RFC 3419 (rfc3419) - Page 2 of 18

Textual Conventions for Transport Addresses

RFC 3419      Textual Conventions for Transport Addresses  December 2002


1. Introduction

   Several MIB modules need to represent transport-layer addresses in a
   generic way.  Typical examples are MIBs for application protocols
   that can operate over several different transports or application
   management MIBs that need to model generic communication endpoints.

   The SMIv2 in STD 58, RFC 2579 [RFC 2579] defines the textual
   conventions TDomain and TAddress to represent generic transport layer
   endpoints.  A generic TAddress value is interpreted in a given
   transport domain which is identified by a TDomain value.  The TDomain
   is an object identifier which allows MIB authors to extend the set of
   supported transport domains by providing suitable definitions in
   standardized or enterprise specific MIB modules.

   An initial set of TDomain values and concrete TAddress formats has
   been standardized in STD 62, RFC 3417 [RFC 3417].  These definitions
   are however mixed up with SNMP semantics.  Furthermore, definitions
   for Internet transport protocols over IPv4 and IPv6 are missing.

   The purpose of this memo is to introduce a set of well-known textual
   conventions to represent commonly used transport-layer addressing
   information which is compatible with the original TDomain and
   TAddress approach and which includes definitions for additional
   Internet transport protocols over IPv4 and IPv6.  This memo also
   introduces a new textual convention which enumerates the well-known
   transport domains since such an enumeration provides in many cases
   sufficient flexibility and is more efficient compared to object
   identifiers.

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT" and "MAY" in
   this document are to be interpreted as described in BCP 14, RFC 2119
   [RFC 2119].

2. The Internet-Standard Management Framework

   For a detailed overview of the documents that describe the current
   Internet-Standard Management Framework, please refer to section 7 of
   RFC 3410 [RFC 3410].

   Managed objects are accessed via a virtual information store, termed
   the Management Information Base or MIB.  MIB objects are generally
   accessed through the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).
   Objects in the MIB are defined using the mechanisms defined in the
   Structure of Management Information (SMI).  This memo specifies a MIB
   module that is compliant to the SMIv2, which is described in STD 58,
   RFC 2578 [RFC 2578], STD 58, RFC 2579 [RFC 2579] and STD 58, RFC 2580
   [RFC 2580].



Daniele & Schoenwaelder     Standards Track