Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2001 01:10:25 -0400
From: Bob.Natale@AppliedSNMP.com
Subject: Advancing AgentX from Proposed to Draft Standard status

Hi everyone,

Well, since we are safely in the period between the required 
six months at Proposed Standard status for the AgentX protocol 
spec (RFC2741) and MIB (RFC2742) and the 24-month initial 
duration limit for staying at a given maturity level other 
than Internet Standard, it is time for us to move formally 
toward progressing these specs to Draft Standard status.

To move to the DS level we need "at least two independent and 
interoperable implementations from different code bases" with 
"sufficient successful operational experience" with them.  I 
am aware of at least two commercial and two "non-commercial" 
implementations at this time (and have heard of others...I am 
not directly associated with any of the implementations).

The Working Group chair is responsible for documenting those 
facts, in sufficient detail, for consideration by the IESG.

Therefore,  I am asking all implementors to prepare implementation 
reports (format to follow) and for anyone who has used any 
AgentX implementations (master agents and/or sub-agents) to 
prepare an interoperability report (format to follow).  I 
will provide separate report formats for the protocol spec 
and the MIB.

If at all possible, we would like to have such reports posted 
to the AgentX list but, if that is not workable for whatever 
reasons in any given case, please send the information to me 
privately and I will do my best to ensure confidentiality.

We are allowed to make "minor revisions" to the specs in going 
from the PS level to the DS level.  What is "minor" is a 
judgment call (made by the IESG, ultimately) but is usually 
obvious at the WG consensus level.  Anyone may suggest necessary 
and/or desirable revisions to the specs.  I will do my best 
to go back over the e-mail record and Dave Keeney's web site 
info to ensure that we capture any suggested mods that have 
been discussed since publication of the RFCs last year.  
Contributions from the list to that effort are warmly invited!

Lastly, I will propose a charter/milestone update for the A-Ds 
to consider that will be focused on completing the work outlined 
above prior to the 51st IETF meeting (London, Aug 5-10, 2001).

Finally (higher-order than "lastly"! :-), I sincerely request 
that all active WG members -- especially the authors, editors, 
and implementors -- take proactive measures to make sure that 
I keep this process moving per the above outline (or some later 
revised version of it).  Assistance will be welcomed, nagging 
may be required (and will be appreciated if and when needed!).

Feel free to post any questions or suggestions.

Cordially,

BobN
AgentX WG Chair