| Wally Matthews here, I manage the DECNet and OSI AM development.
There is no policy of who can or can not write an AM. I presently know
of at least 5 groups within DEC that are busy writing their own AMs
which they intend to distribute in a number of ways. We have an active
program encouraging various hardware/software vendors to write AMs for
their products. There is no centralized distribution of those AMs.
Each AM developer is free to market and distribute their AM using
whatever mechanism they choose to use.
We, DEC, don't want to adopt any policy that prevents AM developers
from having control over the marketing and distribution of their
intellectual property. I am sure that someone in the Services
Organization will see an opportunity to provide release and
distribution services for AM developers. However, to date, I have
no information that this has been recognized as a source of revenue
for DEC. NMS (Network Management Systems) is focused primarily on
providing the basic DECmcc Platforms and Function Modules. It is
similar to VMS in concept. VMS does not provide all the drivers.
They provide the basic platform, directions on how to integrate
a driver, and a set of strategic drivers that are of special importance
to VMS. Obscure drivers are the responsibility of the developers of
obscure peripherals or customers who buy obscure peripherals.
wally matthews
|