Common management information protocol
Encyclopedia
The Common Management Information Protocol (CMIP) is the OSI specified network management
protocol.
Defined in ITU-T Recommendation X.711, ISO/IEC International Standard 9596-1. It provides an implementation for the services defined by the Common Management Information Service
(CMIS) specified in ITU-T Recommendation X.710, ISO/IEC International Standard 9595, allowing communication between network management applications and management agents. CMIS/CMIP is the network management
protocol specified by the ISO
/OSI
Network management model
and is further defined by the ITU-T
in the X.700 series of recommendations.
CMIP models management information in terms of managed object
s and allows both modification and performing actions on managed objects. Managed objects are described using GDMO
(Guidelines for the Definition of Managed Objects), and can be identified by a distinguished name (DN), from the X.500
directory.
CMIP also provides good security (support authorization, access control, and security logs) and flexible reporting of unusual network conditions.
In a typical Telecommunications Management Network
, a network management system
will make use of the management operation services to monitor network element
s. Management agent
s found on network elements will make use of the management notification services to send notifications or alarms to the network management system.
and ROSE
protocols. Both are Layer 7 OSI protocols
(Application Layer). ACSE
is used to manage associations between management applications (i.e. manage connections between CMIP agents). ROSE
is employed for all data exchange interactions. Besides the presence of these Layer 7 protocols, CMIP assumes the presence of all OSI layers at lower levels but does not explicitly specify what these should be.
There have been some attempts to adapt CMIP to the TCP/IP
protocol stack. Most notable is CMOT contained in RFC 1189 (detailing CMIP over TCP). Other possibilities include RFC 1006 (which provides an ISO transport service on top of TCP
), and CMIP over LPP
(a presentation layer protocol that can run on top of TCP
or UDP
).
There is also a form of CMIS
that is developed to operate directly on top of the LLC
sublayer. It is called the LAN/MAN Management Protocol (LMMP), formerly it was the Common Management Information Services and Protocol over IEEE 802 Logical Link Control (CMOL). This protocol does away with the need for the OSI stack as is the case with CMIP.
, and has far more features than SNMP. For example, SNMP defines only "set" actions to alter the state of the managed device, while CMIP allows the definition of any type of action. CMIP was a key part of the Telecommunications Management Network
, and enabled cross-organizational as well as cross-vendor network management.
On the Internet, however, most TCP/IP devices support SNMP and not CMIP. This is because of the complexity and resource requirements of CMIP agents and management systems. CMIP is supported mainly by telecommunication devices.
Network management
Network management refers to the activities, methods, procedures, and tools that pertain to the operation, administration, maintenance, and provisioning of networked systems....
protocol.
Defined in ITU-T Recommendation X.711, ISO/IEC International Standard 9596-1. It provides an implementation for the services defined by the Common Management Information Service
Common management information service
The Common Management Information Service is the service interface specified in that is employed by OSI network elements for network management. It defines the service interface that is implemented by the Common Management Information Protocol as specified in...
(CMIS) specified in ITU-T Recommendation X.710, ISO/IEC International Standard 9595, allowing communication between network management applications and management agents. CMIS/CMIP is the network management
Network management
Network management refers to the activities, methods, procedures, and tools that pertain to the operation, administration, maintenance, and provisioning of networked systems....
protocol specified by the ISO
International Organization for Standardization
The International Organization for Standardization , widely known as ISO, is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. Founded on February 23, 1947, the organization promulgates worldwide proprietary, industrial and commercial...
/OSI
Open Systems Interconnection
Open Systems Interconnection is an effort to standardize networking that was started in 1977 by the International Organization for Standardization , along with the ITU-T.-History:...
Network management model
Network management model
The ISO under the direction of the OSI group has created a network management model as the primary means for understanding the major functions of network management systems....
and is further defined by the ITU-T
ITU-T
The ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector is one of the three sectors of the International Telecommunication Union ; it coordinates standards for telecommunications....
in the X.700 series of recommendations.
CMIP models management information in terms of managed object
Managed object
In telecommunication, the term managed object has the following meanings:1. In a network, an abstract representation of network resources that are managed. With "representation", we mean not the actual device that is managed, but also the device driver, that communicates with the device...
s and allows both modification and performing actions on managed objects. Managed objects are described using GDMO
GDMO
The Guidelines for the Definition of Managed Objects is a specification for defining managed objects of interest to the Telecommunications Management Network for use in CMIP....
(Guidelines for the Definition of Managed Objects), and can be identified by a distinguished name (DN), from the X.500
X.500
X.500 is a series of computer networking standards covering electronic directory services. The X.500 series was developed by ITU-T, formerly known as CCITT, and first approved in 1988. The directory services were developed in order to support the requirements of X.400 electronic mail exchange and...
directory.
CMIP also provides good security (support authorization, access control, and security logs) and flexible reporting of unusual network conditions.
Services implemented
The management functionality implemented by CMIP is described under CMIS services.In a typical Telecommunications Management Network
Telecommunications Management Network
The Telecommunications Management Network is a protocol model defined by ITU-T for managing open systems in a communications network. It is part of the ITU-T Recommendation series M.3000 and is based on the OSI management specifications in ITU-T Recommendation series X.700.TMN provides a framework...
, a network management system
Network management system
A network management system is a combination of hardware and software used to monitor and administer a computer network.Individual network elements in a network are managed by an element management system.-Tasks and operational details:...
will make use of the management operation services to monitor network element
Network element
A network element is usually defined as a manageable logical entity uniting one or more physical devices. This allows distributed devices to be managed in a unified way using one management system....
s. Management agent
Management agent
A Management agent is a software agent that runs on a managed node and provides an interface to manage it. It can perform operations on managed objects in the node and can also forward notifications to the manager ....
s found on network elements will make use of the management notification services to send notifications or alarms to the network management system.
Deployment
CMIP is implemented in association with the ACSEACSE
Association Control Service Element is the OSI method for establishing a call between two application programs. ACSE checks the identities and contexts of the application entities, and could apply an authentication security check....
and ROSE
Remote operations service element protocol
The Remote Operations Service Element is the OSI service interface, specified in , that provides remote operation capabilities, allows interaction between entities in a distributed application, and upon receiving a remote operations service request, allows the receiving entity to attempt the...
protocols. Both are Layer 7 OSI protocols
OSI protocols
The Open Systems Interconnection protocols are a family of information exchange standards developed jointly by the ISO and the ITU-T starting in 1977....
(Application Layer). ACSE
ACSE
Association Control Service Element is the OSI method for establishing a call between two application programs. ACSE checks the identities and contexts of the application entities, and could apply an authentication security check....
is used to manage associations between management applications (i.e. manage connections between CMIP agents). ROSE
Remote operations service element protocol
The Remote Operations Service Element is the OSI service interface, specified in , that provides remote operation capabilities, allows interaction between entities in a distributed application, and upon receiving a remote operations service request, allows the receiving entity to attempt the...
is employed for all data exchange interactions. Besides the presence of these Layer 7 protocols, CMIP assumes the presence of all OSI layers at lower levels but does not explicitly specify what these should be.
There have been some attempts to adapt CMIP to the TCP/IP
Internet protocol suite
The Internet protocol suite is the set of communications protocols used for the Internet and other similar networks. It is commonly known as TCP/IP from its most important protocols: Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol , which were the first networking protocols defined in this...
protocol stack. Most notable is CMOT contained in RFC 1189 (detailing CMIP over TCP). Other possibilities include RFC 1006 (which provides an ISO transport service on top of TCP
Transmission Control Protocol
The Transmission Control Protocol is one of the core protocols of the Internet Protocol Suite. TCP is one of the two original components of the suite, complementing the Internet Protocol , and therefore the entire suite is commonly referred to as TCP/IP...
), and CMIP over LPP
Lightweight Presentation Protocol
Provides ISO presentation services on top of TCP/IP based protocol stacks. It is defined in RFC 1085.Source: IETF RFC 1085....
(a presentation layer protocol that can run on top of TCP
Transmission Control Protocol
The Transmission Control Protocol is one of the core protocols of the Internet Protocol Suite. TCP is one of the two original components of the suite, complementing the Internet Protocol , and therefore the entire suite is commonly referred to as TCP/IP...
or UDP
User Datagram Protocol
The User Datagram Protocol is one of the core members of the Internet Protocol Suite, the set of network protocols used for the Internet. With UDP, computer applications can send messages, in this case referred to as datagrams, to other hosts on an Internet Protocol network without requiring...
).
There is also a form of CMIS
Common management information service
The Common Management Information Service is the service interface specified in that is employed by OSI network elements for network management. It defines the service interface that is implemented by the Common Management Information Protocol as specified in...
that is developed to operate directly on top of the LLC
Logical Link Control
The logical link control data communication protocol layer is the upper sub-layer of the data link layer in the seven-layer OSI reference model...
sublayer. It is called the LAN/MAN Management Protocol (LMMP), formerly it was the Common Management Information Services and Protocol over IEEE 802 Logical Link Control (CMOL). This protocol does away with the need for the OSI stack as is the case with CMIP.
History
CMIP was designed in competition with SNMPSimple Network Management Protocol
Simple Network Management Protocol is an "Internet-standard protocol for managing devices on IP networks. Devices that typically support SNMP include routers, switches, servers, workstations, printers, modem racks, and more." It is used mostly in network management systems to monitor...
, and has far more features than SNMP. For example, SNMP defines only "set" actions to alter the state of the managed device, while CMIP allows the definition of any type of action. CMIP was a key part of the Telecommunications Management Network
Telecommunications Management Network
The Telecommunications Management Network is a protocol model defined by ITU-T for managing open systems in a communications network. It is part of the ITU-T Recommendation series M.3000 and is based on the OSI management specifications in ITU-T Recommendation series X.700.TMN provides a framework...
, and enabled cross-organizational as well as cross-vendor network management.
On the Internet, however, most TCP/IP devices support SNMP and not CMIP. This is because of the complexity and resource requirements of CMIP agents and management systems. CMIP is supported mainly by telecommunication devices.