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Transaction Processing Monitor (TPM)
Last Updated: August 18, 2011
Definition - What does Transaction Processing Monitor (TPM) mean?
A transaction processing monitor (TPM) is a program that monitors transactions from one stage to the next, ensuring that each one completes successfully; if not, or if an error occurs, the TM Monitor takes the appropriate action. A transaction processing monitor’s main purpose/objective is to allow resource sharing and assure optimal use of the resources by applications.
This term is sometimes shortened to TP monitor.
Techopedia explains Transaction Processing Monitor (TPM)
A transation processing monitor is critical in multi-tier architectures. With processes running on different platforms, a given transaction may be forwarded to any one of several servers. Generally, the TP monitor handles all load balancing. After completing each transaction, the TPM can process another transaction without being influenced by the prior transaction. In other words the TPM model essentially is stateless
In general, a TPM provides the following functionality:
- Coordinating resources
- Balancing loads
- Creating new processes as/when needed
- Providing secure access to services
- Routing services
- Wrapping data messages into messages
- Unwrapping messages into data packets/structures
- Monitoring operations/transactions
- Managing queues
- Handling errors through such actions as process restarting
- Hiding interprocess communications details from programmers
