🚀 go-pugleaf

Re the message on the lack of OSI standards available over the Internet:

Yes it is perverse that OSI standards are not as freely available as
all other docs, files, code etc. (especially RFCs) are over the Internet.

We are now ten years down the OSI track and very few systems use it other 
than a few govt. sponsored demonstrator projects.  However, all UNIX & TCP/IP
related products are continuing to sell very well, and build up a base.

This lack of information is undoubtedly inhibiting the progress towards
OSI, and allowing TCP/IP (etc., inc SNMP, FTP) to gain a massive
market. (specifically transport & network layers  -  X.400's OK!)

However, many organisations see OSI as a means of making money, whereas
the internet's philosophy is "to connect computers together...."
These widely differing motivations will eventually become apparent...

In the UK the Treasury is the "custodian" of OSI (through the CCTA and GOSIP).
It also has powers to terminate IT procurements which do not adhere to
EC/87/95 the European Commission's decision to insist on OSI appearing
in procurement specs. for public sector IT purchases.

It appears not to be insisting too strongly, and govt. departments on tight
budgets, who don't actually CARE (except that they want low cost workable
"open" systems), are continuing to buy TCP/IP.  They are allowed to do so by
invoking the "derogation" of "operational continuity" and having a "strategy"
on file which says "we plan to migrate to OSI ... waffle waffle..."

Before long, there will be so many TCP/IP-capable systems operational in 
govt departments (and the private sector for that matter) that to convert to
OSI for transport/network layers will be a massive and expensive excercise.

One must question whether any organisation is ever going to undertake this 
conversion....


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Phil Royse   Comms Consultant, Purley   |  Mail brought to you by PCElm 3.01.
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