Initial Program Load


initial program load

[i′nish·əl ′prō·grəm ‚lōd] (computer science) A routine, used in starting up a computer, that loads the operating system from a direct-access storage device, usually a disk or diskette, into the computer's main storage. Abbreviated IPL.

Initial Program Load

(operating system)(IPL) The procedure used to (re-)start acomputer system by copying the operating system kernelinto main memory and running it. Part of the boot sequence.