CURRENT MEETING REPORT
Reported by Kevin Jordan, Control Data Systems, Inc.
Minutes of the Mail and Directory Management Working Group
(madman)
Note from the Working Group Chair
I am pleased to report that, despite short notice on the documents
and no agenda in advance, we had a very productive meeting in
Los Angeles.
The results of this are clearly summarized in the attached minutes
from Kevin. I went into the meeting with the belief that there
were a number of issues which would be hard to handle. All of
the open items had productive and clear discussion leading to
sensible resolution with a high degree of consensus. I am confident
that we will be able to get these documents rapidly put to bed.
1. The minutes of the previous meeting in Dallas were approved.
2. The agenda of the current meeting was approved.
3. Network Application MIB
The group discussed the relationship between the System Application
MIB and the Network Application MIB. A network application could
be defined as a subclass of the generic system application class,
so the System Application MIB could reference the Network Application
MIB in order to realize this hierarchical relationship.
It was decided that the Network Application MIB specification
will be updated to include text which describes its relationship
to the System Application MIB and also the Host Resources MIB.
The MIB itself will not be updated to include any new variables
or any direct reference to these other MIB's.
4. Directory MIB
This MIB is stable and will be progressed onto the standards track.
However, support for URL's may be added (see point 6).
5. Mail MIB
Changes have been made to this MIB, primarily to reflect comments
and recommendations made by EMA (the Electronic Messaging Association).
The editor solicits comments against the new draft, especially
regarding the new text about conversions and routing loops.
Improvements in monitoring of messaging failures are desirable.
However, making the Mail MIB substantially more complex to support
these improvements is not desirable. Steve and Ned will work together
to define and specify some more failure counters in the MIB (but
not very many more).
The Mail MIB specification will be upated to clarify how group
hierarchies can be defined, and some examples will be provided
to show how they are useful.
6. URL's
Support for specification of URL's will be added to each of the
MIB's where it makes sense.
7. Traps
The current MIB specifications will not be updated to include
any specific support for traps. Instead, if there is sufficient
interest amongst the working group membership, support for traps
will be explored and specified via separate, experimental documents.
8. Future status
MADMAN will not meet again face to face. All outstanding work
will be completed via e-mail using the MADMAN distribution list.
Summary of action items:
- Ned will update the Network Application MIB specification to
describe its relationship to the System Application and Host Resources
MIB's.
- Ned will update the MIB's to include support for URL's where
appropriate.
- Steve and Ned will work together to define and document some
more counters in the Mail MIB for monitoring messaging failures.
- Ned will update the Mail MIB to clarify how group hierarchies are defined and used.