Ethernet MIB (ethermib)

Charter

Chair(s):
     Frank Kastenholz, kasten@europa.clearpoint.com

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Description of Working Group:

     This working group is charged with resolving the outstanding
     conformance issues with the Ethernet MIB in preparation for its
     elevation from Proposed to Draft Standard status.
     Specifically, this working group shall:

     (1) Develop a document explaining the rationale for assigning
     MANDATORY status to MIB variables which are optional in the
     relevant IEEE 802.3 specification (the technical basis for the
     Internet Ethernet MIB). This shall not be a standards-track
     document.

     (2) Develop an implementation report on the Ethernet MIB. This
     report shall cover MIB variables which are implemented in both
     Ethernet interface chips, and in software (i.e.  drivers), and
     discuss the issues pertaining to both.  This report shall also
     summarize field experience with the MIB variables, especially
     concentrating on those variables which are in dispute.  This
     document shall not be a standards-track document.  While the
     Ethernet MIB is progressing through the standardization
     process, this document shall be periodically updated to reflect
     the latest implementation and operational experience.

     (3) Work to reconcile the differences regarding MANDATORY and
     OPTIONAL MIB variables with the IEEE 802.3 management
     specification.

     (4) Extend explicit invitations to the members, reviewers, and
     participants of the IEEE 802.3 committee to participate in the
     Working Group's efforts.  This will ensure that as much
     Ethernet and IEEE 802.3 expertise as possible is available.

     (5) Maintain a liason with the IEEE 802.3 committee.  All
     documents produced by the working group will be forwarded to
     the IEEE 802.3 committee for their consideration as
     contributions to their efforts.

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     (6) Modify the "grouping" of variables in the MIB, in the light
     of the implementation and operational experience gained, in
     order to effect the desired conformance groupings.

     This working group is chartered to make only changes to the MIB
     that fall into the following categories:

     (1) Division of variables into MIB groups.  This may
     necessitate adding or deleting groups and conceptual tables and
     moving variables among said groups and conceptual tables.
     Doing so may require the addition or deletion of variables
     necessary to support the conceptual tabes (e.g.  the ...Table,
     ...Entry, and ...Index types of variables).  These changes may
     be necessary to to align the MIB with the work of other
     standards bodies, the needs of implementors, and the needs of
     network managers in the Internet.

     (2) Changing the conformance requirements of the MIB groups in
     order to align the MIB with the work of other standards bodies,
     the needs of implementors, and the needs of network managers in
     the Internet.

     (3) Deleting variables from the MIB on the basis of
     implementation and operational experience showing that the
     variables are either unimplementable or have little practical
     operational value.

     The working group is explicitly barred from making changes to
     the definition or syntax of objects nor may the working group
     add objects to the MIB except as may be required by point 1
     above.

Goals and Milestones:

TBD        Draft Variable Status Rationale document.

TBD        Develop Implementation Report.



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