Evolution of the Interfaces Group of MIB-II
RFC 1573

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Network Working Group                                      K. McCloghrie
Request for Comments: 1573                            Hughes LAN Systems
Obsoletes: 1229                                            F. Kastenholz
Category: Standards Track                                   FTP Software
                                                            January 1994

              Evolution of the Interfaces Group of MIB-II

Status of this Memo

   This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
   Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
   Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
   and status of this protocol.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction .............................................    2
   2. The SNMPv2 Network Management Framework ..................    2
   2.1 Object Definitions ......................................    3
   3 Experience with the Interfaces Group ......................    3
   3.1 Areas of Clarification/Revision .........................    3
   3.1.1 Interface Numbering ...................................    4
   3.1.2 Interface Sub-Layers ..................................    4
   3.1.3 Virtual Circuits ......................................    5
   3.1.4 Bit, Character, and Fixed-Length Interfaces ...........    5
   3.1.5 Counter Size ..........................................    5
   3.1.6 Interface Speed .......................................    6
   3.1.7 Multicast/Broadcast Counters ..........................    6
   3.1.8 Addition of New ifType values .........................    6
   3.1.9 ifSpecific ............................................    6
   3.2 Clarifications/Revisions ................................    7
   3.2.1 Interface Numbering ...................................    7
   3.2.2 Interface Sub-Layers ..................................    8
   3.2.3 Guidance on Defining Sub-layers .......................   11
   3.2.4 Virtual Circuits ......................................   12
   3.2.5 Bit, Character, and Fixed-Length Interfaces ...........   12
   3.2.6 Counter Size ..........................................   14
   3.2.7 Interface Speed .......................................   16
   3.2.8 Multicast/Broadcast Counters ..........................   16
   3.2.9 Trap Enable ...........................................   17
   3.2.10 Addition of New ifType values ........................   17
   3.2.11 InterfaceIndex Textual Convention ....................   17
   3.2.12 IfAdminStatus and IfOperStatus .......................   18
   3.2.13 Traps ................................................   19
   3.2.14 ifSpecific ...........................................   20

McCloghrie & Kastenholz                                         [Page 1]
RFC 1573               Interfaces Group Evolution           January 1994

   3.3 Media-Specific MIB Applicability ........................   20
   4. Overview .................................................   21
   5. IANAifType Definition ....................................   22
   6. Interfaces Group Definitions .............................   24
   7. Acknowledgements .........................................   53
   8. References ...............................................   53
   9. Security Considerations ..................................   55
   10. Authors' Addresses.......................................   55

1.  Introduction

   This memo defines a portion of the Management Information Base (MIB)
   for use with network management protocols in the Internet community.
   In particular, it describes managed objects used for managing Network
   Interfaces.

   This memo discusses the 'interfaces' group of MIB-II, especially the
   experience gained from the definition of numerous media-specific MIB
   modules for use in conjunction with the 'interfaces' group for
   managing various sub-layers beneath the internetwork-layer.  It
   proposes clarifications to, and extensions of, the architectural
   issues within the current model used for the 'interfaces' group.

   This memo also includes a MIB module.  As well as including new MIB
   definitions to support the architectural extensions, this MIB module
   also re-specifies the 'interfaces' group of MIB-II in a manner which
   is both compliant to the SNMPv2 SMI and semantically-identical to the
   existing SNMPv1-based definitions.

2.  The SNMPv2 Network Management Framework

   The SNMPv2 Network Management Framework consists of four major
   components.  They are:

      o    RFC 1442 which defines the SMI, the mechanisms used for
           describing and naming objects for the purpose of management.

      o    STD 17, RFC 1213 defines MIB-II, the core set of managed
           objects for the Internet suite of protocols.

      o    RFC 1445 which defines the administrative and other