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GLOSSARY

There are a lot of different codewords and jargon involved with HP hardware. This page attempts to help. Further help can sometimes be found in the Hardware Database where a lot of codenames are used.

Artist
GSC Graphics Accelerator
ASP
Host bus adapter used in older workstations. The predecessor to Lasi.
Astro
Integrated Runway to Ropes bridge, Memory controller, and IOA.
Bravehawk
The PA-8200 based K class servers.
CIO
Channel I/O. The predecessor to HP-PB.
Crayon
Also a graphics thingy (thanks to Martin Petersen for this answer)
Cujo
Dino with a 64-bit data path. Doesn't support dual address cycle.
Dino
GSC to PCI Bridge. Integrated PS/2, Serial port, and fire extinguisher.
ELF
Executable & Linking Format. Linux/PA-RISC executables & libraries all use this format. HP-UX uses it for 64-bit executables.
Elroy
Ropes to PCI Bridge. Used in current B/C/J/L/N-class machines. Supports 4X PCI and dual address cycle.
EPIC
Excalibur PCI-bus Interface Chip. Integrated IOA. Used in V-class.
Gecko
The codename for the 712 series of workstations.
GSC
HP proprietary bus. Initially used for I/O, but PA-7100LC & PA-7300LC processors connect directly to the GSC bus. GSC comes in several variants:
GSC-1X
The original GSC bus implemented on PCX-L and used in the Gecko, Mirage and Electra computers. Peak Bandwidth 142MB/s w/DMA, 106 MB/s with PIO writes.
GSC+
Enhancements added for KittyHawk/SkyHawk (U2 chip) that allow for pending transactions. GSC+ enhancements are orthogonal to the GSC-1.5X and GSC-2X enhancements. Aka "Extended GSC" or "EGSC".
GSC-1.5X
GSC-1X with an additional variable length write transaction.
GSC-2X
GSC-1.5X with a protocol enhancement to allow data to be sent at double the GCLK rate (Peak bandwidth = 256 MB/s)
Harmony
Lasi sound device
HIL
Human Interface Loop. A HP proprietary interface for connecting I/O devices like keyboards, mice or tablets.
HPMC
High Priority Machine Check. Fatal system error. PDC saves machine state in the PIM.
HP-PB
Hewlett Packard-Precision Bus. HP proprietary I/O bus. Aka NIO.
IOA
IO Adapter. Aka "I/O MMU". Generally handles I/O coherency.
Kittyhawk
The PA-7200 based K class servers.
Lasi
An integrated IO controller (serial, parallel, SCSI, PS/2 keyboard and mouse) found in many workstations.
LPMC
Low Priority Machine Check. Generally a recoverable system error.
Mirage
The codename for the later series of 715 workstations.
Mohawk
The PA-8000 based K class servers.
Mongoose
The EISA bus adapter found in 715/720/725/730/735/750/755 machines.
Nova
The codename for the F, G, H and I class servers.
NIO
See HP-PB
PDC
Processor dependent code. Machine specific assembler code from flash memory or ROM.
PIM
Processor Internal Memory. Machine state is saved here for HPMC, LPMC, and TOC's. See PDC_PIM in "PDC Procedures" chapter of PA I/O ACD.
Runway
PA-7200, -8000, -8200, -8500 processors connect directly to the Runway bus.
SAGA
EPIC with a 64-bit data path. Doesn't support dual address cycle.
Scorpio
The codename for the earlier series of 715 workstations.
SGC
Systems Graphics Connect.
Snakes
The original HP workstations; the 705, 710, 720, 730 and 750.
SOM
Spectrum Object Format. This is the executable & library format used by HP-UX for 32-bit executables. Spectrum was the codename for PA-RISC.
STI
Standard Text Interface.
SuckyIO
National Semiconductor PC87560UBD, aka "SuperIO". Provides IDE, USB 1.1, Floppy Disk Controller, parallel port, 2 serial ports, UIR (infrared), etc. But since National denies the existence of this chip and HP was the only client for this buggy PoS, the name "SuckyIO" has stuck.
Summit
A proprietary bus used in the T-class.
SuperIO
See SuckyIO.
TOC
Transfer of Control. On workstations which have it, basically a "RESET" button. Servers may have more advanced features.
U2
Runway to GSC Bus bridge & IOA. Found in some C/D/J/K/R-class systems.
UltraLight
The codename for the D class servers.
Uturn
U2 follow on. Differences not visible to OS software.
Venom
Graphics Accelerator found in older workstations
Viper
Memory controller
Wax
GSC to EISA Bridge found in older systems (including B/C/D/R-class). Has often one integrated HIL port and one serial port.
Wright Brothers
The codename for the E class servers.