Synchronization Server Help


Glossary

A

application
A Mobile Devices Administration Center object containing replication subscriptions. To provide group members with access to the data and files defined in replication subscriptions, you create an application and assign subscriptions to it, then assign the application to a group.

Apply qualifier
A character string that identifies subscription definitions that are unique to each instance of the DataPropagator Apply program.

authentication
The process of validating a user's ID and password against entries in the administration control database to ensure that the user is authorized to use the Sync Server to synchronize data.

authorization
In computer security, the right granted to a user to communicate with or make use of a computer system.

B

binary large object (BLOB)
A sequence of bytes, where the size of the sequence ranges from 0 to 2 gigabytes. This string does not have an associated code page and character set. Image, audio, and video objects are stored in BLOBs.

bind
In SQL, the process by which the output from the SQL precompiler is converted to a usable structure called an access plan. During this process, access paths to the data are selected and some authorization checking is performed.

BLOB
See binary large object.

C

client
A program or user that communicates with and accesses a database server. You define clients using the Mobile Devices Administration Center.

conflict detection
The process of detecting an out-of-date row in a target table that was updated by a user application. When a conflict is detected, the transaction that caused the conflict is rejected.

Control Center
A graphical interface that shows database objects (such as databases and tables) and their relationship to each other. From the Control Center you can perform the tasks provided by the DBA Utility, Visual Explain, and Performance Monitor tools.

D

data filter
See filter.

data synchronization
See mobile data synchronization.

database management system (DBMS)
A computer program that manages data by providing the services of centralized control, data independence, and complex physical structures for efficient access, integrity, recovery, concurrency control, privacy, and security.

database server
A functional unit that provides database services for databases.

DB2 Control Center
See Control Center.

DB2 DataPropagator (DPROP)
A replication product that provides an automated method of replicating data from sources to targets. During mobile data synchronization, the mirror and remote databases serve as both source and target. DataPropagator replicates clients' changes from the mirror to the remote database, and also replicates changes from the remote database to the mirror database.

DBCS
See double-byte character set.

DHCP
See Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.

DPROP
See DB2 DataPropagator.

double-byte character set (DBCS)
A set of characters in which each character is represented by two bytes.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
An Internet protocol for automating the configuration of computers that use TCP/IP.

E

enterprise database
See source database.

enterprise server
See source server.

F

filter
A device or program that separates data, signals, or material in accordance with specified criteria.

G

group
A collection of clients that have similar mobile data synchronization needs. You define synchronization characteristics for each group, such as which applications the users in the group need to access to perform their jobs and what subsets of enterprise data they need to access.

H

handheld device
Any computing device that can be held in the hand. Handheld devices include palm-sized PCs and personal digital assistants (PDAs).

I

IBM Sync
The name for the icon representing the client component of the DB2 Everyplace Sync Server software.

J

join
A relational operation that allows for retrieval of data from two or more tables based on matching column values.

K

key
A column or an ordered collection of columns that are identified in the description of a table, index, or referential constraint.

L

large object (LOB)
A sequence of bytes, where the length can be up to 2 gigabytes. It can be any of three types: BLOB (binary), CLOB (single-byte character or mixed) or DBCLOB (double-byte character).

LOB
See large object.

local database
A database that is physically located on the computer in use. Contrast with remote database.

log
A Mobile Devices Administration Center object containing synchronization error messages and their descriptions.

M

master database
See source database.

MDAC
See Mobile Devices Administration Center.

mid-tier system
The machine where the DB2 Everyplace Sync Server is installed. In a two-tier synchronization configuration, the mid-tier and source systems refer to the same machine.

mobile
Pertaining to computing that is performed on a portable computer or a handheld device by a user who is frequently moving among various locations and using different types of network connections (for example, dial-up, LAN, or wireless).

mobile data synchronization
A two-step process whereby mobile users, or clients, submit changes they have made to local copies of source data and receive any changes that have been made to source data (in a remote database) since the last time they synchronized.

Mobile Devices Administration Center (MDAC)
A graphical interface that allows you to create, edit, and view synchronization objects and their relationships to each other. The Mobile Devices Administration Center also allows you to view synchronization status of individual clients and error messages.

O

object
  1. Anything that can be created or manipulated with SQL--for example, tables, view, indexes, or packages.
  2. In object-oriented design or programming, an abstraction consisting of data and operations associated with that data.

ODBC
See Open Database Connectivity.

Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)
An API that allows access to database management systems using callable SQL, which does not require the use of an SQL preprocessor. The ODBC architecture allows users to add modules, called database drivers, that link the application to their choice of database management systems at run time. Applications do not need to be linked directly to the modules of all the supported database management systems.

P

PDA
See personal digital assistant.

persistent
Pertaining to data that is maintained across session boundaries, usually in nonvolatile storage such as a database system or a directory.

personal digital assistant (PDA)
A handheld device that is used for personal organization tasks (such as managing a calendar and note-taking) and includes telephone, fax, and networking features.

pervasive computing (PVC)
The use of a computing infrastructure that includes specialized appliances, known as information appliances, from which users can access a broad range of network-based services (including services that are typically offered through the Internet). These information appliances include televisions, automobiles, telephones, refrigerators, and microwave ovens. Pervasive computing provides convenient access to relevant information and the ability to take action on that information.

primary key
A unique key that is part of the definition of a table. A primary key is the default parent key of a referential constraint definition. With the DB2 Everyplace Sync Server Version 7, each replication source must have one and only one primary key.

privilege
The right to access a specific database object in a specific way. These rights are controlled by users with SYSADM (system administrator) authority or DBADM (database administrator) authority or by creators of objects. Privileges include rights such as creating, deleting, and selecting data from tables.

PVC
See pervasive computing.

Q

QBE
See Query-by-Example.

query
A request for information from the database based on specific conditions; for example, a request for a list of all customers in a customer table whose balance is greater than $1000.

Query-by-Example
An application that allows a user to dynamically view and modify the data stored in a DB2 Everyplace table.

R

RAS
See Remote Access Service.

refresh
A process in which all of the data of interest in a user table is copied to the target table, replacing existing data.

remote database
A database that is physically located on a computer other than the one in use. Contrast with local database. The remote computing device may be stationary and nonportable, or it may be portable.

Remote Access Service (RAS)
A Windows program that manages connections between two systems.

replication
The process of taking changes that are stored in the database log or journal at a source server and applying them to a target server.

replication source
A database table that is defined as a source for replication. After you define a database table as a replication source, the table can accept copy requests.

S

SQL
See Structured Query Language.

source database
A database residing on a source server containing data to be copied to a target system.

source server
The database location of the replication source.

source table
A table that contains the data that is to be copied to a target table. The source table must be a replication source table. Contrast with target table.

subscription
A specification for how the information in a source database is to be replicated to a target database. A subscription allows you to define which subsets of data and files can be copied from the source database. You can create two types of subscriptions: file subscriptions for files stored at the source server and table subscriptions for tables in the source database.

synchronization
See mobile data synchronization.

synchronization object
A manageable item within the Mobile Devices Administration Center that contains information about aspects of the synchronization process in your organization. There are five types of synchronization objects: group, client, application, subscription, and log.

synchronization session
A transaction in which mobile users, or clients, submit changes that they made to local copies of source data and receive any changes that were made to source data (residing on the remote server) since the last time they synchronized.

Structured Query Language (SQL)
A programming language that is used to define and manipulate data in a relational database.

T

target database
A DB2 Everyplace database residing on a mobile device to which data from a source database is copied.

target table
A table to which data from a source table is copied. Mirror tables on the mid-tier server are targets, as are DB2 Everyplace tables on the mobile device.

tap
To use a stylus to interact with a handheld device.

temporary table
A table created during the processing of an SQL statement to hold intermediate results.

V

view
A logical table that consists of data that is generated by a query.

W

wireless LAN
In wireless uses, a mobile user can connect to a local area network (LAN) through a radio connection. Wireless technologies for LAN connection include speed spectrum, microwave, and infrared light.


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