RFC 1304 (rfc1304) - Page 2 of 25

Definitions of Managed Objects for the SIP Interface Type

RFC 1304                      SIP Objects                  February 1992


1.  The Network Management Framework

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

      RFC 1155 [3] which defines the SMI, the mechanisms used for
      describing and naming objects for the purpose of management.  RFC
      1212 [9] defines a more concise description mechanism, which is
      wholly consistent with the SMI.

      RFC 1156 [4] which defines MIB-I, the core set of managed objects
      for the Internet suite of protocols.  RFC 1213 [6], defines MIB-
      II, an evolution of MIB-I based on implementation experience and
      new operational requirements.

      RFC 1157 [5] 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.

2.  Objects

   Managed objects are accessed via a virtual information store, termed
   the Management Information Base or MIB.  Objects in the MIB are
   defined using the subset of Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1)
   International Standard 8824 [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 RFC 1155 [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 International
   Standard 8825 [8], subject to the additional requirements imposed by
   the SNMP.




SNMP Working Group