Network Working Group M. Rose
Request for Comments: 1212 Performance Systems International
K. McCloghrie
Hughes LAN Systems
Editors
March 1991
Concise MIB Definitions
Status of this Memo
This memo defines a format for producing MIB modules. This RFC
specifies an IAB standards track document for the Internet community,
and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements. Please
refer to the current edition of the "IAB Official Protocol Standards"
for the standardization state and status of this protocol.
Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Table of Contents
1. Abstract.............................................. 2
2. Historical Perspective ............................... 2
3. Columnar Objects ..................................... 3
3.1 Row Deletion ........................................ 4
3.2 Row Addition ........................................ 4
4. Defining Objects ..................................... 5
4.1 Mapping of the OBJECT-TYPE macro .................... 7
4.1.1 Mapping of the SYNTAX clause ...................... 7
4.1.2 Mapping of the ACCESS clause ...................... 8
4.1.3 Mapping of the STATUS clause ...................... 8
4.1.4 Mapping of the DESCRIPTION clause ................. 8
4.1.5 Mapping of the REFERENCE clause ................... 8
4.1.6 Mapping of the INDEX clause ....................... 8
4.1.7 Mapping of the DEFVAL clause ...................... 10
4.1.8 Mapping of the OBJECT-TYPE value .................. 11
4.2 Usage Example ....................................... 11
5. Appendix: DE-osifying MIBs ........................... 13
5.1 Managed Object Mapping .............................. 14
5.1.1 Mapping to the SYNTAX clause ...................... 15
5.1.2 Mapping to the ACCESS clause ...................... 15
5.1.3 Mapping to the STATUS clause ...................... 15
5.1.4 Mapping to the DESCRIPTION clause ................. 15
5.1.5 Mapping to the REFERENCE clause ................... 16
5.1.6 Mapping to the INDEX clause ....................... 16
5.1.7 Mapping to the DEFVAL clause ...................... 16
5.2 Action Mapping ...................................... 16
5.2.1 Mapping to the SYNTAX clause ...................... 16
5.2.2 Mapping to the ACCESS clause ...................... 16
SNMP Working Group [Page 1]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
5.2.3 Mapping to the STATUS clause ...................... 16
5.2.4 Mapping to the DESCRIPTION clause ................. 16
5.2.5 Mapping to the REFERENCE clause ................... 16
6. Acknowledgements ..................................... 17
7. References ........................................... 18
8. Security Considerations............................... 19
9. Authors' Addresses.................................... 19
1. Abstract
This memo describes a straight-forward approach toward producing
concise, yet descriptive, MIB modules. It is intended that all
future MIB modules be written in this format.
2. Historical Perspective
As reported in RFC 1052, IAB Recommendations for the Development of
Internet Network Management Standards [1], a two-prong strategy for
network management of TCP/IP-based internets was undertaken. In the
short-term, the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), defined in
RFC 1067, was to be used to manage nodes in the Internet community.
In the long-term, the use of the OSI network management framework was
to be examined. Two documents were produced to define the management
information: RFC 1065, which defined the Structure of Management
Information (SMI), and RFC 1066, which defined the Management
Information Base (MIB). Both of these documents were designed so as
to be compatible with both the SNMP and the OSI network management
framework.
This strategy was quite successful in the short-term: Internet-based
network management technology was fielded, by both the research and
commercial communities, within a few months. As a result of this,
portions of the Internet community became network manageable in a
timely fashion.
As reported in RFC 1109, Report of the Second Ad Hoc Network
Management Review Group [2], the requirements of the SNMP and the OSI
network management frameworks were more different than anticipated.
As such, the requirement for compatibility between the SMI/MIB and
both frameworks was suspended. This action permitted the operational
network management framework, based on the SNMP, to respond to new
operational needs in the Internet community by producing MIB-II.
In May of 1990, the core documents were elevated to "Standard
Protocols" with "Recommended" status. As such, the Internet-standard
network management framework consists of: Structure and
Identification of Management Information for TCP/IP-based internets,
RFC 1155 [3], which describes how managed objects contained in the
SNMP Working Group [Page 2]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
MIB are defined; Management Information Base for Network Management
of TCP/IP-based internets, which describes the managed objects
contained in the MIB, RFC 1156 [4]; and, the Simple Network
Management Protocol, RFC 1157 [5], which defines the protocol used to
manage these objects. Consistent with the IAB directive to produce
simple, workable systems in the short-term, the list of managed
objects defined in the Internet-standard MIB was derived by taking
only those elements which are considered essential. However, the SMI
defined three extensibility mechanisms: one, the addition of new
standard objects through the definitions of new versions of the MIB;
two, the addition of widely-available but non-standard objects
through the experimental subtree; and three, the addition of private
objects through the enterprises subtree. Such additional objects can
not only be used for vendor-specific elements, but also for
experimentation as required to further the knowledge of which other
objects are essential.
As more objects are defined using the second method, experience has
shown that the resulting MIB descriptions contain redundant
information. In order to provide for MIB descriptions which are more
concise, and yet as informative, an enhancement is suggested. This
enhancement allows the author of a MIB to remove the redundant
information, while retaining the important descriptive text.
Before presenting the approach, a brief presentation of columnar
object handling by the SNMP is necessary. This explains and further
motivates the value of the enhancement.
3. Columnar Objects
The SNMP supports operations on MIB objects whose syntax is
ObjectSyntax as defined in the SMI. Informally stated, SNMP
operations apply exclusively to scalar objects. However, it is
convenient for developers of management applications to impose
imaginary, tabular structures on the ordered collection of objects
that constitute the MIB. Each such conceptual table contains zero or
more rows, and each row may contain one or more scalar objects,
termed columnar objects. Historically, this conceptualization has
been formalized by using the OBJECT-TYPE macro to define both an
object which corresponds to a table and an object which corresponds
to a row in that table. (The ACCESS clause for such objects is
"not-accessible", of course.) However, it must be emphasized that, at
the protocol level, relationships among columnar objects in the same
row is a matter of convention, not of protocol.
Note that there are good reasons why the tabular structure is not a
matter of protocol. Consider the operation of the SNMP Get-Next-PDU
acting on the last columnar object of an instance of a conceptual
SNMP Working Group [Page 3]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
row; it returns the next column of the first conceptual row or the
first object instance occurring after the table. In contrast, if the
rows were a matter of protocol, then it would instead return an
error. By not returning an error, a single PDU exchange informs the
manager that not only has the end of the conceptual row/table been
reached, but also provides information on the next object instance,
thereby increasing the information density of the PDU exchange.
3.1. Row Deletion
Nonetheless, it is highly useful to provide a means whereby a
conceptual row may be removed from a table. In MIB-II, this was
achieved by defining, for each conceptual row, an integer-valued
columnar object. If a management station sets the value of this
object to some value, usually termed "invalid", then the effect is
one of invalidating the corresponding row in the table. However, it
is an implementation-specific matter as to whether an agent removes
an invalidated entry from the table. Accordingly, management
stations must be prepared to receive tabular information from agents
that corresponds to entries not currently in use. Proper
interpretation of such entries requires examination of the columnar
object indicating the in-use status.
3.2. Row Addition
It is also highly useful to have a clear understanding of how a
conceptual row may be added to a table. In the SNMP, at the protocol
level, a management station issues an SNMP set operation containing
an arbitrary set of variable bindings. In the case that an agent
detects that one or more of those variable bindings refers to an
object instance not currently available in that agent, it may,
according to the rules of the SNMP, behave according to any of the
following paradigms:
(1) It may reject the SNMP set operation as referring to
non-existent object instances by returning a response
with the error-status field set to "noSuchName" and the
error-index field set to refer to the first vacuous
reference.
(2) It may accept the SNMP set operation as requesting the
creation of new object instances corresponding to each
of the object instances named in the variable bindings.
The value of each (potentially) newly created object
instance is specified by the "value" component of the
relevant variable binding. In this case, if the request
specifies a value for a newly (or previously) created
object that it deems inappropriate by reason of value or
SNMP Working Group [Page 4]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
syntax, then it rejects the SNMP set operation by
responding with the error-status field set to badValue
and the error-index field set to refer to the first
offending variable binding.
(3) It may accept the SNMP set operation and create new
object instances as described in (2) above and, in
addition, at its discretion, create supplemental object
instances to complete a row in a conceptual table of
which the new object instances specified in the request
may be a part.
It should be emphasized that all three of the above behaviors are
fully conformant to the SNMP specification and are fully acceptable,
subject to any restrictions which may be imposed by access control
and/or the definitions of the MIB objects themselves.
4. Defining Objects
The Internet-standard SMI employs a two-level approach towards object
definition. A MIB definition consists of two parts: a textual part,
in which objects are placed into groups, and a MIB module, in which
objects are described solely in terms of the ASN.1 macro OBJECT-TYPE,
which is defined by the SMI.
An example of the former definition might be:
OBJECT:
-------
sysLocation { system 6 }
Syntax:
DisplayString (SIZE (0..255))
Definition:
The physical location of this node (e.g., "telephone
closet, 3rd floor").
Access:
read-only.
Status:
mandatory.
An example of the latter definition might be:
sysLocation OBJECT-TYPE
SYNTAX DisplayString (SIZE (0..255))
SNMP Working Group [Page 5]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
ACCESS read-only
STATUS mandatory
::= { system 6 }
In the interests of brevity and to reduce the chance of
editing errors, it would seem useful to combine the two
definitions. This can be accomplished by defining an
extension to the OBJECT-TYPE macro:
IMPORTS
ObjectName
FROM RFC1155-SMI
DisplayString
FROM RFC1158-MIB;
OBJECT-TYPE MACRO ::=
BEGIN
TYPE NOTATION ::=
-- must conform to
-- RFC1155's ObjectSyntax
"SYNTAX" type(ObjectSyntax)
"ACCESS" Access
"STATUS" Status
DescrPart
ReferPart
IndexPart
DefValPart
VALUE NOTATION ::= value (VALUE ObjectName)
Access ::= "read-only"
| "read-write"
| "write-only"
| "not-accessible"
Status ::= "mandatory"
| "optional"
| "obsolete"
| "deprecated"
DescrPart ::=
"DESCRIPTION" value (description DisplayString)
| empty
ReferPart ::=
"REFERENCE" value (reference DisplayString)
| empty
IndexPart ::=
"INDEX" "{" IndexTypes "}"
SNMP Working Group [Page 6]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
| empty
IndexTypes ::=
IndexType | IndexTypes "," IndexType
IndexType ::=
-- if indexobject, use the SYNTAX
-- value of the correspondent
-- OBJECT-TYPE invocation
value (indexobject ObjectName)
-- otherwise use named SMI type
-- must conform to IndexSyntax below
| type (indextype)
DefValPart ::=
"DEFVAL" "{" value (defvalue ObjectSyntax) "}"
| empty
END
IndexSyntax ::=
CHOICE {
number
INTEGER (0..MAX),
string
OCTET STRING,
object
OBJECT IDENTIFIER,
address
NetworkAddress,
ipAddress
IpAddress
}
4.1. Mapping of the OBJECT-TYPE macro
It should be noted that the expansion of the OBJECT-TYPE macro is
something which conceptually happens during implementation and not
during run-time.
4.1.1. Mapping of the SYNTAX clause
The SYNTAX clause, which must be present, defines the abstract data
structure corresponding to that object type. The ASN.1 language [6]
is used for this purpose. However, the SMI purposely restricts the
ASN.1 constructs which may be used. These restrictions are made
expressly for simplicity.
SNMP Working Group [Page 7]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
4.1.2. Mapping of the ACCESS clause
The ACCESS clause, which must be present, defines the minimum level
of support required for that object type. As a local matter,
implementations may support other access types (e.g., an
implementation may elect to permitting writing a variable marked as
read-only). Further, protocol-specific "views" (e.g., those
indirectly implied by an SNMP community) may make further
restrictions on access to a variable.
4.1.3. Mapping of the STATUS clause
The STATUS clause, which must be present, defines the implementation
support required for that object type.
4.1.4. Mapping of the DESCRIPTION clause
The DESCRIPTION clause, which need not be present, contains a textual
definition of that object type which provides all semantic
definitions necessary for implementation, and should embody any
information which would otherwise be communicated in any ASN.1
commentary annotations associated with the object. Note that, in
order to conform to the ASN.1 syntax, the entire value of this clause
must be enclosed in double quotation marks, although the value may be
multi-line.
Further, note that if the MIB module does not contain a textual
description of the object type elsewhere then the DESCRIPTION clause
must be present.
4.1.5. Mapping of the REFERENCE clause
The REFERENCE clause, which need not be present, contains a textual
cross-reference to an object defined in some other MIB module. This
is useful when de-osifying a MIB produced by some other organization.
4.1.6. Mapping of the INDEX clause
The INDEX clause, which may be present only if that object type
corresponds to a conceptual row, defines instance identification
information for that object type. (Historically, each MIB definition
contained a section entitled "Identification of OBJECT instances for
use with the SNMP". By using the INDEX clause, this section need no
longer occur as this clause concisely captures the precise semantics
needed for instance identification.)
If the INDEX clause is not present, and the object type corresponds
to a non-columnar object, then instances of the object are identified
SNMP Working Group [Page 8]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
by appending a sub-identifier of zero to the name of that object.
Further, note that if the MIB module does not contain a textual
description of how instance identification information is derived for
columnar objects, then the INDEX clause must be present.
To define the instance identification information, determine which
object value(s) will unambiguously distinguish a conceptual row. The
syntax of those objects indicate how to form the instance-identifier:
(1) integer-valued: a single sub-identifier taking the
integer value (this works only for non-negative
integers);
(2) string-valued, fixed-length strings: `n' sub-identifiers,
where `n' is the length of the string (each octet of the
string is encoded in a separate sub-identifier);
(3) string-valued, variable-length strings: `n+1' sub-
identifiers, where `n' is the length of the string (the
first sub-identifier is `n' itself, following this, each
octet of the string is encoded in a separate sub-
identifier);
(4) object identifier-valued: `n+1' sub-identifiers, where
`n' is the number of sub-identifiers in the value (the
first sub-identifier is `n' itself, following this, each
sub-identifier in the value is copied);
(5) NetworkAddress-valued: `n+1' sub-identifiers, where `n'
depends on the kind of address being encoded (the first
sub-identifier indicates the kind of address, value 1
indicates an IpAddress); or,
(6) IpAddress-valued: 4 sub-identifiers, in the familiar
a.b.c.d notation.
Note that if an "indextype" value is present (e.g., INTEGER rather
than ifIndex), then a DESCRIPTION clause must be present; the text
contained therein indicates the semantics of the "indextype" value.
SNMP Working Group [Page 9]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
By way of example, in the context of MIB-II [7], the following INDEX
clauses might be present:
objects under INDEX clause
----------------- ------------
ifEntry { ifIndex }
atEntry { atNetIfIndex,
atNetAddress }
ipAddrEntry { ipAdEntAddr }
ipRouteEntry { ipRouteDest }
ipNetToMediaEntry { ipNetToMediaIfIndex,
ipNetToMediaNetAddress }
tcpConnEntry { tcpConnLocalAddress,
tcpConnLocalPort,
tcpConnRemoteAddress,
tcpConnRemotePort }
udpEntry { udpLocalAddress,
udpLocalPort }
egpNeighEntry { egpNeighAddr }
4.1.7. Mapping of the DEFVAL clause
The DEFVAL clause, which need not be present, defines an acceptable
default value which may be used when an object instance is created at
the discretion of the agent acting in conformance with the third
paradigm described in Section 4.2 above.
During conceptual row creation, if an instance of a columnar object
is not present as one of the operands in the correspondent SNMP set
operation, then the value of the DEFVAL clause, if present, indicates
an acceptable default value that the agent might use.
The value of the DEFVAL clause must, of course, correspond to the
SYNTAX clause for the object. Note that if an operand to the SNMP
set operation is an instance of a read-only object, then the error
noSuchName will be returned. As such, the DEFVAL clause can be used
to provide an acceptable default value that the agent might use.
It is possible that no acceptable default value may exist for any of
the columnar objects in a conceptual row for which the creation of
new object instances is allowed. In this case, the objects specified
in the INDEX clause must have a corresponding ACCESS clause value of
read-write.
SNMP Working Group [Page 10]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
By way of example, consider the following possible DEFVAL clauses:
ObjectSyntax DEFVAL clause
----------------- ------------
INTEGER 1 -- same for Counter, Gauge, TimeTicks
OCTET STRING 'ffffffffffff'h
DisplayString "any NVT ASCII string"
OBJECT IDENTIFIER sysDescr
OBJECT IDENTIFIER { system 2 }
NULL NULL
NetworkAddress { internet 'c0210415'h }
IpAddress 'c0210415'h -- 192.33.4.21
4.1.8. Mapping of the OBJECT-TYPE value
The value of an invocation of the OBJECT-TYPE macro is the name of
the object, which is an object identifier.
4.2. Usage Example
Consider how the ipNetToMediaTable from MIB-II might be fully
described:
-- the IP Address Translation tables
-- The Address Translation tables contain IpAddress to
-- "physical" address equivalences. Some interfaces do not
-- use translation tables for determining address equivalences
-- (e.g., DDN-X.25 has an algorithmic method); if all
-- interfaces are of this type, then the Address Translation
-- table is empty, i.e., has zero entries.
ipNetToMediaTable OBJECT-TYPE
SYNTAX SEQUENCE OF IpNetToMediaEntry
ACCESS not-accessible
STATUS mandatory
DESCRIPTION
"The IP Address Translation table used for mapping
from IP addresses to physical addresses."
::= { ip 22 }
ipNetToMediaEntry OBJECT-TYPE
SYNTAX IpNetToMediaEntry
ACCESS not-accessible
STATUS mandatory
DESCRIPTION
"Each entry contains one IpAddress to 'physical'
SNMP Working Group [Page 11]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
address equivalence."
INDEX { ipNetToMediaIfIndex,
ipNetToMediaNetAddress }
::= { ipNetToMediaTable 1 }
IpNetToMediaEntry ::=
SEQUENCE {
ipNetToMediaIfIndex
INTEGER,
ipNetToMediaPhysAddress
OCTET STRING,
ipNetToMediaNetAddress
IpAddress,
ipNetoToMediaType
INTEGER
}
ipNetToMediaIfIndex OBJECT-TYPE
SYNTAX INTEGER
ACCESS read-write
STATUS mandatory
DESCRIPTION
"The interface on which this entry's equivalence
is effective. The interface identified by a
particular value of this index is the same
interface as identified by the same value of
ifIndex."
::= { ipNetToMediaEntry 1 }
ipNetToMediaPhysAddress OBJECT-TYPE
SYNTAX OCTET STRING
ACCESS read-write
STATUS mandatory
DESCRIPTION
"The media-dependent 'physical' address."
::= { ipNetToMediaEntry 2 }
ipNetToMediaNetAddress OBJECT-TYPE
SYNTAX IpAddress
ACCESS read-write
STATUS mandatory
DESCRIPTION
"The IpAddress corresponding to the media-
dependent 'physical' address."
::= { ipNetToMediaEntry 3 }
ipNetToMediaType OBJECT-TYPE
SYNTAX INTEGER {
SNMP Working Group [Page 12]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
other(1), -- none of the following
invalid(2), -- an invalidated mapping
dynamic(3),
static(4)
}
ACCESS read-write
STATUS mandatory
DESCRIPTION
"The type of mapping.
Setting this object to the value invalid(2) has
the effect of invalidating the corresponding entry
in the ipNetToMediaTable. That is, it effectively
disassociates the interface identified with said
entry from the mapping identified with said entry.
It is an implementation-specific matter as to
whether the agent removes an invalidated entry
from the table. Accordingly, management stations
must be prepared to receive tabular information
from agents that corresponds to entries not
currently in use. Proper interpretation of such
entries requires examination of the relevant
ipNetToMediaType object."
::= { ipNetToMediaEntry 4 }
5. Appendix: DE-osifying MIBs
There has been an increasing amount of work recently on taking MIBs
defined by other organizations (e.g., the IEEE) and de-osifying them
for use with the Internet-standard network management framework. The
steps to achieve this are straight-forward, though tedious. Of
course, it is helpful to already be experienced in writing MIB
modules for use with the Internet-standard network management
framework.
The first step is to construct a skeletal MIB module, e.g.,
RFC1213-MIB DEFINITIONS ::= BEGIN
IMPORTS
experimental, OBJECT-TYPE, Counter
FROM RFC1155-SMI;
-- contact IANA for actual number
root OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::= { experimental xx }
END
SNMP Working Group [Page 13]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
The next step is to categorize the objects into groups. For
experimental MIBs, optional objects are permitted. However, when a
MIB module is placed in the Internet-standard space, these optional
objects are either removed, or placed in a optional group, which, if
implemented, all objects in the group must be implemented. For the
first pass, it is wisest to simply ignore any optional objects in the
original MIB: experience shows it is better to define a core MIB
module first, containing only essential objects; later, if experience
demands, other objects can be added.
It must be emphasized that groups are "units of conformance" within a
MIB: everything in a group is "mandatory" and implementations do
either whole groups or none.
5.1. Managed Object Mapping
Next for each managed object class, determine whether there can exist
multiple instances of that managed object class. If not, then for
each of its attributes, use the OBJECT-TYPE macro to make an
equivalent definition.
Otherwise, if multiple instances of the managed object class can
exist, then define a conceptual table having conceptual rows each
containing a columnar object for each of the managed object class's
attributes. If the managed object class is contained within the
containment tree of another managed object class, then the assignment
of an object type is normally required for each of the "distinguished
attributes" of the containing managed object class. If they do not
already exist within the MIB module, then they can be added via the
definition of additional columnar objects in the conceptual row
corresponding to the contained managed object class.
In defining a conceptual row, it is useful to consider the
optimization of network management operations which will act upon its
columnar objects. In particular, it is wisest to avoid defining more
columnar objects within a conceptual row, than can fit in a single
PDU. As a rule of thumb, a conceptual row should contain no more
than approximately 20 objects. Similarly, or as a way to abide by
the "20 object guideline", columnar objects should be grouped into
tables according to the expected grouping of network management
operations upon them. As such, the content of conceptual rows should
reflect typical access scenarios, e.g., they should be organized
along functional lines such as one row for statistics and another row
for parameters, or along usage lines such as commonly-needed objects
versus rarely-needed objects.
On the other hand, the definition of conceptual rows where the number
of columnar objects used as indexes outnumbers the number used to
SNMP Working Group [Page 14]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
hold information, should also be avoided. In particular, the
splitting of a managed object class's attributes into many conceptual
tables should not be used as a way to obtain the same degree of
flexibility/complexity as is often found in MIB's with a myriad of
optionals.
5.1.1. Mapping to the SYNTAX clause
When mapping to the SYNTAX clause of the OBJECT-type macro:
(1) An object with BOOLEAN syntax becomes an INTEGER taking
either of values true(1) or false(2).
(2) An object with ENUMERATED syntax becomes an INTEGER,
taking any of the values given.
(3) An object with BIT STRING syntax containing no more than
32 bits becomes an INTEGER defined as a sum; otherwise if
more than 32 bits are present, the object becomes an
OCTET STRING, with the bits numbered from left-to-right,
in which the least significant bits of the last octet may
be "reserved for future use".
(4) An object with a character string syntax becomes either
an OCTET STRING or a DisplayString, depending on the
repertoire of the character string.
(5) An non-tabular object with a complex syntax, such as REAL
or EXTERNAL, must be decomposed, usually into an OCTET
STRING (if sensible). As a rule, any object with a
complicated syntax should be avoided.
(6) Tabular objects must be decomposed into rows of columnar
objects.
5.1.2. Mapping to the ACCESS clause
This is straight-forward.
5.1.3. Mapping to the STATUS clause
This is usually straight-forward; however, some osified-MIBs use the
term "recommended". In this case, a choice must be made between
"mandatory" and "optional".
5.1.4. Mapping to the DESCRIPTION clause
This is straight-forward: simply copy the text, making sure that any
SNMP Working Group [Page 15]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
embedded double quotation marks are sanitized (i.e., replaced with
single-quotes or removed).
5.1.5. Mapping to the REFERENCE clause
This is straight-forward: simply include a textual reference to the
object being mapped, the document which defines the object, and
perhaps a page number in the document.
5.1.6. Mapping to the INDEX clause
Decide how instance-identifiers for columnar objects are to be formed
and define this clause accordingly.
5.1.7. Mapping to the DEFVAL clause
Decide if a meaningful default value can be assigned to the object
being mapped, and if so, define the DEFVAL clause accordingly.
5.2. Action Mapping
Actions are modeled as read-write objects, in which writing a
particular value results in the action taking place.
5.2.1. Mapping to the SYNTAX clause
Usually an INTEGER syntax is used with a distinguished value provided
for each action that the object provides access to. In addition,
there is usually one other distinguished value, which is the one
returned when the object is read.
5.2.2. Mapping to the ACCESS clause
Always use read-write.
5.2.3. Mapping to the STATUS clause
This is straight-forward.
5.2.4. Mapping to the DESCRIPTION clause
This is straight-forward: simply copy the text, making sure that any
embedded double quotation marks are sanitized (i.e., replaced with
single-quotes or removed).
5.2.5. Mapping to the REFERENCE clause
This is straight-forward: simply include a textual reference to the
SNMP Working Group [Page 16]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
action being mapped, the document which defines the action, and
perhaps a page number in the document.
6. Acknowledgements
This document was produced by the SNMP Working Group:
Anne Ambler, Spider
Karl Auerbach, Sun
Fred Baker, ACC
Ken Brinkerhoff
Ron Broersma, NOSC
Jack Brown, US Army
Theodore Brunner, Bellcore
Jeffrey Buffum, HP
John Burress, Wellfleet
Jeffrey D. Case, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Chris Chiptasso, Spartacus
Paul Ciarfella, DEC
Bob Collet
John Cook, Chipcom
Tracy Cox, Bellcore
James R. Davin, MIT-LCS
Eric Decker, cisco
Kurt Dobbins, Cabletron
Nadya El-Afandi, Network Systems
Gary Ellis, HP
Fred Engle
Mike Erlinger
Mark S. Fedor, PSI
Richard Fox, Synoptics
Karen Frisa, CMU
Chris Gunner, DEC
Fred Harris, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Ken Hibbard, Xylogics
Ole Jacobsen, Interop
Ken Jones
Satish Joshi, Synoptics
Frank Kastenholz, Racal-Interlan
Shimshon Kaufman, Spartacus
Ken Key, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Jim Kinder, Fibercom
Alex Koifman, BBN
Christopher Kolb, PSI
Cheryl Krupczak, NCR
Paul Langille, DEC
Peter Lin, Vitalink
John Lunny, TWG
SNMP Working Group [Page 17]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
Carl Malamud
Randy Mayhew, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Keith McCloghrie, Hughes LAN Systems
Donna McMaster, David Systems
Lynn Monsanto, Sun
Dave Perkins, 3COM
Jim Reinstedler, Ungerman Bass
Anil Rijsinghani, DEC
Kathy Rinehart, Arnold AFB
Kary Robertson
Marshall T. Rose, PSI (chair)
L. Michael Sabo, NCSC
Jon Saperia, DEC
Greg Satz, cisco
Martin Schoffstall, PSI
John Seligson
Steve Sherry, Xyplex
Fei Shu, NEC
Sam Sjogren, TGV
Mark Sleeper, Sparta
Lance Sprung
Mike St.Johns
Bob Stewart, Xyplex
Emil Sturniold
Kaj Tesink, Bellcore
Dean Throop, Data General
Bill Townsend, Xylogics
Maurice Turcotte, Racal-Milgo
Kannan Varadhou
Sudhanshu Verma, HP
Bill Versteeg, Network Research Corporation
Warren Vik, Interactive Systems
David Waitzman, BBN
Steve Waldbusser, CMU
Dan Wintringhan
David Wood
Wengyik Yeong, PSI
Jeff Young, Cray Research
7. References
[1] Cerf, V., "IAB Recommendations for the Development of Internet
Network Management Standards", RFC 1052, NRI, April 1988.
[2] Cerf, V., "Report of the Second Ad Hoc Network Management Review
Group", RFC 1109, NRI, August 1989.
[3] Rose M., and K. McCloghrie, "Structure and Identification of
SNMP Working Group [Page 18]
RFC 1212 Concise MIB Definitions March 1991
Management Information for TCP/IP-based internets", RFC 1155,
Performance Systems International, Hughes LAN Systems, May 1990.
[4] McCloghrie K., and M. Rose, "Management Information Base for
Network Management of TCP/IP-based internets", RFC 1156, Hughes
LAN Systems, Performance Systems International, May 1990.
[5] Case, J., Fedor, M., Schoffstall, M., and J. Davin, "Simple
Network Management Protocol", RFC 1157, SNMP Research,
Performance Systems International, Performance Systems
International, MIT Laboratory for Computer Science, May 1990.
[6] Information processing systems - Open Systems Interconnection -
Specification of Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1),
International Organization for Standardization International
Standard 8824, December 1987.
[7] Rose M., Editor, "Management Information Base for Network
Management of TCP/IP-based internets: MIB-II", RFC 1213,
Performance Systems International, March 1991.
8. Security Considerations
Security issues are not discussed in this memo.
9. Authors' Addresses
Marshall T. Rose
Performance Systems International
5201 Great America Parkway
Suite 3106
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Phone: +1 408 562 6222
EMail: mrose@psi.com
X.500: rose, psi, us
Keith McCloghrie
Hughes LAN Systems
1225 Charleston Road
Mountain View, CA 94043
1225 Charleston Road
Mountain View, CA 94043
Phone: (415) 966-7934
EMail: kzm@hls.com
SNMP Working Group [Page 19]