Big Red Switch n.
[IBM] The power switch on a computer,
esp. the `Emergency Pull' switch on an IBM mainframe or the
power switch on an IBM PC where it really is large and red. "This
!@%$% bitty box is hung again; time to hit the Big Red
Switch." Sources at IBM report that, in tune with the company's
passion for TLAs, this is often abbreviated as `BRS' (this
has also become established on FidoNet and in the PC clone
world). It is alleged that the emergency pull switch on an IBM
360/91 actually fired a non-conducting bolt into the main power
feed; the BRSes on more recent mainframes physically drop a block
into place so that they can't be pushed back in. People get fired
for pulling them, especially inappropriately (see also
molly-guard). Compare power cycle,
[IBM] The power switch on a computer,
esp. the `Emergency Pull' switch on an IBM mainframe or the
power switch on an IBM PC where it really is large and red. "This
!@%$% bitty box is hung again; time to hit the Big Red
Switch." Sources at IBM report that, in tune with the company's
passion for TLAs, this is often abbreviated as `BRS' (this
has also become established on FidoNet and in the PC clone
world). It is alleged that the emergency pull switch on an IBM
360/91 actually fired a non-conducting bolt into the main power
feed; the BRSes on more recent mainframes physically drop a block
into place so that they can't be pushed back in. People get fired
for pulling them, especially inappropriately (see also
molly-guard). Compare power cycle,
Related:
- Big Red Switch: [IBM] n. The power switch on a computer,
esp. the `Emergency Pull' switch on an IBM {mainframe}... - scram switch: [from the nuclear power industry] n. An
emergency-power-off switch (see {Big Red Switch}),
esp. one positioned to be easily hit by evacuating... - scram switch n.
[from the nuclear power industry] An
emergency-power-off switch (see Big Red Switch),
esp. one positioned to be easily hit by evacuating... - 120 reset: /wuhn-twen'tee ree'set/ [from 120 volts,
U.S. wall voltage] n. To cycle power on a machine... - 120 reset /wuhn-twen'tee ree'set/ n.
[from 120 volts,
U.S. wall voltage] To cycle power on a machine in order... - power cycle: vt. (also, `cycle power' or just `cycle') To
power off a machine and then power it on immediately,
with the intention of clearing some kind of {hung}... - power cycle vt.
(also, `cycle power' or just `cycle')
To power off a machine and then power it on immediately,
with the intention of clearing some kind of hung... - molly-guard /mol'ee-gard/ n.
[University of Illinois] A
shield to prevent tripping of some Big Red Switch by clumsy or
ignorant hands.
Originally used of the plexiglass covers improvised... - molly-guard: /mol'ee-gard/ [University of Illinois] n.
A shield to prevent tripping of some {Big Red Switch}...
