Digital Equipment 300 Series AXP Reference Manual page 293

operating system
An integrated collection of programs that controls the operation
of the system and allows users access to data files, input/output
devices, and application programs. The DEC 3000 Model
300 Series AXP system runs the OpenVMS and DEC OSF/1
operating systems.
operating system mode
The state in which the system console terminal is under the
control of the operating system software. Also called program
mode.
PAL
See Privileged Architecture Library (software).
PALcode
Privileged Architecture Library code, written to support DEC
3000 AXP processors. PALcode implements architecturally
defined behavior.
parameter
A variable given a specific value that is passed to a program
before execution. The system console code uses many such
parameters.
parity
A method for checking the accuracy of data by calculating the
sum of the number of ones in a piece of binary data. Even
parity requires the correct sum to be an even number, odd parity
requires the correct sum to be an odd number.
password
A unique string of characters or numbers, or both that identifies
you to the computer.
password security feature
The feature that restricts access to certain console commands.
To use all console commands, users must enter a password.
Glossary–21