Web Based Monitoring and Management: RE: WBMM> Differences

RE: WBMM> Differences

From: Harry Lewis (harryl@us.ibm.com)
Date: Sun Feb 09 2003 - 00:38:18 EST

  • Next message: TAYLOR,BOB (HP-Vancouver,ex1): "RE: WBMM> Differences"

    Sounds to me like we are nearly in violent agreement. I thought it was you
    who coined the phrase "MIB replacement" in the thread.. so I was just
    trying to speak your language. I agree we should probably articulate the
    charter such that reasonable alternatives may be considered or
    discovered... but I think we should also acknowledge all 3 or 4 most vocal
    and interested parties (so far) seem to "anticipate" the application of
    HTTP and XML to get the job done. When we built the (very successful)
    Printer MIB standard... we did not embark in a vague or general
    direction... I feel being as specific as we can about our goal will help
    us achieve better results sooner.
    ----------------------------------------------
    Harry Lewis
    IBM Printing Systems
    ----------------------------------------------

    "Wagner,William" <WWagner@NetSilicon.com>
    Sent by: owner-wbmm@pwg.org
    02/08/2003 06:49 PM
     
            To: Harry Lewis/Boulder/IBM@IBMUS
            cc: <wbmm@pwg.org>
            Subject: RE: WBMM> Differences

    Harry,
     
    At least we both agree with Cathy.
     
    To answer your questions:
     
    a. Replacing MIBs as an object itself would inherently self justify the
    effort. However, as a part of a solution, the need for such an effort
    must be justified.
     
    b. You can define a PWG activity which, for the various reasons you have
    cited, determines that developing a replacement for MIBs is a justifiable
    object in itself. Quite frankly, I am not sure that I even understand
    what you mean by a replacement for MIBs, and I suggest that some examples
    may help.
     
    Regardless, at this point, your own position is that we have not
    adequately scoped out the WBMM. Therefore, to preserve some order, I
    suggest that we should not be considering solutions to a problem we have
    not defined, but continue in an orderly way to scope out the objective.
     
    Indeed, even though I would agree that I see little alternative to HTTP,
    probably XML, and quite possible SOAP as being components of the solution,
    I would not define these in the objectives or even the requirements. Nor
    would I refuse to entertain alternate ideas if reasonable ones were
    offered. Again, I think that short-circuits the development process.
     
    Bill Wagner
     
     
     

                     -----Original Message-----
                     From: Harry Lewis [mailto:harryl@us.ibm.com]
                     Sent: Fri 2/7/2003 3:28 PM
                     To: Wagner,William
                     Cc: wbmm@pwg.org
                     Subject: RE: WBMM> Differences
     
     

                     Whether we define a "replacement for MIBs" as the result
    of "establishing a transport, protocol and format as part of the solution"
    ... or we do it because it is justifiable in itself... what's the
    difference?
     
                     I wold argue it IS justifiable for reasons I cited in an
    earlier post.. not the least of which is resolving some of the force
    fitting we did with the MIB (ex. MIB-II, hrMIB)... (ex. "magic decode
    ring").
     
                     Also, there are multiple models today (CIM, SNMP, NPAP
    etc.) which it would be good to consolidate
     
                     Also, this is an opportunity for the PWG to address MFP
    function which we've shied from for, probably, too long.
                     ----------------------------------------------
                     Harry Lewis
                     IBM Printing Systems
                     ----------------------------------------------
     
     
     
                     "Wagner,William" <WWagner@NetSilicon.com>

    02/07/2003 01:09 PM

     
            To: Harry Lewis/Boulder/IBM@IBMUS, <wbmm@pwg.org>
            cc:
            Subject: RE: WBMM> Differences

                     Identifying and resolving differences, and coming to
    consensus is one of the main functions of a working group. So let see
    where the differences really lie.
     
                     I believe that scenarios add some specific to the general
    statements of scope. Harry has outlined one, or maybe two here. I solicit
    from whomever has an opinion on this whatever other scenarios they would
    like addressed by this working group.
     
                      I certainly agree that "management across the firewall"
    is the basis for multiple scenarios. To me, the basic problem to be
    solved.
     
                     But is " standard protocol and NEW data model" to be
    taken as an objective in itself , or is it part of the solution to the
    first?
     
                     Certainly, establishing a transport, a protocol, a format
     all need to be defined as part of the solution. If there is a difference
    between me and my fellow officers, it is that I do not agree that
    establishing a replacement for MIBs (as has been cited earlier) is
    justifiable as an objective in itself. Further, I am not convinced that it
    will be a necessary part of the solution.... it may be, but that needs to
    be demonstrated.
     
                     It may be that the "differences" are just a matter of
    semantics. I certainly do not suggest that ASN.1 be used to convey
    management data...but it isn't used now either. What is communicated over
    SNMP is the OID and the value.
     
                     So I suggest that we start talking examples and scenarios
    to better define the scope and objectives. Then we can sort through them
    and see how to proceed.
     
                     Unfortunately, we are now in the middle of a snow storm
    and I must fight my way home, so my contribution will have to wait a
    while. But please, take advantage of the New England weather and beat me
    to the punch!
     
                     Bill Wagner
     
     
                     -----Original Message-----
                     From: Harry Lewis [mailto:harryl@us.ibm.com]
                     Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 2:41 PM
                     To: wbmm@pwg.org
                     Subject: WBMM> Differences
     
     
                     I'd like to try and resolve some of the (unfortunate)
    differences we are having regarding Charter, Scope, Requirements.
     
                     From what I can decipher, there is a well established
    interest in solving the problem "I've been getting at my (device)
    management data remotely, within my enterprise just fine... but, now, how
    can I access it across the firewall" (maybe to provide services to
    multiple enterprises etc.).
     
                     Others also want to solve... "... and what is the
    standard protocol and data model that lends itself to the web services
    environment that may be employed by proxy servers and/or directly in the
    embedded device".
     
                     Of course, we will have legacy SNMP devices to manage for
    quite some time but I don't think the current existence of SNMP is the
    answer to the 2nd question.
                     ----------------------------------------------
                     Harry Lewis
                     IBM Printing Systems
                     ----------------------------------------------
     



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