Character MIB (charmib)

Charter

Chair(s):
     Bob Stewart, rlstewart@eng.xyplex.com

Mailing Lists:
     General Discussion:  char-mib@decwrl.dec.com
     To Subscribe:  char-mib-request@decwrl.dec.com
     Archive:

Description of Working Group:

     The Character MIB Working Group is chartered to define an MIB
     for character stream ports that attach to such devices as
     terminals and printers.

     The Working Group must first decide what it covers and what
     terminology to use.  The initial thought was to handle
     terminals for terminal servers.  This directly generalizes to
     terminals on any host.  From there, it is a relatively close
     step to include printers, both serial and parallel.  It also
     seems reasonable to go beyond ASCII terminals and include
     others, such as 3270.  All of this results in the suggestion
     that the topic is character stream ports.

     An important model to define is how character ports relate to
     network interfaces.  Some (a minority) terminal ports can
     easily become network interfaces by running SLIP, and may slip
     between those states.

     Given the basic models, the group must select a set of common
     objects of interest and use to a network manager responsible
     for character devices

     Since the goal is an experimental MIB, it may be possible to
     agree on a document in 3 to 9 months.  Most of the group's
     business can be conducted over the Internet through email.

Goals and Milestones:

Done       Mailing list discussion of Charter and collection of
           concerns.

Done       Discuss and final approval of charter; discussion on models
           and terminology.  Make writing assignments.

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Done       First draft document, discussion, additional drafts, special
           meeting?

Done       Review latest draft and if OK, give to IESG for publication
           as RFC.



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