A Network Processor (NP) is a network connection to a Teradata Database that is used by TDP to communicate with that Database. Many NPs can be used for communication between a Database and a TDP.
Unlike CP devices, NP connections are not configured to the operating system. TDP uses the operating system IP stack to communicate with NPs. TDP does not access this stack unless a TDP START NP command is issued. If the appropriate IP stack is not operational, the NP will wait for its availability; in effect, an unavailable stack is considered a communication loss.
NPs and CPs may both be used simultaneously by the same TDP.