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RFC1318

  1. RFC 1318
Network Working Group                                 B. Stewart, Editor
Request for Comments: 1318                                  Xyplex, Inc.
                                                              April 1992


                     Definitions of Managed Objects
               for Parallel-printer-like Hardware Devices

Status of this Memo

   This document specifies an IAB standards track protocol 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.

1.  Abstract

   This memo defines a portion of the Management Information Base (MIB)
   for use with network management protocols in TCP/IP based internets.
   In particular, it defines objects for the management of
   parallel-printer-like devices.

2.  The Network Management Framework

   The Internet-standard Network Management Framework consists
   of three components.  They are:

   RFC 1155 which defines the SMI, the mechanisms used for
   describing and naming objects for the purpose of management.
   RFC 1212 defines a more concise description mechanism, which
   is wholly consistent with the SMI.

   RFC 1156 which defines MIB-I, the core set of managed
   objects for the Internet suite of protocols.  RFC 1213,
   defines MIB-II, an evolution of MIB-I based on
   implementation experience and new operational requirements.

   RFC 1157 which defines the SNMP, the protocol used for
   network access to managed objects.

   The Framework permits new objects to be defined for the
   purpose of experimentation and evaluation.

3.  Objects

   Managed objects are accessed via a virtual information
   store, termed the Management Information Base or MIB.



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   Objects in the MIB are defined using the subset of Abstract
   Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) [7] defined in the SMI.  In
   particular, each object has a name, a syntax, and an
   encoding.  The name is an object identifier, an
   administratively assigned name, which specifies an object
   type.

   The object type together with an object instance serves to
   uniquely identify a specific instantiation of the object.
   For human convenience, we often use a textual string, termed
   the OBJECT DESCRIPTOR, to also refer to the object type.

   The syntax of an object type defines the abstract data
   structure corresponding to that object type.  The ASN.1
   language is used for this purpose.  However, the SMI [3]
   purposely restricts the ASN.1 constructs which may be used.
   These restrictions are explicitly made for simplicity.

   The encoding of an object type is simply how that object
   type is represented using the object type's syntax.
   Implicitly tied to the notion of an object type's syntax and
   encoding is how the object type is represented when being
   transmitted on the network.

   The SMI specifies the use of the basic encoding rules of
   ASN.1 [8], subject to the additional requirements imposed by
   the SNMP.

3.1.  Format of Definitions

   Section 5 contains the specification of all object types
   contained in this MIB module.  The object types are defined
   using the conventions defined in the SMI, as amended by the
   extensions specified in [9,10].

4.  Overview

   The Parallel-printer-like Hardware Device MIB applies to
   interface ports that might logically support the Interface
   MIB, a Transmission MIB, or the Character MIB (most likely
   the latter).  The most common example is a Centronics or
   Data Products type parallel printer port.

   The Parallel-printer-like MIB is one of a set of MIBs
   designed for complementary use.  At this writing, the set
   comprises:





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        Character MIB
        PPP MIB
        RS-232-like MIB
        Parallel-printer-like MIB

   The RS-232-like MIB and the Parallel-printer-like MIB
   represent the physical layer, providing service to higher
   layers such as the Character MIB or PPP MIB.  Further MIBs
   may appear above these.

   The following diagram shows two possible "MIB stacks", each
   using the RS-232-like MIB.

                                    .-----------------.
         .-----------------.        |  Standard MIB   |
         |   Telnet MIB    |        | Interface Group |
         |-----------------|        |-----------------|
         |  Character MIB  |        |     PPP MIB     |
         |-----------------|        |-----------------|
         | RS-232-like MIB |        | RS-232-like MIB |
         `-----------------'        `-----------------'

   The intent of the model is for the physical-level MIBs to
   represent the lowest level, regardless of the higher level
   that may be using it.  In turn, separate higher level MIBs
   represent specific applications, such as a terminal (the
   Character MIB) or a network connection (the PPP MIB).

   The Parallel-printer-like MIB is mandatory for all systems
   that have such a hardware port supporting services managed
   through some other MIB, for example, the Character MIB.

   The Parallel-printer-like MIB includes multiple similar
   types of hardware, and as a result contains objects not
   applicable to all of those types.  Such objects are in a
   separate branch of the MIB, which is required when
   applicable and otherwise absent.

   The Parallel-printer-like MIB includes Centronics, Data
   Products, and other parallel physical links with a similar
   set of control signals.

   The MIB contains objects that relate to physical layer
   connections.  Such connections may provide interesting
   hardware signals (other than for basic data transfer), such
   as Power and PaperOut.

   The MIB comprises one base object and three tables, detailed



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   in the following sections.  The tables contain objects for
   ports and input and output control signals.

5.  Definitions

                    RFC1318-MIB DEFINITIONS ::= BEGIN

                    IMPORTS
                            Counter
                                    FROM RFC1155-SMI
                            transmission
                                    FROM RFC1213-MIB
                            OBJECT-TYPE
                                    FROM RFC-1212;

            -- this is the MIB module for Parallel-printer-like
            -- hardware devices

            para    OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::= { transmission 34 }

            -- the generic Parallel-printer-like group

            -- Implementation of this group is mandatory for all
            -- systems that have Parallel-printer-like hardware
            -- ports supporting higher level services such as
            -- character streams

            paraNumber OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX INTEGER
                ACCESS read-only
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "The number of ports (regardless of their current
                    state) in the Parallel-printer-like port table."
                ::= { para 1 }


            -- the Parallel-printer-like Port table

            paraPortTable OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX SEQUENCE OF ParaPortEntry
                ACCESS not-accessible
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "A list of port entries.  The number of entries is
                    given by the value of paraNumber."
                ::= { para 2 }




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            paraPortEntry OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX ParaPortEntry
                ACCESS not-accessible
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "Status and parameter values for a port."
                INDEX { paraPortIndex }
                ::= { paraPortTable 1 }

            ParaPortEntry ::=
                SEQUENCE {
                    paraPortIndex
                        INTEGER,
                    paraPortType
                        INTEGER,
                    paraPortInSigNumber
                        INTEGER,
                    paraPortOutSigNumber
                        INTEGER
                }

            paraPortIndex OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX INTEGER
                ACCESS read-only
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "A unique value for each port.  Its value ranges
                    between 1 and the value of paraNumber.  By
                    convention and if possible, hardware port numbers
                    map directly to external connectors.  The value for
                    each port must remain constant at least from one
                    re-initialization of the network management agent to
                    the next."
                ::= { paraPortEntry 1 }

            paraPortType OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX INTEGER {
                    other(1),
                    centronics(2),
                    dataproducts(3)
                }
                ACCESS read-only
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "The port's hardware type."
                ::= { paraPortEntry 2 }

            paraPortInSigNumber OBJECT-TYPE



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                SYNTAX INTEGER
                ACCESS read-only
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "The number of input signals for the port in the
                    input signal table (paraPortInSigTable).  The table
                    contains entries only for those signals the software
                    can detect."
                ::= { paraPortEntry 3 }

            paraPortOutSigNumber OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX INTEGER
                ACCESS read-only
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "The number of output signals for the port in the
                    output signal table (paraPortOutSigTable).  The
                    table contains entries only for those signals the
                    software can assert."
                ::= { paraPortEntry 4 }


            -- the Input Signal table

            paraInSigTable OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX SEQUENCE OF ParaInSigEntry
                ACCESS not-accessible
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "A list of port input control signal entries."
                ::= { para 3 }

            paraInSigEntry OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX ParaInSigEntry
                ACCESS not-accessible
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "Input control signal status for a hardware port."
                INDEX { paraInSigPortIndex, paraInSigName }
                ::= { paraInSigTable 1 }

            ParaInSigEntry ::=
                SEQUENCE {
                    paraInSigPortIndex
                        INTEGER,
                    paraInSigName
                        INTEGER,
                    paraInSigState



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                        INTEGER,
                    paraInSigChanges
                        Counter
                }

            paraInSigPortIndex OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX INTEGER
                ACCESS read-only
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "The value of paraPortIndex for the port to which
                    this entry belongs."
                ::= { paraInSigEntry 1 }

            paraInSigName OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX INTEGER { power(1), online(2), busy(3),
                                 paperout(4), fault(5) }
                ACCESS read-only
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "Identification of a hardware signal."
                ::= { paraInSigEntry 2 }

            paraInSigState OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX INTEGER { none(1), on(2), off(3) }
                ACCESS read-only
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "The current signal state."
                ::= { paraInSigEntry 3 }

            paraInSigChanges OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX Counter
                ACCESS read-only
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "The number of times the signal has changed from
                    'on' to 'off' or from 'off' to 'on'."
                ::= { paraInSigEntry 4 }


            -- the Output Signal table

            paraOutSigTable OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX SEQUENCE OF ParaOutSigEntry
                ACCESS not-accessible
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION



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                    "A list of port output control signal entries."
                ::= { para 4 }

            paraOutSigEntry OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX ParaOutSigEntry
                ACCESS not-accessible
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "Output control signal status for a hardware port."
                INDEX { paraOutSigPortIndex, paraOutSigName }
                ::= { paraOutSigTable 1 }

            ParaOutSigEntry ::=
                SEQUENCE {
                    paraOutSigPortIndex
                        INTEGER,
                    paraOutSigName
                        INTEGER,
                    paraOutSigState
                        INTEGER,
                    paraOutSigChanges
                        Counter
                }

            paraOutSigPortIndex OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX INTEGER
                ACCESS read-only
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "The value of paraPortIndex for the port to which
                    this entry belongs."
                ::= { paraOutSigEntry 1 }

            paraOutSigName OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX INTEGER { power(1), online(2), busy(3),
                                 paperout(4), fault(5) }
                ACCESS read-only
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "Identification of a hardware signal."
                ::= { paraOutSigEntry 2 }

            paraOutSigState OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX INTEGER { none(1), on(2), off(3) }
                ACCESS read-only
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "The current signal state."



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                ::= { paraOutSigEntry 3 }

            paraOutSigChanges OBJECT-TYPE
                SYNTAX Counter
                ACCESS read-only
                STATUS mandatory
                DESCRIPTION
                    "The number of times the signal has changed from
                    'on' to 'off' or from 'off' to 'on'."
                ::= { paraOutSigEntry 4 }

            END

6.  Acknowledgements

   Based on several private MIBs, this document was produced by the
   Character MIB Working Group:

      Anne Ambler, Spider
      Charles Bazaar, Emulex
      Christopher Bucci, Datability
      Anthony Chung, Hughes LAN Systems
      George Conant, Xyplex
      John Cook, Chipcom
      James Davin, MIT-LCS
      Shawn Gallagher, DEC
      Tom Grant, Xylogics
      Frank Huang, Emulex
      David Jordan, Emulex
      Satish Joshi, SynOptics
      Frank Kastenholz, Clearpoint
      Ken Key, University of Tennessee
      Jim Kinder, Fibercom
      Rajeev Kochhar, 3Com
      John LoVerso, Xylogics
      Keith McCloghrie, Hughes LAN Systems
      Donald Merritt, BRL
      David Perkins, 3Com
      Jim Reinstedler, Ungerman-Bass
      Marshall Rose, PSI
      Ron Strich, SSDS
      Dean Throop, DG
      Bill Townsend, Xylogics
      Jesse Walker, DEC
      David Waitzman, BBN
      Bill Westfield, cisco





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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
       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] McCloghrie K., and M. Rose, Editors, "Management Information Base
       for Network Management of TCP/IP-based internets", RFC 1213,
       Performance Systems International, March 1991.

   [7] Information processing systems - Open Systems Interconnection -
       Specification of Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1),
       International Organization for Standardization, International
       Standard 8824, December 1987.

   [8] Information processing systems - Open Systems Interconnection -
       Specification of Basic Encoding Rules for Abstract Notation One
       (ASN.1), International Organization for Standardization,
       International Standard 8825, December 1987.

   [9] Rose, M., and K. McCloghrie, Editors, "Concise MIB Definitions",
       RFC 1212, Performance Systems International, Hughes LAN Systems,
       March 1991.

  [10] Rose, M., Editor, "A Convention for Defining Traps for use with
       the SNMP", RFC 1215, Performance Systems International, March
       1991.

8.  Security Considerations

   Security issues are not discussed in this memo.





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9.  Author's Address

   Bob Stewart
   Xyplex, Inc.
   330 Codman Hill Road
   Boxborough, MA 01719

   Phone: (508) 264-9900
   EMail: rlstewart@eng.xyplex.com










































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  1. RFC 1318