CURRENT_MEETING_REPORT_ Reported by David Perkins/SynOptics Minutes of the SNMPMIB Compiler BOF (MIBCOMP) Time: Monday from 1:30 to 3:30 This BOF was a presentation by Dave Perkins of a unique architecture for a SNMP MIB Compiler. The important aspects of this project are that: 1. The compiler is split into a separate front-end and a replaceable back-end; 2. The front-end does extensive syntax and semantic checks much better than MOSY and includes support for traps, multiple modules, imports, and textual conventions; 3. The back-ends are easy to write and can be used for specific applications; and 4. The intent is to make the source code ``public domain'' so that it can be used by any interested party. Example users of the system include the following: 1. SNMP agent developers - a back-end can be written to generate MIB data structures and dispatch tables specific to an agent implementation. 2. MIB developers - the front-end provides extensive error checking. A back-end can be written to print ``reports''. 3. Management station developers - a back-end can be written which merges additional fields with those from MIB objects so that database records can be generated for a generic MIB query system. 4. SNMP tool developers - a back-end can be written which formats the MIB information so that it can be used by existing tools that require MIB object information in a format other than the concise MIB format. Dave presented an overview of the MIB compiler architecture and gave a status report of his current implementation experience. Key points included the following: the front-end is currently implemented under MS-DOS and was used on a laptop at IETF to do instant MIB checking; much testing has been done including all the MIBs in RFCs and many of the MIBs in Internet Drafts; and an example back-end was written which demonstrated selection of MIB groups for reporting. 1 A long list of action items was presented to do by the next IETF meeting. The key ones included: porting to UNIX; work out the details so the code could be made ``freely available''; and setting up directory where sources and documentation could be reached via FTP access. Dave Perkins SynOptics Communications, Inc. Santa Clara, CA 95052-8185 TEL 408 764-1516 FAX 408 988-5525 dperkins@synoptics.com Attendees Miriam Amos Nihart miriam@decwet.zso.dec.com James Barnes barnes@xylogics.com Steve Bostock steveb@novell.com David Bridgham dab@asylum.sf.ca.us Theodore Brunner tob@thumper.bellcore.com Jeffrey Buffum buffum@vos.stratus.com Dave Cullerot cullerot@ctron.com Michael Erlinger mike@lexcel.com Shawn Gallagher gallagher@quiver.enet.dec.com Ronald Jacoby rj@sgi.com Manu Kaycee kaycee@ctron.com Yoav Kluger ykluger@fibhaifa.com Ron Lau rlau@synoptics.com Ron Mackey rem@dsiinc.com David Perkins dperkins@synoptics.com Jonathan Saperia saperia@tcpjon.enet.dec.com Timon Sloane peernet!timon@uunet.uu.net Bob Stewart rlstewart@eng.xyplex.com Mark Therieau markt@python.eng.microcom.com June-Kang Yang natadm!yang@uunet.uu.net Wengyik Yeong yeongw@psi.com John Ziegler ziegler@artel.com 2