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Conference azur::mcc

Title:DECmcc user notes file. Does not replace IPMT.
Notice:Use IPMT for problems. Newsletter location in note 6187
Moderator:TAEC::BEROUD
Created:Mon Aug 21 1989
Last Modified:Wed Jun 04 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:6497
Total number of notes:27359

4355.0. "ASCII AM a concept or reality ?" by ANNECY::HAGENMULLER (EIC Annecy - dtn 7887.41.99) Fri Jan 08 1993 03:04

Is there any work in progress around the ASCII AM (ascii parser and so on) or
is it still a concept ?
We would like to understand the exact purpose of such an AM, its limitations,
the way it can parse replies or events sent by ascii entities, ...

Is there a "requirement" or "func spec" or at least a white paper available ?

Besides we have heard about the Netexpert product from OSI (Objective System
Integrator, California) which provides a window-based user interface to define 
the way a parser can manage commands and events.

Thanks for any input.

Christophe.
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4355.1Yes there is some work going on around ASCII parsingTAEC::BOSSARDFri Jan 08 1993 07:5320
There is definitely some advanced developments work in progress from TBG in order 
to have a generic ASCII AM.

Various alternatives are currently being evaluated :

	1-a 100% home-developed tool based on the concepts of the current Data 
	 collector, but generating OSI alarms against user-defined object classes.
	 The parsing functions will take advantage of LEX and YACC.

	2-Integration of NetExpert from OSI into DECmcc/TeMIP. There is already
	 a prototype working.

	3-Integration of tools developed by other third parties. Negociations are
	 in progress with a UK-based software house, familiar with DECmcc 
	 environment. Another company will probably been approached soon.

TBG produced a "product requirements" document as well defining the scope of the 
current investigaton.

	JJ
4355.2One Man's OpinionTOOK::GUERTINMCC Managing everything for everyone everywhereFri Jan 08 1993 09:0115
    
    This is a very important and critical application.  But you probably
    won't get very much higher level support for it.  Mainly because it's
    an architectural abomination.  ASCII protocol is just not cool (from an
    architectural viewpoint).  So this is something that someone will just
    have to do, and then ask for forgiveness.  I have worked with the
    Galileo parser before, which takes BNF input, and generates the source
    code (in C) for a parser, and I think it is perfect for the job.  In
    this case, the tool would end up generating both the ASCII parsing AM
    and the MS file for the specified BNF input file.  With the TBG
    advanced developement work already layed out, I don't think it's very
    much more work.  But, with the downsizing going on, I would be
    surprised if it gets done anytime soon.
    
    -Matt.
4355.3BNF for hackersBIKINI::KRAUSEEuropean NewProductEngineer for MCCWed Jan 20 1993 12:0512
>    Galileo parser before, which takes BNF input, and generates the source

Do you really believe that you can describe the ASCII "user
interfaces" of today's boxes in BNF? I've seen many of them and 
almost all look like inconsistent hackery which is extremely 
difficult to parse. The command input usually has kind of a 
syntax but the output surely has not. And it is mainly this 
output that you are interested in...

Just my 2�

*Robert