* The status of standards work in the network and systems management realm
This week our Special Focus story looks at the status of standards work in the network and systems management realm.
Our author, Denise Dubie (ddubie@nww.com) says that In the past two years, the poor high-tech economy and demand for new Web-based technologies caused the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) and other standards groups to work on multi-purpose standards that can help customers get control of distributed applications and far-flung networks.
Developing common methods for managing Web services, storage, security and service-oriented networks has involved multiple standards bodies working together and combining established technologies with protocols to create a new standard. For example, SMI-S uses the DMTF’s CIM standard to create common data models among different storage appliances with the Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) protocol as a means of transport and communication between the appliances and the management console.
In addition to creating multi-vendor storage initiatives, standard groups such as OASIS work to create the means with which enterprises can securely and reliably perform application transactions over the Web. OASIS has 60 technical committees and specifications that focus mostly on enabling e-business, newer initiatives include developments in security (SAML), interoperability (ebXML) and management (WSDM) standards for Web services.
Standards groups have long been the battleground for divisiveness and political haranguing amongst vendors. Things haven’t changed that much – as recent arguments between IBM, Microsoft and others over standard messaging formats (https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0317standards.html). The fear is that standards can become fragmented, hurting adoption.
For more on this topic, see: https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0630specialfocus.html
