Complex MIB procedures (was Zone Name Change Prototype)

[[e-mail]]

    Date: 4-28-93  07:18am 
    From: {[e-mail]}:ugate:3Com

    Not that this makes it wrong, but this is the most complex procedure I've 
    ever seen specified for how to use a MIB.  It is possible that's because 
    there are few to no such procedures specified.

I definitely think that the latter is the case.  More discussion of actual use 
of a MIB to get real work done would probably result in more refined MIBs. 
There's more to it than just paying attention to agent implementation issues, 
as critical as they are.  

I have seen little discussion regarding how AT MIB+ in general would actually 
be used by a management application.  I'll bet if we could summon up the time 
(I'd be hard pressed to, by the way), we would find some differing assumptions 
and interpretations remaining.  


    Assuming the existence of agents with the zone-change MIB, and routers 
    with the necessary abilities, the procedure cries for a special-purpose 
    application.  Who do you expect will supply such an application?  I'd hate 
    to have to try to do this by reading the procedure, which should be 
    included with the MIB, and using a MIB browser.

I hope that special-purpose applications that address AppleTalk network 
management do appear.  If it is not from someone that sees an opportunity to 
make some money, then from the equipment vendors that see ease of use as a 
growing requirement from their customers.  Leaving the job of sorting through 
a MIB in the customer's lap with a MIB Browser may be asking too much.

MIB Browsers can be great tools, but they can be tedious unless they have the 
capability to be extended to deal with more complex procedures or external 
tools can be used to provide extensions.

Ideally, there ought to be an accompanying document to a MIB that describes 
how to make use of it, at least covering the more difficult aspects, but 
ideally providing some (I said _some_!) justification for everything present.  
This is specially true if some of us expect customers, with limited protocol 
experience and extra money to invest, to roll their own.

/bob