of protocols and permit public access.
Internet Architecture Board (IAB): The technical body that oversees (at a high level) the work of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). The IAB approves the membership of the IETF.
Internet client: A program (or user) that uses the Internet to make requests of and to receive results from an Internet server program. Different client programs are available to request different types of Internet services. A Web browser is one type of client program. File transfer protocol (FTP) is another.
Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP): An Internet protocol that is used by a gateway to communicate with a source host, for example, to report an error in a datagram.
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF): The task force of the Internet Architecture Board (IAB) that is responsible for solving the short-term engineering needs of the Internet. The IETF consists of numerous working groups, each focused on a particular problem. Specifications proposed as standards typically undergo a period of development and review before they are adopted as standards.
Internet host: A computer that is connected to the Internet or an intranet. An Internet host might run more than one Internet server program. For example, the Internet host might run an FTP server to respond to requests from FTP client applications. The same host might run an HTTP server to respond to requests from clients who are using Web browsers. Server programs typically run in the background (in batch) on the host system.
Internet Key Exchange (IKE): A protocol that, when used with IPSec, supports the automatic negotiation of security associations as well as the automatic generation and refresh of cryptographic keys. Generally, IKE is used as part of virtual private networking.
Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP): A protocol that allows a client to retrieve and manipulate mail messages that are stored on a server.
Internet name: An alias for an IP address that consists of words rather than numbers.
Internet Protocol (IP): A protocol that routes data through a network or interconnected networks. This protocol acts as an intermediary between the higher protocol layers and the physical network. See also Transmission Control Protocol.
Internet Protocol address: See IP address. See also static IP address, dynamic IP address.
Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol (ISAKMP): A protocol that provides the mechanism to establish Security Associations (SA) and cryptographic keys in an Internet environment. ISAKMP establishes the security characteristics and cryptographic keys to be used in a virtual private network (VPN).
Internet server: A program (or set of programs) that accepts requests from corresponding client programs over the Internet and responds to those clients over the Internet.
Internet service provider (ISP): An organization that provides access to the Internet.
Internet suite of protocols: Networking standards defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), for example, TCP/IP.
interoperability: The ability of a computer or program to work with other computers or programs.
interpreter: A program that translates and runs each instruction of a high-level programming language before it translates and runs the next instruction.
interprocess communication (IPC): The process by which programs send messages to each other. Sockets, semaphores, signals, and internal message queues are common methods of interprocess communication.
interrecord-separator character (IRS): In BSC, a transmission control character that is used to separate records within a block of data.
interregion communication (IRC): The method by which CICS provides communication between a CICS region and another region in the same processor. Interregion communication is used for multiregion operation (MRO). See also intersystem communication.
interrupt: A signal sent by an I/O device to the processor when an error has occurred or when assistance is needed to complete I/O. An interrupt usually suspends the running of the program that is currently running.
intersystem communication (ISC): A CICS facility that provides inbound and outbound support for communication from other computer systems. See also interregion communication.
intersystem communications function (ICF): A function of the operating system that allows a program to communicate interactively with another program or system.
interval control: In CICS, a facility that handles, synchronizes, and initiates the tasks requested by user application programs and CICS internal service routines.
interval control element (ICE): An entry under CICS interval control that is waiting in an unexpired state. Its defined date and time (to become current) are in the future. When an ICE expires it becomes an automatic initiation descriptor (AID).
intranet: An organization's internal network that uses the IP protocol.
intrapartition destination: In CICS, a type of transient data queue used subsequently as input data to another task within CICS.
intrarecord data structure: In COBOL, the entire collection of groups and elementary data items from a logical record that is defined by an adjacent subset of the data description entries that describe that record. These data description entries include all entries whose level-number is greater than the level-number of the first data description entry describing the intrarecord data structure.
intrasystem communications: A function that allows two programs that are running in two different jobs on the same system to communicate with each other through an ICF file.
intrinsic: Belonging to the essential nature of a thing.
introspector: In Java, a class (java.beans.Introspector) that provides a standard way for tools to learn about the properties, events, and methods supported by a target bean. Introspectors follow the JavaBeans specification.
intrusion detection scan: Software that notifies the user of attempts to hack into, disrupt, or deny service to the system.
intrusion prevention system (IPS): A system that attempts to deny potentially malicious activity. The denial mechanisms could involve filtering, tracking, or setting rate limits.
INVALID KEY condition: In COBOL, a run-time condition in which the value of a key for an indexed or direct file does not give a correct reference to the file.
invariant: Pertaining to constraints on a set of data values that must always be satisfied. A single data value may be constrained (for example, x > 5) or the relationships between the data values may be constrained (for example, x > y).
invariant character set: A set of characters, such as the syntactic character set, that are assigned the same code points in all coded character sets or code pages that have the same underlying encoding scheme. See also encoding scheme, code page.
inverted HDLC: The conversion of 0-bits to 1-bits, and vice versa, to guarantee the transmission of data at the data link layer. The data link control protocol must be an HDLC-based protocol.
invite-program-device operation: An input/output operation that invites an acquired program device to send input to a program and returns control to the program without waiting for the input to arrive.
I/O: See input/output.
IO1: A data tower of an Intelligent Printer Data Stream (IPDS) construct that represents image data. Both IM1 and IO1 represent a raster pattern, but IO1 commands provide additional functions.
IOA (I/O adapter): See input/output adapter.
I/O adapter (IOA): See input/output adapter.
IOC (I/O controller): See input/output controller.
IOCA: See Image Object Content Architecture.
I/O card Licensed Internal Code: The Licensed Internal Code in a controller or adapter card.
I/O channel: See input/output channel.
I-O control: In COBOL, the name of the header for an Environment Division paragraph in which program requirements for specific input/output techniques are specified. These techniques include checkpoints, the sharing of the same areas by several data files, and multiple file storage on a single input/output device.
I/O controller (IOC): See input/output controller.
I/O feedback area: In the C language, an area made up of two sections: the common area and the file-dependent area. The common area contains information about I/O operations performed on the file, such as the number of operations performed and which operation was performed last. The file-dependent area contains file-specific information for display, database, printer, and ICF files.
I-O mode: In COBOL, an open mode where records can be read from, written to, or removed from the file.
IOP (I/O processor): See input/output processor.
IOP-level partitioning: A dedicated allocation of the input/output processor (IOP) and all accompanying resources (input/output devices) to a particular logical partition. IOPs on a single bus may be dedicated to different logical partitions. The bus resources that contain these IOPs must be shared. See also bus-level partitioning.
I/O processor (IOP): See input/output processor.
I/O server: Software that provides I/O service to other logical partitions on the same system.
I-O status: In COBOL, a conceptual entity that contains the two-character value indicating the resulting status of an input-output operation. This value is made available to the program through the use of the FILE STATUS clause in the file control entry for the file.
IP: See Internet Protocol. See also Transmission Control Protocol.
IP address (Internet Protocol address): A unique address for a device or logical unit on a network that uses the IP standard. See also static IP address, dynamic IP address.
IPC: See interprocess communication.
IP datagram: A unit of information that is sent across a TCP/IP network. An IP datagram contains both data and header information, such as the IP addresses of the origin and of the destination.
IPDS: See Intelligent Printer Data Stream.
IPF: See Information Presentation Facility.
IPF file: See Information Presentation Facility file.
IP filter: A filter that provides the basic protection mechanism for a firewall by determining what traffic passes through the firewall based on IP session details. This protects the secure network from outsiders who use unsophisticated techniques (such as scanning for secure servers) or even the most sophisticated techniques (such as IP address spoofing). IP filters are the base on which the other tools are constructed, providing the infrastructure in which they operate and denying access to all but the most determined cracker.
IPI: See intelligent peripheral interface.
IPI-3: The IBM implementation of the proposed ANSI/X3T9.3 standard defining the electrical, data link protocol, and functional interfaces.
IPL: See initial program load.
IPLA: See International Program License Agreement.
IP multicast: Transmission of an Internet Protocol (IP) datagram to a set of systems that form a single multicast group.
IP over IPX: A function of the operating system that allows an application using the sockets' communications application programming interface (API), with address family AF_INET, to communicate interactively with another program or system over an Internetwork Package Exchange (IPX) network.
IP over SNA: A function of the operating system that allows an application using the sockets communications API, with address family AF_INET, to communicate interactively with another program or system over an SNA network.
IP packet security: See packet rule.
ips: See inches per second.
IPS: See intrusion prevention system.
IPSec: See IP Security Architecture.; See IP security protocol.
IP Security Architecture (IPSec): A collection of Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards that define an architecture at the Internet Protocol (IP) layer to protect IP traffic by using various security services.
IP security protocol (IPSec): A protocol that provides cryptographic security services at the network layer.
IQN: See iSCSI qualified name.
IR: See Interface Repository.
IRC: See interregion communication. See also intersystem communication.
IRS: See interrecord-separator character.
ISAKMP: See Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol.
ISC: See intersystem communication. See also interregion communication.
iSCSI: The encapsulation and transfer of the SCSI command set and data over IP networks. See also Small Computer System Interface.
iSCSI qualified name (IQN): A unique name that identifies an iSCSI target adapter or an iSCSI initiator adapter as defined by the iSCSI standard (RFC 3722).
ISDB: See interactive source debugger.
ISDN: See Integrated Services Digital Network.
ISDN data link control (IDLC): An asynchronous, balanced data link protocol used between two systems to exchange information over an ISDN B-channel.
iSeries: A system in the System i family of general purpose systems that supports IBM i and Operating System/400 and that provides application portability across all models. See also Operating System/400, IBM i.
ISO: See International Organization for Standardization.
ISO 8208: See X.25.
ISO/IEC 10646: See International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission 10646 UCS-2 level 1.
isolation level: An attribute that defines the degree to which an application process is isolated from other concurrently executing application processes. Isolation levels generally relate to the behavior of an application with respect to locks.
ISP: See Internet service provider.
ISQL: See interactive SQL.
ISS: See image symbol set. See also vector symbol set.
ITB character: See intermediate-text-block character.
item: In dynamic data exchange, the identifier for a source of data. For example, the top, left cell position in a spreadsheet is row 1, column 1. This cell's item is R1C1.
iteration: The repetition of a set of computer instructions until a condition is satisfied.
ITF: See interactive terminal facility.
ITU-T: See Telecommunication Standardization Sector.
IVP: See installation verification procedure.
IXA: See Integrated xSeries Adapter.
IXS: See Integrated xSeries Server.