GOVERNMENT NETWORK MANAGEMENT PROFILE (GNMP)

Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FIPS PUBS) are issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology after approval by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to Section 111(d) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended by the Computer Security Act of 1987, Public Law 100-235.

1. Name of Standard. Government Network Management Profile (GNMP) (FIPS PUB 179-1).

2. Category of Standard. Hardware and Software Standards, Computer Network Protocols.

3. Explanation. This Federal Information Processing Standard adopts the Government Network Management Profile (GNMP) Version 1.0. The GNMP specifies the common management information exchange protocol and services, specific management functions and services, and the syntax and semantics of the management information required to support monitoring and control of the network and system components and their resources.

The primary source of specifications in the Version 1.0 GNMP is part 18 of the OIW Stable Implementation Agreements, June 1992, developed by the Open Systems Environment Implementors Workshop (OIW) sponsored by NIST and the IEEE Computer Society. This source provides implementation specifications for network management based on the service and protocol standards issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Additional profiles will be developed implementing open, voluntary standards such as those developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T; formerly the Consultative Committee on International Telegraph and Telephone [CCITT]).

4. Approving Authority. Secretary of Commerce.

5. Maintenance Agency. U. S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Computer Systems Laboratory (CSL).

6. Related Documents.

a. NIST Special Publication 500-202, Stable Implementation Agreements for Open Systems Interconnection Protocols, Version 5, Edition 1, NIST Workshop for Implementors of Open Systems Environment, June 1992. (NOTE: This reference is not the most recent version of the Stable Implementation Agreements; however, it is the source of specifications for GNMP, Version 1.0.)

b. FIPS PUB 146-2, Profiles for Open Systems Internetworking Technologies.

c. OMNIPoint 1 Specifications, 1993, which implements Part 18 of the OIW Stable Implementation Agreements.

8. Objectives. The primary objectives of this standard are:

• to promote interconnection and interoperability of computers and systems that are acquired from different manufacturers in an open systems environment;

• to reduce the costs of computer network systems by increasing alternative sources of supply;

• to facilitate the use of advanced technology by the Federal Government;

• to provide guidance for the acquisition and use of networking products implementing open, voluntary standards such as those cited in paragraph 3.

10. Applicability. Open, voluntary standards should be used by Federal Government agencies when acquiring computer networking products and services and communications systems or services. These include the specifications referenced above.

11. Implementation. This specification may be used immediately by Federal Government agencies when they wish to acquire computer networking products and services and communications systems or services that are based on OSI standards.

In addition, other specifications based on open, voluntary standards such as those cited in paragraph 3 may be used. The OMNIPoint which references IETF and OSI standards can serve as an example for the development of such specifications.

12. Special Information. The National Institute of Standards and Technology plans to work with other government agencies and with industry to develop additional profiles based on open, voluntary standards and to publish these profiles in separate documents.

Interoperability is a key requirement for the effective usage of information technology. Consequently, federal agencies are strongly encouraged to acquire components that have either been tested for interoperability or otherwise demonstrably meet the agencies' interoperability requirements. The appropriate extent of such testing will be determined by the affinity groups developing the profiles and by the acquiring agencies.

13. Where to Obtain Copies. Copies of this publication are for sale by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161. When ordering, refer to Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 179-1 (FIPSPUB179- 1), and title. Specify microfiche if desired. Payment may be made by check, money order, or NTIS deposit account.