[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference azur::mcc

Title:DECmcc user notes file. Does not replace IPMT.
Notice:Use IPMT for problems. Newsletter location in note 6187
Moderator:TAEC::BEROUD
Created:Mon Aug 21 1989
Last Modified:Wed Jun 04 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:6497
Total number of notes:27359

1810.0. "Private MIB's w/TCPIP_AM? Private MIB's included w/TCPIP_AM? " by DUCAT2::FOUR62::LICAUSE (Al Licause (338-5661)) Wed Nov 13 1991 14:32

I've noticed that the current (V1.1) TCPIP_AM includes 5 third party MIB
definitions and two DEC (I'm assuming that the FDDI is from DEC).

Can someone tell us if, over a time, additional *MIBDEF*.TXT files will
simply be included with distribution of this AM or we will wait to include
more MIB's with the next verion(s) of the AM?

It is a small point, but if we tell a customer that "you simply order the
kit, or pull it from the CD and it will have company X's MIB's".....we
are certain that the MIBDEF's will actually be in the kit.

Will a list be maintained anywhere as to what is in the distribution with 
regard to the above, (perhaps the SPD)?

Thanks,
Al

T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1810.1yes and noTOOK::MATTHEWSWed Nov 13 1991 15:0226
    We will include more MIBs with future versions of the SNMP AM. However,
    there will not be a concept of "one stop shopping" from DEC for MIBS.
    MIBS are just too dynamic, new mibs are made available every week,
    and withdrawn as fast as they are made available. Agents and mibs
    do not always match. ETC. ETC.
    
    DEC will distribute those MIBs that we have a relationship with the
    vendor that allows us to pre-test a MIB against a specific version
    of an agent. Those MIBs that pass this test are candidates for
    inclusion on our kit. If customers need support for other mibs they
    can get them from the vendors and install them. They are responsible
    for the testing, etc.
    
    At Interop we had a dictionary with over 36 MIB extensions that
    we tested against. Believe me, you would not want all of them.
    There were a lot of problems in that most were prototype mibs.
    
    You will hear a lot about MIB conformance to standards over the
    next few years. The industry strongly needs an "Underwriters
    Labratory" seal of conformance for MIBs if SNMP is to realize
    all the hype around its potential. Various agents need to
    implement the protocol correctly and all of them need to follow
    the MIB standard before we can start writing generic TCP oriented
    FMs.
    
    wally
1810.2Not just DEC's problem.SUBWAY::REILLYMike Reilly - New York Bank DistrictWed Nov 13 1991 17:5126
    We should also be suggesting to customers that they request  a
    floppy with the latest concise mib definition be shipped with all
    SNMP based products they order.  
    
    With the current multi-protocol router vendors there is a tendency
    to add new features to their products, enhance the SNMP agent and
    then forget to update their ASN.1 definition.  If customers only
    accept products which have current MIB definitons supplied with them
    then there will be less pressure on management station suppliers to
    provide the MIB definitions. 
    
    As the product cycle for many of the smaller vendors in now
    measured in weeks, and our DECmcc product cycle is about a year, I
    don't see how DEC can ever provide current MIB defns with our SSB
    released kits.
    
    There is a pressing need for a clearing house for MIBs, and DEC need
    to have our compiler used in the verification process.  The MOSY
    compiler currently used by the Internet community allows many common
    errors to pass thru without detection.  Now who is going to fund
    this effort????
    
    - Mike
    - Mike
    
    
1810.3Opportunity ENUF::GASSMANThu Nov 14 1991 12:2414
    This problem is an opportunity for a group with an desire to make
    money. NOBODY is going to fund this - but if a group invests in this,
    there is money to be made.  My assumption is based on an informal poll
    that says customers will pay $1000 for a MIB update service.  One
    person would be required, full time, to collect MIBS, test them, call
    up the vendors to get fixes, and distribute the 'update service' on
    a CD-ROM everytime it goes out.  An encryption utility to prevent
    'stealing the service' might also be appropriate.  There are well over
    100 customers of the TCP/IP-AM today - there are over 100 customers of
    MSU.  If you can sell the service to 50% of today's customers base, you
    have funded one person for about six months (BUP pricing), and the 
    customer base is growing.
    
    bill