A Channel Processor (CP) is a pair of devices on the database attached to a mainframe channel and used by TDP to communicate with the database. Many CPs can be used for communication between the database and a TDP.
The devices composing a CP are known to the operating system.
From TDP's perspective, there are two types of CPs, characterized by their communication protocol with TDP:
- Original Channel Interface Controller (CIC)
- Newer Channel Communication Unit (CCU)
CPs and Network Processors may both be used simultaneously by the same TDP.