Definitions of Managed Objects for Parallel-printer-like Hardware Devices
RFC 1318

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Network Working Group                                 B. Stewart, Editor
Request for Comments: 1318                                  Xyplex, Inc.
                                                              April 1992

                     Definitions of Managed Objects
               for Parallel-printer-like Hardware Devices

Status of this Memo

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

1.  Abstract

   This memo defines a portion of the Management Information Base (MIB)
   for use with network management protocols in TCP/IP based internets.
   In particular, it defines objects for the management of
   parallel-printer-like devices.

2.  The Network Management Framework

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

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

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

   RFC 1157 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.

3.  Objects

   Managed objects are accessed via a virtual information
   store, termed the Management Information Base or MIB.

Character MIB Working Group                                     [Page 1]
RFC 1318               PARALLEL-PRINTER-LIKE-MIB              April 1992

   Objects in the MIB are defined using the subset of Abstract
   Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) [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 [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 [8], subject to the additional requirements imposed by
   the SNMP.

3.1.  Format of Definitions

   Section 5 contains the specification of all object types
   contained in this MIB module.  The object types are defined
   using the conventions defined in the SMI, as amended by the
   extensions specified in [9,10].

4.  Overview

   The Parallel-printer-like Hardware Device MIB applies to
   interface ports that might logically support the Interface
   MIB, a Transmission MIB, or the Character MIB (most likely
   the latter).  The most common example is a Centronics or
   Data Products type parallel printer port.

   The Parallel-printer-like MIB is one of a set of MIBs
   designed for complementary use.  At this writing, the set
   comprises:

Character MIB Working Group                                     [Page 2]
RFC 1318               PARALLEL-PRINTER-LIKE-MIB              April 1992

        Character MIB
        PPP MIB
        RS-232-like MIB
        Parallel-printer-like MIB

   The RS-232-like MIB and the Parallel-printer-like MIB
   represent the physical layer, providing service to higher
   layers such as the Character MIB or PPP MIB.  Further MIBs
   may appear above these.

   The following diagram shows two possible "MIB stacks", each
   using the RS-232-like MIB.

                                    .-----------------.
         .-----------------.        |  Standard MIB   |
         |   Telnet MIB    |        | Interface Group |
         |-----------------|        |-----------------|
         |  Character MIB  |        |     PPP MIB     |
         |-----------------|        |-----------------|
         | RS-232-like MIB |        | RS-232-like MIB |
         `-----------------'        `-----------------'

   The intent of the model is for the physical-level MIBs to