PMP Mail Archive: Re: Re[2]: PMP> Printer Interoperability issues

Re: Re[2]: PMP> Printer Interoperability issues

Lloyd Young (lpyoung@lexmark.com)
20 Dec 96 21:44:32 EST

Bill,
If I correctly understand the IETF guidelines for interoperability
testing, it is not that the results remain private after the
interoperability testing but that a company's name is not
associated with their specific results. The intent of the
interoperability testing is if different results are obtained
for the same object then there must be some ambiguity in the MIB.
The ambiguity is then corrected in the MIB. The results of the
testing are discussed outside the testing but it will be within
the framework of Company A (company name changed to a generic
name) had this set of results, Company B had this set of results,
etc. If there are differences in the results then the MIB will be
examined to see if the documentation can be improved.

I have never gone through any interoperability testing so what I
am going to say is not based on any experience but strictly on
gut feel. There may be some time while the testing is going on
to do slight analysis of the results. But I think most of the
real analysis of the results will occur after the three days of
testing are complete. I think 3 days of testing will be pretty
full with just doing testing. Most of the time will be spent
gaining familiarity with the testing tools and systems that we
are using, testing, and collecting results. I am concerned if
people are standing around observing because first I do not think
there is going to be much to observe and secondly it will be
a distraction to the people doing the testing. I don't believe
how the testing was done will be that important when we are
analyzing the results later. It might be good if there are
volunteers that want to help with the testing because there
may be some companies that need assistance.
Lloyd