Hi Rick,
The Counter MIB (and Abstract Spec) define the persistence of counters
as lifetime(3), powerOn(4), or reset(5). But it does not further qualify the
flavor of reset (factory defaults, service/accounting, board replacement).
Note that the 'lifetime' comment says 'since last install' (board replacement).
I personally believe that counters should have a REQUIRED persistence
of lifetime and that it should be permitted (as in Counter MIB) to have a
second instance of the counters that has a 'reset' persistence (especially
for accounting applications).
So my answer to your question below is B/C/D and your missing 'powerOn'.
My two cents - give the customers whatever they want.
Cheers,
- Ira
Ira McDonald (Musician / Software Architect)
Chair - Linux Foundation Open Printing WG
Blue Roof Music / High North Inc
PO Box 221 Grand Marais, MI 49839
phone: +1-906-494-2434
email: imcdonald at sharplabs.com
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-wims at pwg.org [mailto:owner-wims at pwg.org]On Behalf Of Richard_Landau at Dell.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 2:14 PM
To: wims at pwg.org
Cc: blueroofmusic at gmail.com
Subject: WIMS> When are counters reset, if ever?
General question for WIMS people. A question has arisen in the PDM (projector mgt) group that I would like to hear opinions on.
Question: When, if ever, are counters such as prtMarkerLifeCount and prtAlertAllEvents reset? It has been proposed that similar counters in projectors and displays should be reset if the entire device is reset to factory defaults, such as might happen when a printer is redeployed; or when a service person decides that they ought to be reset.
These suggestions are not exactly the same as the distinctions made in the Counter spec. Personally, I think any such counters should be implemented with lifetime persistence. It's an odometer; turning it backwards is at least nonsense if not fraud. But I don't know what various existing devices might do, or what best current practice is, so that would be interesting to know, too.
Opinions, please.
Q: When should such so-called "life counters" be set to zero?
A. Never.
B. When the device is reset to factory defaults.
C. When an authorized service person says so.
D. When someone replaces the controller board.
E. Other (please specify) _________________
Thanks very much for your time and thoughtful answers.
rick
----------------------
Richard_Landau(at)dell(dot)com, Stds & System Mgt Architecture, CTO Office
+1-512-728-9023, One Dell Way, RR5-3, MS RR5-09, Round Rock, TX 78682
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