NIST Special Publication 500-21

C

Computer

Systems

Technology

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF

COMMERCE

Technology Administration

National Institute of Standards and

Technology

Nisr

APPLICATION PORTABILITY PROFILE

(APP) The U.S. Government's

Open System Environment Profile

OSE/1 Version 2.0

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NIST

PUBLICATIONS

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#500-210

1993
7he National Institute of Standards and Technology was established in 1988 by Congress to "assist industry in the development of technology . . . needed to improve product quality, to modernize

manufacturing processes, to ensure product reliability . . . and to facilitate rapid commercialization ... of

products based on new scientific discoveries."

NIST, originally founded as the National Bureau of Standards in 1901, works to strengthen U.S.

industry's competitiveness; advance science and engineering; and improve public health, safety, and the

environment. One of the agency's basic functions is to develop, maintain, and retain custody of the national

standards of measurement, and provide the means and methods for comparing standards used in science,

engineering, manufacturing, commerce, industry, and education with the standards adopted or recognized

by the Federal Government.

As an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department's Technology Administration, NIST conducts basic

and applied research in the physical sciences and engineering and performs related services. The Institute does generic and precompetitive work on new and advanced technologies. NIST's research facilities are located at Gaithersburg, MD 20899, and at Boulder, CO 80303. Major technical operating units and their principal activities are listed below. For more information contact the Public Inquiries Desk, 301-975-3058.

Technology Services

• Manufacturing Technology Centers Program

• Standards Services

• Technology Commercialization

• Measurement Services

• Technology Evaluation and Assessment

• Information Services

Electronics and Electrical Engineering

Laboratory

• Microelectronics

• Law Enforcement Standards

• Electricity

• Semiconductor Electronics

• Electromagnetic Fields'

• Electromagnetic Technology'

Chemical Science and Technology

Laboratory

• Biotechnology

• Chemical Engineering'

• Chemical Kinetics and Thermodynamics

• Inorganic Analytical Research

• Organic Analytical Research

• Process Measurements

• Surface and Microanalysis Science

• Thermophysics^

Physics Laboratory

• Electron and Optical Physics

• Atomic Physics

• Molecular Physics

• Radiometric Physics

• Quantum Metrology

• Ionizing Radiation

• Time and Frequency'

• Quantum Physics'

Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory

• Precision Engineering

• Automated Production Technology

• Robot Systems

• Factory Automation

• Fabrication Technology

Materials Science and Engineering

Laboratory

• Intelligent Processing of Materials

• Ceramics

• Materials Reliability'

• Polymers

• Metallurgy

• Reactor Radiation

Building and Fire Research Laboratory

• Structures

• Building Materials

• Building Environment

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Computer Systems Laboratory

• Information Systems Engineering

• Systems and Software Technology

• Computer Security

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Computing and Applied Mathematics

Laboratory

• Applied and Computational Mathematics^

• Statistical Engineering^

• Scientific Computing Environments^

• Computer Services^

• Computer Systems and Communications^

• Information Systems

'At Boulder, CO 80303. ^Some elements at Boulder, CO 80303.
NIST Special Publication 500-210

APPLICATION PORTABILITY PROFILE

(APP) The U.S. Government's

Open System Environment Profile

OSE/1 Version 2.0

Systems and Software Technology Division

Computer Systems Laboratory

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Gaithersburg, MD 20899

Supersedes NIST Special Publication 500-187

DATE DUE

June 1993

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF

Ronald H. Brown, Secret oemco. mc. ae-L NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SlANUARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

Arati Prabhakar, Director
Reports on Computer Systems Technology

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a unique responsibility for computer

systenns technology within the Federal government. NIST's Computer Systems Laboratory (CSL) develops standards and guidelines, provides technical assistance, and conducts research for computers and

related telecommunications systems to achieve more effective utilization of Federal information technology resources. CSL's responsibilities include development of technical, management, physical, and administrative standards and guidelines for the cost-effective security and privacy of sensitive unclassified

information processed in Federal computers. CSL assists agencies in developing security plans and in improving computer security awareness training. This Special Publication 500 series reports CSL re- search and guidelines to Federal agencies as well as to organizations in industry, government, and

academia.

National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 500-210

Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 500-210, 103 pages (June 1993)

CODEN: NSPUE2

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1993

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402
Executive Summary

Federal information systems initially developed from isolated islands of computing.

Through progressive changes, these individual systems became connected by common

users and common information needs. These systems are now well on the way to migrating toward computing environments that consist of distributed, heterogeneous,

networked appUcations, databases, and hardware. The concept of a Federal computing

environment that is built on an infrastructure defined by open, consensus-based standards

is well on its way to becoming a de facto means of organizing these systems. Such an

infrastructure is called an Open System Environment (OSE).

An Open System Environment encompasses the functionality needed to provide

interoperability, portability, and scalability of computerized appHcations across networks

of heterogeneoiis, multi-vendor hardware/software/communications platforms. The OSE

forms an extensible framework that allows services, interfaces, protocols, and supporting

data formats to be defined in terms of nonproprietary specifications that evolve through

open (public), consensus-based forums.

A selected suite of specifications that defines the interfaces, services, protocols, and data

formats for a particular class or domain of applications is called a profile. The AppHcation

Portability Profile (APP) integrates industry. Federal, national, international, and other

specifications into a Federal application profile to provide the fxmctionality necessary to

accommodate a broad range of Federal information technology requirements.

This report, a.k.a the APP Guide, is designed to provide recommendations on a variety

of specifications that will generally fit the requirements of U.S. Government systems. A

specific organization will not necessarily require all of the recommended specifications in

the APP. As the U.S. Government's OSE profile, this guidance is provided to assist Federal

agencies in making informed choices regarding the selection and use of OSE specifications,

and in the development of more selective application profiles based on the APP. It is directed toward managers and project leaders who have the responsibilities of acquiring,

developing, and maintaining information systems supported by heterogeneous application

platform environments.

The APP is not a standard and is not designed to cover every case. In some instances, the

selection of one specification recommended in the APP will obviate the need for other

specifications that are also recommended (i.e., select one or the other, but not both.) There

is some overlap in functionahty covered in different specifications. There are also gaps in

functionality. In areas where the APP does not meet all of a user's requirements, the user must augment the recommended specifications to ensure that proposed systems built on

these specifications meet organizational requirements. This report is designed to help users determine which specifications to use. Many specifications were reviewed and evaluated before the final recommended

specifications were selected. If there are other specifications that should be considered in

the APP and that meet a broad range of U.S. government application requirements, users, vendors, and other interested parties should formally recommend them for evaluation

iii
using the same evaluation criteria applied to the selected specifications. This is one of the

ways in which the APP will continue to evolve as technology evolves.

The initial version of the APP was published by the National Institute of Standards and

Technolog}' (NIST) in April 1991 as Special Publication 500-187. The changes in this

revision reflect the evolutionary process developments that have occurred in the standards

arena. Specifically, Version 2 of the APP Guide incorporates the following:

a) updated information on each recommended specification;

b) the addition of many new specifications with the results of evaluation;

c) editorial changes, and additions where applicable; and

d) several new sections to provide guidance where agencies have requested information

and posed questions.

The mention of specification names in certain instances should not be interpreted to mean that the

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) endorses the acquisition of any specific

products based on these specifications. NIST has endeavored to separate references to the

specifications from products and services, and has provided evaluation criteria, where applicable, to enable users to make their own judgements of the applicability of the recommended specifications to

their requirements. For specific individual and organizational requirements, other specifications not mentioned here may be more applicable.

iv
A warning must be given to users of this report. Wholesale

inclusion of this report, the APP Guide, by reference in

procurement documents through statements such as "Products shall

conform to the APP Guide," or similar wording is a misuse of this

information. Such actions will not guarantee that the acquiring

organization has adequately addressed organizational and technical

requirements. As a matter of fact, such actions will probably ensure

that an organization will travel in a direction other than the

intended one. Some specifications overlap others, and the selection

of one specification may conflict with or prevent the use of another.

The intended use of this report is as a catalog from which

thoughtful selections can be made in response to clearly defined

user requirements. Individual recommendations and specifications

in this report must be reviewed by the acquiring agencies to determine if they are applicable to a specific acquisition and whether or

not the specifications are adequate to describe the organization's

requirements. In addition, inasmuch as there is overlap among some

of the specifications recommended, the acquiring agencies must

ensure that requirements do not conflict with one another, nor with

internal organizational policy.

V

Contents

CLAUSE PAGE

1. INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Scope 1 1.2 Purpose 2

2. ACRONYMS 3

3. OPEN SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT 7

3.1 OSE Reference Model 8

3.2 OSE Profile and the APP 9

3.3 APP Service Areas 10

3.3.1 Operating System Services 11

3.3.2 Human/Computer Interface Services 12

3.3.3 Software Engineering Services 13

3.3.4 Data Management Services 13

3.3.5 Data Interchange Services 14

3.3.6 Graphics Services 15

3.3.7 Network Services 15

3.3.8 Integral Supporting Services 15

4. APP SPECinCATIONS 17

4.1 Publicly Available Specifications 17

4.2 Specification Evaluation 18

4.3 Evaluation Criteria 18

4.4 Additional Information on Specifications 20

4.5 Federal Information Processing Standards 20

4.6 PIPS Testing 21

4.7 Operating System Services 23

4.7.1 Kernel Operations API 23

4.7.2 Operating System Commands and Utilities 25

4.7.3 Operating System Realtime Services API 26

4.7.4 Operating System Security API 27

4.8 Human/Computer Interface Services 28

4.8.1 Graphical User Interface API . 28

4.8.2 Graphical User Interface Toolkit API 30

4.9 Software Engineering Services 31

4.9.1 Programming Language Ada 32

4.9.2 Programming Language C 33

4.9.3 Programming Language COBOL 34

4.9.4 Programming Language Fortran

.

35

4.9.5 Programming Language Pascal

.

36

4.9.6 Integrated Software Engineering Environment 37

4.10 Data Management Services 39

4.10.1 Relational Database Management System Interface 39

vii
4.10.2 Data Dictionary/Directory System 42

4.10.3 Distributed Data Access ...43

4.11 Data Interchange Services 45

4.11.1 Document Interchange 45

4.11.2 Document Interchange 47

4.11.3 Page Description Language 48

4.11.4 Manuscript Markup Interchange 50

4.11.5 Graphics Data Interchange 51

4.11.6 Graphical Product Data Interchange 52

4.11.7 Product Lifecycle Data Interchange , 53

4.11.8 Electronic Data Interchange 54

4.11.9 Spatial Data Interchange 56

4.12 Graphics Services 58

4.12.1 Two-Dimensional Graphics API 58

4.12.2 Interactive and Three-dimensional Graphics API 59

4.13 Network Services 61

4.13.1 Communication API for Protocol Independent Interfaces 61

4.13.2 Communication API for OSI Services 63

^ 4.13.3 File Transfer API 64

4.13.4 Commimication Protocols for OSI 65

4.13.5 Communication API for Integrated Digital, Video, and Voice ... 67

4.13.6 Communication Protocols for Integrated Digital, Video, and

Voice 68

4.13.7 Remote Procedure Call 69

4.13.8 Transparent Network Access to Remote Files 71

4.13.9 Network Management 72

4.13.10 Electronic Messaging API 73

4.13.11 Directory Services API 74

5. STRATEGIC EVALUATIONS 76

6. CONCLUSION 79

ANNEX A — DOCUMENT SOURCES: CONTACT INFORMATION 80

ANNEX B — REFERENCES 85

ANNEX C — BIBLIOGRAPHY 88

INDEX 89

viii
Figures

Figure 1. Open System Environment Reference Mcwiel (OSE/RM) 8

Figure 2. APP Service Areas and the OSE/RM 10

Figure 3. OSI Network Management Framework 11

Figure 4. Data Interchange Complexity Levels 14

Figure 5. Example Summary Status Report 18

Tables

Table 1. Summary of APP FIPS Conformance Testing Requirements 22

Table 2. Strategic Value of APP Specifications 76

ix

1. INTRODUCTION

Federal agencies are under increasing pressure to use information technology to improve

efficiency and delivery of services to the public. At the same time, there is a new reality

that is becoming increasingly evident. Key aspects of this new reality are that Federal

agencies

a) now recognize that they can no longer create de jure standards and enforce them on

the commercial market as they were able to do with early standards;

b) must rely on the commercial market for information technology products and

services; and

c) must estabUsh strategies and plans for acquiring information technology products

and services based upon open system standards that support appUcation software

portability, scalability, and interoperability.

Systems within Federal agencies typically are developed in an envirormient of isolated

islands of computing. Now there is interdependence of users and systenns across the entire

organization. This interdependence has served to highlight enterprise-wide needs for

common application architectures, commimication networks, and databases. This

interdependence has also raised concerns about computer security issues and the need to

address those issues from policy, management, and technical perspectives.

One of the most significant factors underlying the changing technology is that Federal and

nonfederal users now recognize that no single vendor can supply all of their needs for

information technology systems and services. Since very large homogeneous environments

are no longer practical in many cases, users need open systems that provide

interoperability of products and portability of people, data, and appHcations throughout

heterogenous computing environments.

The need to improve portabihty and interoperability has resulted in widespread interest

in standards such as the Portable Operating System Interface for Computing Environments

(POSIX) and Goveminent Open System Interconnection Profile (GOSIP). Whereas

development of these standards are important milestones in the effort to achieve

portability and interoperability, POSIX and GOSIP are not sufficient to address the full

spectrum of needs, even within their stated scopes of concern.

1 .1 Scope

The focus of this guide is on open system environments (OSE) which integrate POSIX,

GOSIP, and other specifications to provide the functionality necessary to address a broad

range of Federal information technology requirements. The guidance is intended to assist

Federal agencies in making informed choices regarding the selection and use of OSE

specifications, and in the development of OSE profiles. This guidance is directed toward

managers and project leaders who have the responsibilities of acquiring, developing, and

1
maintaining information systems supported by heterogeneous hardware /software /communications platforms. Since the specifications described are highly technical in nature, users of this guidance should consult with subject area experts to determine the

appUcability of each specification to a particular organizational objective.

Ideally, specifications would be expressed in terms of international standards. Unfortunately, there are areas of OSE functionality for which formal standards, much less

international standards, do not exist. Although this situation will improve over time, users who have requirements for those functions are faced with the question, "What

specifications should I use now?"

1.2 Purpose

The Application Portabihty Profile (APP) is directed toward assisting managers, project

leaders, and users in making an informed judgment regarding the choice of specifications

to meet current requirements. There are two dimensions of the assistance provided. First,

specifications are provided for each functional service area described in the APP. The

specifications represent the collective judgment of the National Institute of Standards and

Technology (NIST) Computer System Laboratory's (CSL) staff regarding the most

appropriate specification for each functional area. Second, and equally as important,

evaluation criteria to assist in making quahtative assessments of the recommended

specifications are defined and appUed. AppHcation of these evaluation criteria resulted in

the NIST assessments of the suitability of the specifications recommended.

Users of the APP should use the evaluation criteria to make their own assessments of the

recommended specifications. Further, users should consider assigning weighted values to

elements of the criteria based on their judgments of the relative importance to be given

to each element. Users should also consider requiring vendors to use the evaluation

criteria to assess specifications that the vendors choose to propose as an alternative to the

specifications recommended in this document.

The following sections briefly describe the meaning of open system environment, the OSE

Reference Model, and specific components of the AppKcation Portabihty Profile. Later

sections provide recommended specifications for specific APP components. References for

further information and addresses of organizations that distribute documents on the

recommended specifications are included toward the end of this report.

2
2. ACRONYMS

2.1 AAP: Association of American Publishers

2.2 ACSE: Association Control Service Element

2.3 AJPO: Ada Join Program Office

2.4 ANS: American National Standard

2.5 ANSI: American National Standards Institute

2.6 AOW: Asiatic Oceania Workshop

2.7 API: Application Program Interface

2.8 APP: Application Portability Profile

2.9 APTL: Accredited POSIX Testing Laboratory

2.10 ASI: Application Software Interface

2.11 ASME: American Society of Mechanical Engineers

2.12 ASN.l: Abstract Syntax Notation One

2.13 BRI: Basic Rate Interface

2.14 BSD: Berkeley Systems Development

2.15 CAD/CAM: Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing

2.16 CADETC: CAD/CAM Data Exchange Technical Centre

2.17 CAE: Computer Application Environment

2.18 CALS: Computer-Aided Acquisition and Logistic Support

2.19 CASE: Computer-Aided Software Engineering (See ISEE)

2.20 CCITT: International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee

2.21 CGM: Computer Graphics Metafile

2.22 CMP: Completeness

2.23 CMW: Compartmented Mode Workstation

2.24 COS: Corporation for Open Systems

2.25 COSMIC: Computer Software Management and Information Center

2.26 CSL: Computer Systems Laboratory (part of NIST)

2.27 DAC: Discretionary Access Control

2.28 DBMS: Database Management System

2.29 DCE: Distributed Computing Environment

2.30 DFU: De Facto Usage

2.31 DIA: Defense Intelligence Agency

2.32 DIS: Draft International Standard

2.33 DNI: Detailed Network Interface

2.34 DPANS: Draft Proposed American National Standard

2.35 DoD: Department of Defense

2.36 DTD: Document Type Definition

2.37 ECMA: European Computer Manufacturers Association

2.38 ECMA/TC33: European Computer Manufacturers Association Technical

Committee 33

2.39 ECMA PCTE: European Computer Manufacturers Association Portable Common

Tools Environment

2.40 EDI: Electronic Data Interchange

2.41 EDIFACT: Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce, and

Transport

3
2.42 EEI: External Environment Interface

2.43 EMPM: Electronic Manuscript Preparation and Markup

2.44 EPRI: Electric Power Research Institute

2.45 EWOS: European Workshop on Open Systems

2.46 FDDI: Fiber Distributed Data Interface

2.47 FIPS: Federal Information Processing Standard

2.48 FIPS PUB: Federal Information Processing Standard Publication

2.49 FTAM: File Transfer, Access and Management

2.50 GCA: Graphics Communication Association

2.51 CIS: Geographic Information System

2.52 GKS: Graphical Kernel System

2.53 GORD: GOSIP Register Database

2.54 GOSIP: Government Open System Interconnection Profile

2.55 GUI: Graphical User Interface

2.56 HCI: Human/Computer Interface

2.57 ICCCM: Inter-CUent Communications Conventions Manual

2.58 IDRP: Inter-Domain Routing Protocol

2.59 lEC: International Electrotechnical Commission

2.60 IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

2.61 IGES: Initial Graphics Exchange Specification

2.62 IGOSS: Industry/Government Open Systems Specification

2.63 INTAP: Interoperability Technology Association for Information Processing

2.64 IRDS: Information Resource Dictionary System

2.65 IS-IS: Intermediate System-Intermediate System

2.66 ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network

2.67 ISEE: Integrated Software Engineering Envirormient

2.68 ISO: International Organization for Standardization

2.69 ISO/IEC: International Organization for Standardization /International

Electrotechiucal Commission

2.70 JITC: Joint Interoperability Test Center

2.71 JTCl: Joint Technical Committee One

2.72 LAN: Local Area Network

2.73 LAPD: Link Access Procedures D

2.74 LIS: Language Independent Specification

2.75 LOC: Level of Consensus

2.76 MAC: Mandatory Access Control

2.77 MAN: Metropolitan Area Network

2.78 MAP/TOP: Manufacturing Automation Protocol/Technical and Office Protocols

2.79 MAT: Maturity

2.80 MHS: Message Handling Service

2.81 NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

2.82 NBSIR: National Bureau of Standards Interim Report

2.83 NCC: National Computing Centre

2.84 NCGA: National Computer Graphics Association

2.85 NCSC: National Computer Security Center

2.86 NI-X: Bellcore National ISDN-X

2.87 NISO: National Information Standards Organization

4
2.88 NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology

2.89 NIU-Forum: North American ISDN Users' Forum

2.90 NIUF: North American ISDN Users' Forum

2.91 NTIS: National Technical Information Service

2.92 NVLAP: National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NIST-sponsored

program)

2.93 ODA/ODIF/ODL: Open Document Architecture/Open Document Interchange

Format/Open Document Language

2.94 OIW: OSE Implementor's Workshop

2.95 OMG: Object Management Group

2.96 OSE: Open System Environment

2.97 OSE/RM: Open System Environment Reference Model

2.98 OSF: Open Software Foundation

2.99 OSI: Open System Interconnection

2.100 PAV: Product Availability

2.101 PDES: Product Data Exchange using STEP

2.102 PHIGS: Programmer's Hierarchical Interactive Graphics System

2.103 PII: Protocol Independent Interfaces

2.104 POSIX: Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX)—System Apphcation

Program Interface [C Language]

2.105 PRI: Primary Rate Interface

2.106 PRL: Problems/Limitations

2.107 RDA: Remote Database Access

2.108 RPC: Remote Procedure Call

2.109 SDIF: Standard Docimient Interchange Format

2.110 SDTS: Spatial Data Transfer Specification

2.111 SGML: Standard Generalized Markup Language

2.112 SNI: Simple Network Interface

2.113 SPDL: Standard Page Description Language

2.114 SQL: Structiired Query Language

2.115 STB: Stability

2.116 STEP: Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data

2.117 SVID: System V Interface Definition

2.118 TEI: Text Encoding Initiative

2.119 TFA: Transparent File Access

2.120 UAC: User Advisory Council

2.121 UI: UNIX International

2.122 UN/ECEAVP.4: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Working Party

Four on Trade Facilitation

2.123 USGS: U.S. Geological Survey

2.124 VAN: Value-Added Network

2.125 VPL: Validated Products List

2.126 WAN: Wide Area Network

2.127 WYSIWYG: What You See Is What You Get

5
2.128 X3: Technical Committee X3 - Information Processing Systems

2.129 XPG4: X/Open Portability Guide Issue 4

2.130 XTI: X/Open Transport Interface

6
3. OPEN SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT

From the perspective of users and technologists ahke, an open system environment (OSE)

consists of a computing support infrastructLire which facihtates the acquisition of

applications that

a) execute on any vendor's platform;

b) use any vendor's operating system;

c) access any vendor's database;

d) communicate and interoperate over any vendor's networks;

e) are secure and manageable; and

f) interact with users through a common human/computer interface.

In more technical terms, an OSE is a computing enviroimnent that supports portable,

scalable, and interoperable appUcations through standard services, interfaces, data formats,

and protocols. The standards may consist of international, national, indiistry, or other

open (pubHc) specifications. These specifications are available to any user or vendor for use in building systems and products that meet OSE criteria.

AppHcations in an OSE are scalable among a variety of platform and network

configurations, from standalone microcomputers, to large distributed systems that may

include microcomputers, workstations, minicomputers, mainframes, and supercomputers,

or any configuration in between. The existence of greater or fewer computing resources on any platform will be apparent to users only in the context that they affect the

apphcation's speed of execution, for example in how fast screens are refreshed or data is retrieved, or the capacity of each platform to process data (i.e., 16-bit data bus versus a 32-

bit bus).

Applications interoperate by using standard communication protocols, data interchange

formats, and distributed system interfaces to transmit, receive, imderstand, and use

information. The process of moving information from one platform, through a local area network, wide area network, or combination of networks to other platforms should be

transparent to the appHcation and the user. Locations of other platforms, users, databases,

and programs should also be transparent to the application.

In short, an OSE supports appUcations through the use of well-defined components: a plug-compatible technology or building-block approach for developing systems.

Unfortimately, not enough standards are in place to define an OSE completely. Standards

organizations are working on this problem, but much effort is still needed. As technology

changes, some standards will become obsolete and other new ones will be required.

Organizations can still accompHsh a great deal in moving toward an OSE by selecting

specifications that will provide greater openness over time.

7
3.1 OSE Reference Model

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) POSIX Working Group P1003.0

describes an OSE Reference Model (OSE/RM) that is closely aligned with the AFP and

that provides a framework for describing open system concepts and defining a lexicon of

terms that can be agreed upon generally by all interested parties. Figure 1 illustrates the

OSE/RM.

APPLICATION SOFTWARE ENTITY

Figure 1. Open System Environment Reference Model (OSE/RM).

Two types of elements are used in the model: entities consisting of the appHcation

software, appHcation platform, and platform external environment; and interfaces

including the application program interface and external environment interface.

The three classes of OSE reference model entities are described as follows:

a) Application Software — Within the context of the OSE Reference Model, the

appHcation software includes data, documentation, and training, as well as programs.

b) Application Platform — The appHcation platform is composed of the coUection of

hardware and software components that provide the system services used by

appHcation software.

c) Platform External Environment — The platform external environment consists of

those system elements that are external to the appHcation software and the

appHcation platform (e.g., services provided by other platforms or peripheral

devices).

8
There are two classes of interfaces in the OSE reference model, as described in the

following paragraphs:

a) Application Program Interface (API) — The API is the interface between the

application software and the application platform. Its primary function is to support

portability of application software. An API is categorized in accordance with the

types of service accessible via that API. There are four types of API services in the

OSE/RM:

1) Human/computer interface services

2) Information interchange services

3) Communication services

4) Internal system services

b) External Environment Interface (EEI) — The EEI is the interface that supports

information transfer between the application platform and the external environment,

and between applications executing on the same platform. Consisting chiefly of

protocols and supporting data formats, the EEI supports interoperability to a large

extent. An EEI is categorized in accordance with the type of information transfer

services provided. There are three types of information transfer services. These are

transfer services to and from:

1) Human users

2) External data stores

3) Other apphcation platforms

In its simplest form, the OSE/RM Ulustrates a straightforward user-supplier relationship:

the application software is the user of services and the application platform/external

environment entities are the suppHers. The API and EEI define the services that are provided.

3.2 OSE Profile and the APP

A profile consists of a selected list of standards and other specifications that define a complement of services made available to applications in a specific domain. Examples of

domains might include a workstation environment, an embedded process control

environment, a distributed environment, a transaction processing environment, or an office

automation environment, to name a few. Each of these environments has a different cross- section of service requirements that can be specified independently from the others. Each

service, however, is defined in a standard form across all environments.

An OSE profile is composed of a selected list of open (public), consensus-based standards

and specifications that define services in the OSE/RM. Restricting a profile to a specific

domain or group of domains that are of interest to an individual organization results in

the definition of an organizational profile. The Application Portability Profile (APP) is an

OSE profile designed for use by the U.S. Government. It covers a broad range of

application software domains of interest to many Federal agencies, but it does not include

9
every domain within the U.S. Government's appUcation inventory. The individual

standards and specifications in the APP define data formats, interfaces, protocols, or a mix

of these elements.

3.3 APP Service Areas

The services defined in the APP tend to fall into seven broad service areas. These service areas are:

a) operating system services

b) human/computer interface services

c) data management services

d) data interchange services

e) software engineering services

f) graphics services

g) network services

Each service area is defined in the following sections. Figure 2 illustrates where each of

these seven services areas relates to the OSE/RM. (Assume that software engineering

services are appUcable in all areas.)

APPLICATION SOFTWARE ENTITY

A SYSTEM I"

JHL SEHVICES COMMUNICATiONS

SERVICES INFORMAHON

SERViCES

OPERATING

<r SYSTEM

SERVICES

NETWORK

SERVICES

DATA

MANAGEMENT

SERVICES

A HUMAN/COMPUTER

INTHi^FACE SERVICES HUMAN/

COMPUTER

"INTERFACE APPUCATION PROGRAM .SERVICES"

GRAPHICS

SERVICES

lf*TERFACE(API)

APPLICATION PLATFORM ENTITY

COMMUNJCATIONS

SERVICES

NETWORK

SERVICES

ainformation

servk;es DATA

MANAGEMENT

SERVICES

DATA

INTERCHANGE

SERVICES

HUMAN/COMPUTEH

INTERFACE SERVK;ES HUMAN/

COMPUTER

INTERFACE

SERVICES

GRAPHICS

SERVICES

EXTERNAL

ENVIHOf^MENT

INTERFACE (EEI)

EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT

Figure 2. APP Service Areas and the OSE/RM.

Each of the APP service areas addresses specific components aroimd which interface, data

format, or protocol specifications have been or will be defined. Security and management

services are common to all of the service areas and pervade these areas in one or more

forms.

10
Currently, specifications for security can be recommended in operating system services,

network services, and access control and integrity constraints for data management

services. Specifications for security in the other service areas are not sufficiently advanced

to warrant inclusion at this time.

Management services are partly defined and still under development. They are based on

the Open System Interconnection (OSI) Network Management Framework, which applies

mainly to the overlap among network, system, and application management functions (see

fig. 3). This overlapping area applies equally to networks and individual nodes on

networks and forms the framework for the OSI approach to systems and network

management. Other management functions in the typical operating system sense (e.g., user

accounts, resource administration, etc.) will be added over time. As these specifications

mature and stabilize, they will be reviewed and appropriate ones may be selected for use

in the APP.

APPLICATIONS

Figure 3. OSI Network Management Framework.

3.3.1 Operating System Services

Operating system services are the core services needed to operate and administer the

application platform and provide an interface between application software and the

platform. These core services consist of the followdng:

a) Kernel operations provide low-level services necessary to create and manage

processes, execute programs, define and communicate signals, define and process

system clock operations, manage files and directories, and control input-output

processing to and from peripheral devices.

11
b) Commands and utilities include mechanisms for operations at the operator level,

such as comparing, printing, and displaying file contents; editing files; pattern

searching; evaluating expressions; logging messages; moving files between

directories; sorting data; executing command scripts; and accessing environment

information.

c) Realtime extension includes the application and operating system interfaces needed

to support those apphcation domains requiring deterministic execution, processing,

and responsiveness. The extension defines the appHcations interface to basic system

services for input/output, file system access, and process management.

d) System management includes capabihties to define and manage user resource

allocation and access (i.e., what resources are managed and the classes of access

defined), configuration and performance management of devices, file systems,

administrative processes (job accounting), queues, machine/platform profiles,

authorization of resource usage, and system backup.

3.3,2 Human/Computer Interface Services

Human/Computer Interface (HCI) services define the methods by which people may

interact with an apphcation. Depending on the capabilities required by users and the

appUcations, these interfaces may include the following:

a) Client-server operations define the relationships between cUent and server processes

operating within a network, in particular, graphical user interface display processes. In this case, the program that controls each display unit is a server process, whereas independent

user programs are cHent processes that request display services from the server.

b) Object definition and management includes specifications that define characteristics

of display elements: color, shape, size, movement, graphics context, user preferences,

interactions among display elements, etc.

c) Window management specifications define how windows are created, moved, stored,

retrieved, removed, and related to each other.

d) Dialogue support includes specifications that define the relationships between what

is displayed on the screen (e.g., cursor movements, keyboard data entry, external data

entry devices), and how the display changes depending on the data entered.

e) Multimedia specifications include API specifications, service definitions, and data

formats that support the manipulation of multiple forms of digital and analog audiovisual

data within a single application.

User interfaces are often the most complex part of system development and maintenance.

Within the past few years, significant advances have been made in user interfaces

technology in both ease-of-use and in reducing the development effort required.

12
The principal components of a window system are a video interface that contains one or more windows or panels; a pointing device such as a mouse or touch screen; and a set of

objects on the screen that can be directly manipulated by the user through the pointing

device or through keyboard responses.

Multimedia, in the art world, is the integration of two or more different modes of

expression within a single work of art, such as the mixing of sculpture and music or painting and dance. In the world of information processing, multimedia is a general term

that describes the integration of different information representations, such as text, sound,

and video, within a single presentation session, especially within a common user interface.

In addition to the traditional text and hne graphics, multimedia applications often include

scanned images, part- or full-motion video with or without synchronized audio, and

digitized sound or music. Some of the key challenges in identifying and defining

standards associated with this area include: analog to digital conversions, compression and

storage of large data sets, synchronization of time-dependant representations, and multichannel input and output.

3.3.3 Software Engineering Services

The production and use of portable, scalable, interoperable software is the objective of

open systems. Software engineering services provide the infrastructure to develop and

maintain software that exhibits the required characteristics. Standard programming

languages and software engineering tools and environments become central to keeping

with this objective. The required capabiUties are provided by software engineering services

which include the following:

a) Programming languages and language bindings for COBOL, FORTRAN, Ada, C, and

Pascal.

b) Integrated software engineering environments (ISEE) and tools include systems and

programs that assist in the automated development and maintenance of software.

These include, but are not limited to, tools for requirements specification and

analysis, for design work and analysis, for creating and testing program code, for

docimienting, for prototyping, and for group communication. The interfaces among

these tools include services for storing and retrieving information about systems and

exchanging this information among the various programs in the development

environment.

3.3.4 Data Management Services

Central to most systems is the management of data that can be defined independent of

the processes that create or use it, maintained indefinitely, and shared among many

processes. Data management services include the following:

13
a) Data dictionary/directory services allow users and programmers to access and

modify data about data (i.e., metadata). Such data may include internal and external

formats, integrity and security rules, and be located within a distributed system.

b) Database management system (DBMS) services provide controlled access and

modification of structured data. To manage the data, the DBMS provides

concurrency control and faciUties to combine data from different schemas. DBMS

services are accessible through a programming language interface or an

interactive /fourth- generation language interface. For efficiency, database management systems generally provide specific services to create, populate, move, back up,

restore, and archive databases, although some of these services could be provided

by general file management capabiHties described in operating system services.

c) Distributed data services provide access to, and modification of, data in a remote

database.

3.3.5 Data Interchange Services

Data interchange services provide specialized support for the exchange of information,

including format and semantics of data entities between appHcations on the same or

different (heterogeneous) platforms. Data interchange services currently include the

following:

a) Document services include specifications for encoding the data (e.g., text, pictures,

numerics, special characters, etc.), and both the logical and visual structures of

electronic documents.

b) Graphics data services include device independent definition of picture elements.

c) Product data interchange services encompass those specifications that describe

technical drawings, docimientation, and other data required for product design and

manufacturing, including geometric and nongeometric data such as form features,

tolerances, material properties, and surfaces.

LEVEL 5 — APPLICATION

LEVEL 4 — LANGUAGE SYNTAX AND SEMANTICS

LEVEL 3 — COMPLEX OBJECT

LEVEL 2 — OBJECT CONTENT

LEVEL 1 — DATA FORMAT

Figure 4. Data Interchange Complexity Levels.

14
There are various levels of complexity of data interchange. At the lowest level of

complexity. Level 1, is the ability to define representations for the data to be interchanged.

A representation might be defined as a language or a data format. The next higher level.

Level 2, represents content. Text, raster images, and audio are examples of different

content types. Level 3 includes object representations where different content types may

be combined to form a complex data representation, such as a complex document. Above

the object level is the language level. Level 4. The language level is smtable for humans

to understand what is being represented. Level 5, the highest level of complexity, is the

apphcation level. The appUcation level uses any of the lower levels of representation to

interchange data with another apphcation. Figure 4 illustrates the hierarchy among these

levels of complexity.

3.3.6 Graphics Services

Graphics services provide functions required for creating and manipulating displayed

images. These services include display element definition and management, and image

attribute definition. The services are defined in specifications for describing

multidimensional graphic objects and images in a form that is independent of devices.

Graphics security services in this area include access to, and integrity of, functioiis that

support the development of imaging and graphics software and image data.

3.3.7 Networl< Services

Network services provide the capabihties and mechanisms to support distributed

appUcations requiring data access and applications interoperabihty in heterogeneous,

networked environments. These services include the following:

a) Data communication includes API and protocol specifications for reUable,

transparent, end-to-end data transmission across communications networks.

b) Transparent file access to available files located anywhere in a heterogeneous

network.

c) Personal/micro computer support for interoperabihty with systems based on other

operating systems, particularly microcomputer operating systems, that may not be

formally standardized in a national or international standard.

d) Remote Procedure CaU services include specifications for extending the local

procedure call to a distributed environment.

3.3.8 Integral Supporting Services

Two supporting services are integrated within and permeate the other seven service areas. In many cases, separate specifications are not available for these supporting services

within each of the seven service areas. These two services are security and management

services described as foUows.

15
3.3.8.1 Security Services

Security services are provided to support the secure distribution and integrity of

information and to protect the computing infrastructure from unauthorized access. These

services include the following:

a) Operating system security services specify the control of access to system data,

functions, hardware, and software resources by users and user processes.

b) Human/computer interface security services include the definition and execution of

types of user access to objects within the scope of human/computer interface

systems, such as access to windows, menus, etc.; the functions that provide

human/computer interface services such as human/computer interface management

systems; and the security labeling of information on displays and other output

devices.

c) Programming security services provide the means to control access to and integrity

of programming objects such as libraries, program code, etc., and the tools or information that provide the infrastructure for development of software.

d) Data management security services include control of, access to, and integrity of data

stored in a system through the use of specific mechanisms such as privileges,

database views, assertions, user profiles, verification of data content, and data labels.

e) Data interchange security services are used to verify and vaUdate the integrity of

specific types of data interchange. Examples of such services include nonrepudiation,

encryption, access, data security labeling, etc.

f) Graphics security services include those necessary to protect the integrity of and

access to nontext data, such as graphical images (e.g., checksums on display bitmaps

compared to file contents after encoding/decoding or compression/decompression

techniques have been apphed).

g) Network security services include access, authentication, confidentiality, integrity,

and nonrepudiation controls and management of communications between senders

and receivers of information in a network.

Individual security specifications are recommended within each of the other service areas. No specifications are defined in a separate security service area.

3.3.8.2 Management Services

Management services are integral to the operation of an open system environment. They

provide the mechanisms to monitor and control the operation of individual apphcations,

databases, systems, platforms, networks, and user interactions with these components.

Management services enable users and systems to become more efficient in performing

16
required work. Management is better able to streamline the operation, administration, and

maintenance of open system components. These services include the following:

a) Fault management and control services that detect, log, and reconfigure systems

through human intervention or through automatic means.

b) Configuration control services that provide mechanisms for performing version

control.

c) Accounting services for monitoring system and network usage.

d) Performance monitoring services for computing effectiveness of configurations and

estimating future performance requirements.

Individual management specifications are recommended within each of the other service

areas. No specifications are defined in a separate management service area.

4. APP SPECIFICATIONS

Ideally, all specifications would be expressed in terms of international standards. Unfortunately, there are areas of OSE functionality for which formal standards, much less

international standards, do not exist. Although this situation will improve over time, users who have requirements for those functions are faced with the question, "What specifications should I use now?"

4.1 Publicly Available Specifications

In some cases, there are no publicly available open specifications that pertain directly to a specific service area component. In those cases, NIST has tried to recommend a specification that at least partly covers the required functionality. In other cases, NIST has recommended specifications that are not entirely open, recognizing the fact that users need

guidance now.

PubUcly available specifications that may not be Federal standards can be used in some

instances to fill the gaps between existing standards. NIST does not advocate that

organizations should use the specifications in these cases without knowledge of the

associated risks and adverse effects of such use (e.g., difficulty in porting applications later

in a system's life, justifying the use of non-open specifications, etc.). If another

specification appears to meet an organization's requirements more fully, then NIST

recommends that the organization choose the one that meets those requirements the best.

For a broad range of Federal applications and organizations, however, NIST can offer

some insight into minimizing problems and managing those that cannot be solved directly

at this time.

17
4.2 Specification Evaluation

The following sections describe the currently recommended specifications for each of the

APP services and summarize some of the pros and cons of selecting each specification.

The information is provided to managers, technical project leaders, and users to assist

them in evaluating these specifications for inclusion in application or organizational

profiles. These evaluations may be used to compare specifications listed in this guide to

other specifications that an organization may be considering.

Each service area is preceded by a summary status report of all specifications reviewed

in this report for that particular service area. An example of an entry from one of the

simimary status reports is presented in figure 5. Subsections of each service area describe

specific evaluation criteria for the specification.

The summary status report relates the results of major evaluation criteria (e.g., level of

consensus, completeness, etc.) to a graphic representation. With one view, aU of the

specifications in a particular service area can be compared to determine relative coverage

of the area. Users may use this information to determine where they should concentrate

their efforts in tailoring and augmenting appUcation and organizational profiles.

SPECIFICATION LOC PAV CMP MAT STB DFU PRL

REALTIME IEEE P1 003.4 O O • O

Legend: O-high evaluation O-average evaluation blank-low evaluation

LOC - Level of consensus STB -- Stability

PAV -- Product availability DFU -- De facto usage

CMP -- Completeness PRL -- Problems/limitations

MAT " Maturity

Figure 5. Example Summary Status Report.

4.3 Evaluation Criteria

Each of the specifications is evaluated according to how well it meets the requirements of a specific criterion. The criteria are defined as follows:

a) Level of consensus—^A low evaluation is given to specifications that are proprietary or are used by a very limited or speciahzed group of users, such as vendor consortia; a high evaluation is given for a specification that has already become a national or

international standard; average evaluations are assigned for public domain

specifications that are not standard, or that may be in the process of becoming a standard (i.e., standards committee work-in-progress), or that are widely available across various hardware/software platforms.

b) Product availabihty—A low evaluation is given to specifications for which only a very few proprietary products are available; high evaluations are given to

18
specifications for which there is a wide variety of products available from various

vendors across different application platforms; average evaluations are assigned to

specifications that may be proprietary but have many products available from a variety of vendors, or that are public domain specifications with products readily

available.

c) Completeness— specification is evaluated on the degree to which it defines and

covers key features necessary in supporting a specific functional area or service. For

example a network security specification that includes all of the components

described would be evaluated higher than others that do not include all of the

features.

d) Maturity—^According to the underlying technology of a specification, a high

evaluation indicates that it is well-understood (e.g., a reference model is welldefined, appropriate concepts of the technology are in widespread use, the

technology may have been in use for many years, a formal mathematical model is defined, etc.). A low evaluation indicates that it may be based on technology that has

not been well-defined and may be relatively new.

e) Stability—^A high evaluation means that the specification is very stable, that no

changes are expected within the next 2 years. A low evaluation indicates that

significant or many changes are expected within a relatively short time (1 to 2 years), or that incompatibilities exist between current and expected releases of the

specification. An average evaluation is given to those specifications that may have

known changes forthcoming to replace features in the existing specifications.

f) De facto usage—This evaluation criterion estimates the likelihood that a vendor will

independently propose products that conform to this specification, whether or not

a reference specification is stated in the procurement documents. A high evaluation

indicates that most proposed products will conform to the specification. A low

evaluation indicates that it is unlikely that the vendor will propose products based

on the specifications. An average evaluation indicates that vendors are just as likely

to propose products based on the specifications as not (i.e., no clear determination

exists). In the cases of low or average evaluations, it is imperative that users include

a specification in procurement docimientation. A low evaluation does not necessarily

mean that products implemented on the specification do not exist. It can also mean

that some vendors would rather provide products that are not based on the

recommended specifications, such as proprietary implementations.

Problems /limitations—Lower evaluations are assigned to specifications with severe

restrictions on use or capabihties (e.g., Hcensing restrictions) or known problems tend

to be to difficult and too numerous to overcome (e.g., new releases of the specification are not compatible with previous releases, or not enough is covered in the

standard to be useful). An average evaluation is given to those specifications that

require some minor additional facility in order to be fuUy effective in their intended

environment. This additional facility may be provided by a related standard or other

specification.

g)

19
4.4 Additional Information on Specifications

Additional informational items, including the following, are provided where appropriate:

a) Specification title—The full identifying title of the specification for purposes of

ordering or reference.

b) Specification available from—Organization from which the specification can be

ordered.

c) PubUcation date—Date on which the pubhcation was released for general use

(usually designated on the specification's title page.)

d) Sponsoring organization—Organization responsible for developing and/or

maintaining the specification. (In the case of certain Federal Information Processing

Standards [FIPS] that adopt existing national or international standards, the

organization responsible for the existing base standard is listed.)

e) Rationale—In a very few cases, a rationale section has been included to describe the

reasoning behind a specific recommendation. The intent of this section is to show

that a validation process was undertaken before a recommendation was made.

f) Applicability—Description of the OSE service area that covers the recommended

specification.

g) Conformance testing—Provides information about current and future plans for

conformance testing of products based on the recommended specification. In the case

of FIPS testing, each FIPS PUB describes the requirements for testing and the policies

that affect such testing. For other specifications, testing may or may not be described

in the specification recommended.

h) Future plans—Published or otherwise-aimounced directions and long-term plans for

individual specifications.

i) Alternative specifications—In some instances, other specifications exist besides the

recommended specification. Users may want to review these alternatives before

selecting a specification on which to standardize.

4.5 Federal Information Processing Standards

Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) are adopted and promulgated under the

provisions of Section 111(d) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of

1949 as amended by the Computer Security Act of 1987. FIPS include standards,

guidelines, and technical methods that are developed by NIST, approved by the Secretary

of Commerce, and issued for govemmentwide use.

20
FIPS frequently adopt standards that have been developed by national and international

voliintary industry standards organizations with NIST assistance. This use of voluntary

industry standards enables the Federal government to acquire commercially available offthe-shelf technology and to avoid the costs of developing its own standards.

NIST works with industry through voluntary standards committees and through

sponsored activities such as the Open System Environment Implementors' Workshop

(OIW) and the North American Integrated Services Digital Network User Forum (NIUF)

to develop the technical agreements that are needed to implement standards in products.

The specific conditions under which standards are appHcable to Federal government

acquisitions are included in each FIPS. The extent to which each FIPS is compulsory and

binding on Federal agencies is determined by the Secretary of Commerce when the FIPS

is approved. Heads of agencies are authorized to waive the mandatory use of specific FIPS

under certain conditions. Certain government systems are exempted from the use of the

FIPS. These include classified computer systems and those that support specialized

military and intelHgence missions.

4.6 FIPS Testing

Each FIPS specifies whether testing is necessary to validate conformance of

implementations. A test poHcy is produced by NIST/CSL for implementing the testing

described. Each test poUcy is written to reflect the requirements of a specific FIPS. The

testing poUcy defines what requirements must be met for testing, what test suites will be

used, what procedures v^ll be followed, and how test failures will be treated.

The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP), an organization

within NIST, accredits laboratories for performing testing under various standards

progranns. The accreditation requirements are strict and differ for each standard.

Accredited laboratories are generally reaccredited every 2 years.

A table of general conformance testing information is included for Federal Information

Processing Standards that have associated test policies. Information for other specifications

is included with the entry pertaining to the individual specification.

The specifications cited in Table 1 describe the types of testing specified in the FIPS. In

some cases, a FIPS may describe optional levels that may be selected by organizations.

Testing in such cases is also specified as optional within the FIPS. An organization may

choose, however, to specify any level of testing for a particular acquisition.

If no failures are allowed by the specific FIPS testing procedures, an implementation

cannot be vahdated as conforming if it fails any test. In some cases, vaUdation can still occur even if test failures are allowed according to specific conditions defined within the

testing policy associated with each FIPS. In such cases, mainly programming languages,

an implementation must be revaUdated within 12 months, and the same failures cannot

reoccur.

21
Table 1. Summary of APP FIPS Conformance Testing Requirements

FIPS PUB TEST AUTHORITY TYPES OF

VALIDATION

FIPS PUB 021-3 COBOL (Failures allowed) NIST Base/Registered

FIPS PUB 069-1 Fortran (Failures allowed) NIST Base/Registered

FIPS PUB 109 PASCAL (Failures allowed) NIST Base/Registered

FIPS PUB 119 Ada (Failures allowed) AJPO Base/Registered

FIPS PUB 120-1 GKS (No failures allowed) NIST Base

FIPS PUB 127-2 SQL (No failures allowed) NIST Base/Registered

FIPS PUB 128 CGM (No failures allowed) NIST Base

FIPS PUB 153 PHIGS (No failures allowed) NIST Base

FIPS PUB 146-1 GOSIP (Failures allowed) NIST/JITC Base/Registered

FIPS PUB 160 C (No failures allowed) NIST Base/Registered

The test authority column in Table 1 indicates the agency responsible for testing. POSIX

testing is performed by NIST/NVLAP-accredited testing laboratories that submit test reports to NIST/CSL for review and final approval. In the case of Ada, the Ada Joint

Program Office (AJPO) has testing authority and NIST/CSL is an Ada validation facility

under the authority of the AJPO. NIST/CSL is the GOSIP test authority. The Department

of Defense's Joint Interoperability Test Center (JITC) in Ft. Huachuca, Arizona, a NIST/NVLAP-accredited laboratory, performs testing and evaluation of GOSIP

implementations for the U.S. Government and acts as NIST/CSL's agent for GOSIP

validation. Other NIST/NVLAP-accredited laboratories also perform testing of GOSIP

implementations, but the test results are reviewed by JITC for final approval.

There are three basic types of product vaUdations:

1) Base validation denotes that a test was conducted using NIST-approved

vahdation test suites and that the test was witnessed by accredited Government witnesses. A vahdation certificate or product registration is issued.

2) Registered vahdation indicates that an implementation with a base vahdation

may have been minimally upgraded and tested on the same or a very similar

platform, but without accredited Government witnesses present. The test results were then submitted to the testing authority for review. If the

implementation passed the test, it is registered as a derived vahdation. No

certificate is issued.

Alternately, an implementation submitted for base vahdation may have failed

one or more tests. In this case, the implementation is registered on the list of

vahdated products, but no certificate is issued.

22
3) GOSIP implementations are registered in the same manner as base validations, but no certificates are issued. Instead, the implementation is registered

on a public GOSIP vaUdated products register. Note that there are individual

tests for most protocols referenced in the GOSIP FIPS. This may result in

multiple registrations for one product if it provides capabilities of multiple

protocols. (A separate interoperability test is prescribed for GOSIP

implementations. While such testing is strongly recommended, it is outside

the scope of this report.)

4.7 Operating System Services

Operating system (OS) services include kernel operations, commands and utilities, system

management, realtime extension, and security.

SPECIFICATION LOC PAV CMP MAT STB DFU PRL

FIPS PUB 151-2 POSIX • • • • • • •

POSIX SHELL IEEE 1003.2-1992 O • • • • • •

REALTIME IEEE PI 003.4 o O • O

SECURITY IEEE P1003.6 O

Legend: •-high evaluation O-average evaluation blank-low evaluation

LOC ~ Level of consensus STB - Stability

PAV ~ Product availability DFU ~ De facto usage

CMP ~ Completeness PRL - Problems/limitations

MAT ~ Maturity

4.7.1 Kernel Operations API

Specification title: FIPS PUB 151-2 Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX)—System

Application Program Interface [C Language]

Specification available from: National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

Publication date: April 1993

Sponsoring organization: The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)

Applicability: Kernel operations provide low-level services necessary to create and manage

processes, execute programs, define and communicate signals, define and process system

clock operations, manage files and directories, and control input-output processing to and

from external devices. The FIPS is mandatory for use where POSIX-like requirements are defined.

23
Level of consensus: The U.S. Government's Federal Information Processing Standard

Publication (FIPS PUB) is based on international standard ISO/IEC 9945-1:1990. The FIPS

makes certain optional capabilities mandatory for Federal procurements.

Product availability: As of the date of this publication, there were over 100 products

validated according to FIPS PUB 151-1 validation requirements on numerous types and

classes of platforms. Validation for FIPS PUB 151-2 will begin as soon as testing

laboratories are accredited to use the new test suite.

Completeness: The FIPS has undergone change to bring it in line with ISO/IEC 9945-

1:1990. This standard does not, however, include other kernel operations that are widely

understood as part of the operating system kernel, such as realtime operations or kernel

security capabilities. These capabiHties will become parts of related standards for

augmenting the usability of FIPS PUB 151-2 in the future. For kernel operations, FIPS PUB

151-2 is complete as written.

Maturity: Antecedents of POSIX have existed for 20 years. The current standard was

developed over a 10-year period. Much research based on POSIX antecedents has been

pursued, which has led to various improvements in the POSIX specification.

StabiUty: FIPS PUB 151-1 adopted the 1988 IEEE POSIX standard. FIPS PUB 151-2 revises

the previous FIPS to bring it into Une with the current national (IEEE 1003.1-1990) and

international (ISO/IEC 9945-1:1990) standards.

De facto usage: Even if users do not reference this specification in procurement

documents, vendors will hkely propose products that meet the specification or are compatible v^th it. Known problems/limitations: POSIX consists of a family of related specifications, some

of which are still in draft stages (e.g., IEEE P1003.4 Realtime Amendment, IEEE PI003.6

Security, etc.). FIPS PUB 151-2 is complete in itself. The other pieces mentioned herein vdll

augment FIPS PUB 151-2 usabihty as additional FIPS PUBs.

Conformance testing: MIST has developed a conformance test suite and offers testing

services via Accredited POSIX Testing Laboratories (APTL). Certificates of vaUdation are issued by NIST. VaHdated products are listed in CSL's quarterly "Validated Products List"

(VPL), on a NIST/CSL-supported E-mail server, and the NIST Gopher system.

Future plans: Existing kernel operations will not change, although additional operations

are on the horizon. Related standards for other service area components, such as realtime

operations, system security, etc., will be developed over the next 1 to 2 years.

Alternative specifications: None (All other known specifications that provide these services are compatible with POSIX.)

24
4.7.2 Operating System Commands and Utilities

Specification title : Planned FIPS PUB on Portable Operating System Interface

(POSIX)—Part 2: Shell and Utilities Interface IEEE Std 1003.2-1992, Information

Technology—Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX)—Part 2: Shell and Utilities

Specification available from: IEEE

Pubhcation date: October 1992

Sponsoring organization: IEEE

Apphcability: Commands and utilities include mechanisms for operations at the operator

level, such as comparing, printing, and displaying file contents, editing files, pattern

searching, evaluating expressions, logging messages, moving files between directories,

sorting data, executing command scripts, scheduling signal execution processes, and

accessing environment information. The shell programming language allows the creation

of portable, easily-created scripts to perform actions that combine or tailor the functions

performed by the individual utilities.

Level of consensus: The IEEE standard, IEEE Std 1003.2-1992 (POSIX.2), was approved in

October 1992. The proposed FIPS will adopt POSD(.2 in its entirety. ISO/IEC 9945-2 has

been proposed as an international standard and is expected to be adopted in mid to late

1993.

Product availabihty: Implementations of commands and utilities capabihties are available

in proprietary operating systems that are very similar to the specification.

Completeness: The POSIX.2 Standard is currently complete. The POSIX.2b project,

however, covers future extensions to POSIX.2 and new requests from other POSIX groups.

The current draft of POSIX.2b, Draft 4-August 1992, includes changes to the archive

format, the handling of symbohc hnks, a new conversion utility, and a number of other

extensions.

Maturity: Antecedents and similarly specified implementations have existed for 10 to 20

years.

Stability: Significant new capabihties are expected to be added within the next 1 to 3 years,

but should be compatible with the current standard.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents,

vendors will probably propose products that meet this specification, or that are compatible

with the specification.

Known problems /limitations: None

25
Conformance testing: When a FIPS is adopted, NIST plans to provide certification

procedures and tests for demonstrating product conformance. No time schedule has been

developed for these actions, although the test assertions for POSIX.2 standard (IEEE POSIX

1003.3.2) is currently in ballot.

Future plans: The specification will be revised as needed to reflect the evolving national

and international consensus.

Alternative specifications: UNIX International (UI) System V Interface Definition (SVID),

Open Software Foimdation OSF/1, X/Open Portability Guide Issue 4 (XPG4)

4.7.3 Operating System Realtime Services API

Specification title: Amendment 1: Realtime Extension [C Language] PI003.4 Draft 12

Specification available from: IEEE Working Group PI003.4

Pubhcation date: February 1992

Sponsoring organization: IEEE

AppUcability: Provides the operating system extensions needed to aUow incorporation of

realtime appUcation domains into the OSE. The extensions define the applications interface

to basic system services for input/output, file system access, and process management.

Level of consensus: P1003.4 is currently at Draft 12 and is in the balloting process.

Product availability: Implementations of some of these realtime extension capabilities are

available in proprietary operating systems that are very similar to the specification. Many

more are following suit even as the ballot process is imdertaken.

Completeness: The functional specifications are still subject to modification, but major

features are already included in the draft. The realtime extensions as currently defined are not complete. Fully-compHant implementations will begin to emerge as the draft matures.

Maturity: Commercially available operating systems are beginning to appear that contain

some of the P1003.4 Draft funcfionality.

Stabihty: The specification is being balloted. There is a high probability that the ballot wiU

succeed and docimnent that consensus has been achieved.

De facto usage: The realtime extension and API for the most part can be expected to be

available on most commercially available operating systems.

Known problems/Umitations: The specification as it stands includes a C language binding

(P1003.4) and the threads extensions (P1003.4a). Still to come are a language independent

specification (LIS), realtime profiles, and testing specifications.

26
Conformance testing: When a FIPS is adopted, NIST plans to provide certification

procedures and tests for demonstrating product conformance. No time schedule has been

developed for these actions.

Future plans: Other related subparts and standards include: P1003.4b Operating System

Interface, P1003.4c Language Independent Specification, and P1003.13 Realtime Profiles.

P1003.4b and P1003.4c do not currently have scheduled ballot dates. Also, a related Draft

P1003.13 (Realtime Profiles) has moved along rapidly and is currently in ballot resolution.

As these specifications emerge they will be represented here.

Alternative specifications: None.

4.7.4 Operating System Security API

Specification title: Security Interface for the Portable Operating System for Computer

Environments (IEEE P1003.6 Draft 11)

Specification available from: IEEE Working Group PI003.6

PubUcation date: July 11, 1991

Sponsoring organization: IEEE

Apphcability: Security considerations are specified in terms of data encryption mechanisms, access control, reliabiUty control, system logging, fault tolerance, and audit facilities.

(The security interface does not specify a secure operating system; only its interface.)

Level of consensus: This specification is still in a draft stage and will probably be balloted

in 1993.

Product availability: Implementations exist with the majority of defined features.

Completeness: Major topics including key features have not yet been finalized.

Maturity: The basic technology is well understood and the specification is based on several

underlying standards/criteria.

Stability: With the expected balloting process to commence in 1993, consensus has evolved

around the core docimient with minor exceptions. These exceptions may become options

in the current document, or modifications in later versions. Resolution of ballots cast wdU

determine the outcome.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents,

vendors will probably propose products that do not meet this specification, or that are not

compatible with the specification.

27
Known problems /limitations: The specification is incomplete in some areas, most notably

nrussing function and routine specifications that still have to be defined.

Conformance testing: A method of measuring conformance has not been defined. Until

this has occurred, no determination of where or when testing might take place will be

made. A set of draft test assertions has been developed for use in test suite development.

Future plans: Security specifications will expand to integrate interfaces for other service area components.

Alternative specifications : National Computer Security Center "Orange Book" security

standards for access control (NCSC-STD-020-A) and password management (NCSC-STD002-85); Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) DRS-2600-5502-87: "Security Requirements for

System High and Compartmented Mode Workstations (CMW);" DIA DDS-2600-6216-91:

"Compartmented Mode Workstation LabeUng: Encoding Format;" DIA DDS-2600-6215-91:

"Compartmented Mode Workstation Labeling: Source Code and User Interface Guidelines"

4.8 Human/Computer interface Services

The components of this service include the Graphical User Interface Service component.

Planned FIPS PUB 158-1, which refers to the X Window System, version 11, release 5, and

the Graphical User Interface Toolkit component.

SPECIFICATION LOC PAV CMP MAT STB DFU PRL

Proposed FIPS PUB 158-1

X Window System • O O • • •

Draft Standard for Information

Technology—X Window System

Graphical User Interface—Part

1 : Modular Toolkit Environment

(IEEE PI 295.1)

• • O O O • O

Legend: ©-high evaluation O-average evaluation blank-low evaluation

LOC ~ Level of consensus STB ~ Stability

PAV ~ Product availability DFU - De facto usage

CMP ~ Completeness PRL ~ Problems/limitations

MAT ~ Maturity

4.8.1 Grapliicai User interface API

Specification title : Proposed FIPS PUB 158-1 User Interface Component of Applications

Portability Profile (MIT X Window System)

Specification available from: NTIS

28
Publication date: Announced October 20, 1992

Sponsoring organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology X Consortium

Applicability: The MIT X Window System is the Federal standard for graphical user

interfaces in the OSE. Its software, written in C, has proven to be highly portable between

various hardware platforms and operating systems. Because of its client-server

architecture, the X client application can run on one system while the X server can be

running on another system on a network. As a result, networked PC's which run X server software can act as X terminals for X cUent applications running on OSE platforms.

Level of consensus: An X Protocol standard for constructing messages between cHents and

servers is being developed by Standards Committee X3K13.6; Xlib and the Xt Intrinsics

(i.e., components for building GUI objects, such as push buttons, scroll bars, window

borders, etc.) are not standardized at this time. An updated FIPS based on the X

Consortium specifications described above has been proposed as FIPS PUB 158-1.

Product availability: Virtually all major hardware vendors have produced implementations

of the X Window System for their product lines. A copy of the software is available from

expo.lcs.mit.edu at Massachusetts Institute of Technology through the "ftp" command.

Completeness: The specification defines the primitives, intrinsic functions based on these

primitives, and some of the lower level library specifications for human/computer

interface services. It does not specify any of the "look and feel" or style services that will

be accessible at higher levels of abstraction. It does not contain a full complement of

utilities and services required to allow application programmers to easily program user

interfaces.

The X Window System defines a C language source code level interface to a network-based bit-mapped graphic display system. The computer program source code

contained in Version 11, Release 5, is not part of the specification for the FIPS. The

specification for this FIPS includes the following documents from the X Consortiimi, X

Window System, Version 11, Release 5:

1) X Window System Protocol, X Version 11

2) Xlib—C language X Interface

3) X Toolkit Intrinsics—C Language Interface

4) Bitmap Distribution Format 2.1.

Maturity: The X Window System has been in existence since 1983. It was one of the

products to come out of Project Athena at MIT.

Stability: The Xlib, X Window System Protocol, and the Xt Intrinsics documents are stable.

Further changes in these specifications are expected to include tuning modifications rather

than major deletions or additions. A revised FIPS PUB will probably be issued when

appropriate as other national and international standards are approved.

29
De facto usage: Even if users do not reference this specification in procurement

documents, vendors will likely propose products that meet the specification or are compatible w^ith it. Known problems /linnitations: Most of the functionality is available at a low level (i.e., too

low for most application programming).

Conformance testing: The U.S. Government will accredit conformance testing services

through the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) when test suites and testing poUcy for Planned PIPS PUB 158-1 become available.

Future plans: Revision of the PIPS will be considered and made where appropriate as national and international standards are approved. IEEE Working Group PI201 is preparing two documents: IEEE P1201.1 focuses on a high-level wdndow appUcation

program interface toolkit; IEEE PI 201 .2 is concerned with drivabihty/usability of

human/computer interfaces. The Inter-Client Communications Conventions Manual

(ICCCM) from the MIT X Consortium, which defines how user appHcation programs

communicate with each other in a system, will be included in a future update of PIPS PUB

158.

Alternative specifications: None

4.8.2 Graphical User Interface Toolkit API

Specification title: Draft Standard for Information Technology—X Window System

Graphical User Interface—Part 1: Modular Toolkit Environment (IEEE P1295.1)

Specification available from: IEEE Working Group P1295.1

Pubhcation date: N/A

Sponsoring organization: IEEE

AppUcability: This specification supports writing portable appHcations with graphical user

interfaces based on the X Window System. It defines a source code level interface to an

X Window System toolkit graphical user interface enviroimient based on the OSF MOTIF

Apphcation Enviroimient Specification User Environment Volume. It includes a C

language appUcation program interface that is consistent wdth the Graphical User Interface

Drivabihty Recommended Practice developed by IEEE PI202.2.

NOTE: IEEE P1201.1, Draft Standard for Iivformation Technology—Uniform Apphcation

Program Interface—Graphical User Interface, is an upcoming specification that may

accommodate a broad range of proprietary and non-X-Window-System-based GUI

technologies within a single API. The PI 201.1 Working Group plans to complete a draft

document suitable for evaluation in late 1993.

30
Level of consensus: The IEEE P1295.1 Working Group has advanced the toolkit API based

on OSF MOTIF. The technical credibility and maturity of the specification is reflected by

the successful, large installed base of technology which complies with the specification.

It is scheduled to be in the ballot process by the time this pubUcation is available. Due to the substantial consensus already achieved in the industry, NIST expects this specification

to move from a de facto to a de jure status in a relatively short time.

Product availabihty: Virtually all POSIX platform vendors and users aie already using

implementations of MOTIF from which the PI295.1 specification was derived.

Completeness: The P1295.1 specification provides a toolkit of functions and objects for

developing application interfaces for GUI. Use of the P1295.1 specification in conjunction

with FTPS PUB 158 implementations of the X Window System will provide a complete

GUI, but without management capabilities that can be provided in dialog and presentation

tools such as user interface management systems (UIMS).

Maturity: Existing appHcations that are written to comply with the OSF MOTIF API

specification should port easily to the P1295.1 specification.

Stability: Due to industry committment to a substantial installed base, the specification

should remain stable. Extensions to the Graphical User Interface Toolkit specification may

be proposed within 1 to 2 years. Consensus is converging rapidly on the PI 295.1

specification.

De facto usage: If users do not reference the P1295.1 specification in procurement

documents, vendors will probably propose products that meet this specification or that are compatible with this specification.

Known problems /limitations: The PI295.1 specification provides only the toolkit level

interface. An underlying GUI system, such as the X Window System, mmt also be

provided to complete the GUI.

Conformance testing: No conformance tests exist. Plans for testing are being considered

by the Working Group.

Future plans: Presentation and dialog management services wdll be defined after the

toolkit specification is adopted.

Alternative specifications: None.

4.9 Software Engineering Services

Programming languages, language bindings. Integrated Software Engineering

Environments (ISEE), and software engineering tools are included as components of

software engineering services. The programming languages included herein are broadbased FIPS programming languages. While other programming languages are developing

(e.g., C++, LISP, and Prolog), or may be specified as HPS (e.g., MUMPS and BASIC), no

31
attempt to include every programming language was made. As consensus develops and

needs warrant, each language will be considered for inclusion as a recommended

specification within the APP. (Alternative specifications are not included for programming

languages.)

1 on PAV 1 V MAT O 1 D nFi 1

1 riL.

FIPS PUB 119 Ada • • • •

FIRS PUB 160 C • • • • •

FIPS PUB 21-3 COBOL • • • • •

FIPS PUB 69-1 FORTRAN • • • • •

FIPS PUB 109 Pascal • •

ECMA PCTE o o

Legend: ©-high evaluation O-average evaluation blank-low evaluation

LOG - Level of consensus STB ~ Stability

PAV ~ Product availability DFU ~ De facto usage

CMP ~ Completeness PRL ~ Problems/limitations

MAT - Maturity

4.9.1 Programming Language Ada

Specification title: HPS PUB 119 Ada

Specification available from: NTIS

Publication date: November 8, 1985

Sponsoring organization: Ada Joint Program Office

Applicability: Ada is a general-purpose, high-level programming language. In addition,

it provides strong data-typing, concurrence, and significant code-structuring capabilities.

It is particularly suited to embedded realtime systems, distributed systems, highly reliable

software development, and reuse of proven code.

Level of consensus: Ada is a national standard (ANSI/MIL-STD-1815A-1983), an

international standard (ISO 8652:1987), and a FIPS. The Department of Defense has

directed that Ada be used in aU DoD systems development.

Product availability: Numerous DoD-vaUdated compilers and Ada environments are

available commercially.

Completeness: Ada is complete for use as a general-purpose programming language.

32
Maturity: Ada was developed as a DoD-sponsored language and is based on well-defined

predecessor languages such as Pascal.

Stability: Ada has the backing of the Department of Defense, the U.S. Government, the

American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and the International Organization for

Standardization (ISO).

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents,

vendors will probably propose products that do not meet this specification or that are not

compatible with the specification.

Known problems /limitations: Insofar as the majority of POSIX bindings are written in C,

speciahzed standards groups are working on Ada bindings. Generally, there are few

standardized bindings for Ada.

Conformance testing: Ada conformance and vaUdation testing are carried out under the

auspices of DoD's Ada Joint Program Office (AJPO). A monthly Hst of vahdated compilers

is pubHshed by AJPO. NIST publishes a quarterly Validated Products List (VPL) of RPSvalidated implementations. An additional compiler performance measurement testing

service is available through AJPO.

Future plans: A new revision of Ada (a.k.a. Ada-9X) is in the review process and is planned for release in 1993. Related standards are in the process of adding, or have added

Ada bindings (e.g., SQL [Planned FIPS PUB 127-2]. A new standard binding for

Ada/POSIX kernel operations, IEEE 1003.5, was recently adopted by IEEE. The FIPS PUB

will be revised to reflect the Ada-9X standard. A test suite for Ada-9X should be available

several months after adoption of the Ada-9X standard.

4.9.2 Programming Language C

specification title: FIPS PUB 160 C

Specification available from: NTIS

Publication date: March 13, 1991

Sponsoring organization: Standards Committee X3J1

1

AppUcability: C is a general purpose high-level programming language designed for use

in various levels of software including operating systems, system level software (e.g.,

special purpose processors), and business and scientific appHcation software.

Level of consensus: FIPS PUB 160 and the ANSI standard are based on the Interrational

Standard, ANSI/ISO 9899:1992. FIPS PUB 160 specifies certain options and minimum

capabiUties that are left as options or variables within the ANSI standard.

33
Product availability: Numerous ANSI C compilers, interpreters, and associated products

are commercially available and supported. Many of the compilers are also FlPS-validated

and are commercially available.

Completeness: C includes facilities for every level of programming, from low-level

(hardware control) operations to high-level abstract functions and procedures. Data

structuring, reusable hbrary support, and memory management are included.

Maturity: Development of C has progressed from a family tree of similar languages

developed in academia, to a well-defined, widely supported language over a period of 15

years.

Stability: Standards Committee X3J16 is considering changes to fine-tune the standard

based on usage experience.

De facto usage: Even if users do not reference this specification in procurement

documents, vendors vvdll Ukely propose products that meet the specification or are compatible with it. Known problems /limitations: C does not provide direct support for data abstraction,

information hiding, inheritance, or operator overloading. A new standard is developing

to incorporate these capabilities within the C programming enviroimient (see Future Plans

below.)

Conformance testing: The U.S. Government estabhshed testing procedures and a testing

service in August 1992 for formal validation iising the FIPS. NIST publishes a quarterly

Validated Products List (VPL) of FlPS-validated implementations.

Future plans: Standards Committee X3J16 is developing the C++ language standard, which

will provide the tools for object-oriented software development. A working draft

document is expected to be available for review in September 1994.

4.9.3 Programming Language COBOL

Specification title: HPS PUB 21-3 COBOL

Specification available from: NTIS

Publication date: January 12, 1990

Sponsoring organization: Standards Committee X3J4

Applicability: COBOL is designed for use in programming self-documenting business

oriented applications.

Level of consensus: The FTPS and international standards (ISO 1989:1985) are based on

ANSI Standard X3.23-1985 and Addendum X3.23A-1989.

34
Product availability: COBOL is the most widespread prograrriming language. An

overwhelming percentage of all existing Federal applications are written and maintained

in COBOL. All major vendors offer FIPS COBOL.

Completeness: The current standard does not include realtime, operating system, and

communications components. It is most complete in the areas of data manipulation, and

business /financial applications, which is its intended domain.

Maturity: COBOL is one of the oldest standard general-purpose programming languages,

having been established in the early 1960's by DoD initiative.

Stability: The X3J4 Standards Committee is in the process of adding new functionaHty for

communications interfaces and screen management. CompatibiHty with previous versions

of the standard will be maintained. This has historically been one of COBOL's stronger

points.

De facto usage: Even if users do not reference this specification in procurement

documents, vendors will likely propose products that meet the specification or are compatible with it. Known problems /Umitations: COBOL has always been speciaUzed toward the

development of general-purpose business and financial apphcations. It is limited in other

types of appUcation domains, such as in realtime and commimications, although this may

change with functionaUty introduced by proposed revisions.

Conformance testing: FIPS conformance test suites are available from Federal sources. Testing services are also available from NIST. NIST pubhshes a quarterly VaUdated

Products List (VPL) of FlPS-validated implementations.

Future plans: The addition of new functionality over the next 3 to 5 years will greatly

expand the capabilities of COBOL to other application areas. An example of expansion

includes object-oriented capabilities.

4.9.4 Programming Language Fortran

Specification title: FIPS PUB 69-1 Fortran

Specification available from: NTIS

PubUcation date: December 24, 1985

Sponsoring organization: Standards Committee X3J3

Applicability: Fortran is a high-level programming language used largely in scientific and

engineering applications where large amounts of data are analyzed and processed in

computationally intensive enviroimients.

35
Level of consensus: The FIPS and the international standard (ISO 1539:1980) are based on

the national standard (ANSI Standard X3.9-1978).

Product availability: Every major hardware vendor markets a Fortran compiler based on

the standard. Additional compilers are available from a multitude of software vendors.

Completeness: It is a general-purpose programming language with capabilities for

performing virtually any type of application function. It was originally developed to assist

in the development of scientific calculation appHcations, but it has since been extended to cover other types of apphcations.

Maturity: Fortran is one of the oldest programming languages and was also the first one

to be standardized.

Stability: Although it has imdergone several major revisions over its Ufespan, Fortran

contains virtually all of the same capabilities that were available when it was new. In

addition, it contains elements for assisting in the development of information systems,

realtime and process control systems, structured programming constructs, etc.

De facto usage: Even if users do not reference this specification in procurement

documents, vendors will likely propose products that meet the specification or are compatible with it.

Known problems/Umitations: Due to loose data-typing and some idiosyncracies of various

compilers, some debugging problems are very difficult to locate and fix.

Conformance testing: Conformance test suites are available from Federal sources. Testing

services are also available from NIST. NIST publishes a quarterly VaUdated Products List

(VPL) of FIPS-vaHdated implementations.

Future plans: An IEEE Working Group is defining a POSIX/Fortran binding.

4.9.5 Programming Language Pascal

specification ritle: FIPS PUB 109 Pascal

Specification available from: NTIS

Publication date: January 16, 1985

Sponsoring organization: Joint ANSI X3J9-IEEE Pascal Standards Committee

Applicability: Pascal is a high-level programming language used primarily in teaching

environments for training computer science students in the concepts of programming. It

is also used in general apphcation areas such as business, science, etc.

36
Level of consensus: The FIPS and international standard (ISO 7185:1983) are based on the

national standard (ANSI/IEEE770X3.97-1983).

Product availability: Numerous hardware and software vendors market standard

implementations of Pascal interpreters and compilers.

Completeness: Pascal is a general-purpose programming language. It does not presently

have constructs for performing file input-output at other than the byte level.

Maturity: Pascal is a strongly typed language based upon a model of program design that

is weU understood, and has been used extensively for teaching programming in

universities.

Stability: Extended Pascal was adopted in 1990, but is not scheduled to become a FIPS.

Stabihty of the current FIPS is not in question.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents,

vendors will probably propose products that do not meet this specification, or that are not

compatible with the specification.

Known problems /limitations: FIPS Pascal does not have well-developed intrinsic file input-output operations.

Conformance testing: Conformance test suites are available from commercial sources, and

testing services are available from NIST. NIST publishes a quarterly Validated Products

List (VPL) of FlPS-vahdated implementations.

Future plans: NIST is currently considering whether to discontinue vahdating Pascal

compilers based on the low need of this language by Federal agencies and the limited resources that NIST has for vaHdation efforts. No initiatives are underway to make

Extended Pascal a FIPS.

4.9.6 Integrated Software Engineering Environment

Specification title: Portable Common Tools Environment (PCTE): Abstract Specification,

Standard ECMA-149, European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA)

Specification available from: ECMA

Pubhcation date: December 1990

Sponsoring organization: ECMA Technical Committee 33 (ECMA/TC33)

Rationale: NIST is working to develop a suite of standards in the ISEE area and has

incorporated the ECMA reference model in the base definition for the ISEE framework

functionality, technical integration, and standards specification. The ECMA reference

model is used to identify the needed functionality from which a comprehensive set of

37
services, interfaces, and data formats for integrating software tools can be developed. A

cornerstone for the interoperability of software engineering tools within ISEE environments is the existence of a framework which provides a consistent set of services to allow

for the integration of data, control, and presentation attributes among the various tools in

the environment. PCTE is one such open standard that provides for some. of these

framework services, principally in the data repository area.

Applicability: Integrated software engineering environments (ISEE) and tools include

systems and programs that assist in the automated development and maintenance of

software. These include, but are not limited to, tools for requirements specification and

analysis, for design work and analysis, for creating and testing program code, for

documenting, for prototyping, and for group communication. The interfaces among these

tools include services for storing and retrieving information about systems and exchanging

this information among the various programs in the development environment. PCTE can

provide for this data repository functionality.

Level of consensus: PCTE has a fair degree of consensus among major European

manufacturers, and ECMA has planned to submit PCTE for ISO standardization in the near future. Some U.S. companies have announced plans to develop PCTE technology,

although no firm product release dates have been annoimced.

Product availabiUty: No product implementing full ECMA PCTE compliance is now

available, although products implementing a subset of ECMA PCTE are expected in 1993.

There are several implementations of the earlier PCTE 1 .5 specification, which is a subset

of the currently specified PCTE functionality. The earlier versions are not strictly

compatible with the full standard.

Completeness: ECMA/TC33 plans to make sUght modifications to the ECMA-149 standard

in 1993 before it submits the standard for ISO adoption. There has been some concern

voiced that PCTE will not execute efficiently with systems built using object-oriented

design techniques due to what appears to be inherent inefficiencies in handling small data

objects. Various groups (ECMA/TC33, the North American PCTE Users Group [NAPUGl,

and the North American PCTE Initiative [NAPI]) have started to look at evolving the

standard to resolve this issue.

Maturity: PCTE has been under development since 1982, and under ECMA sponsorship

since 1988. The basis entity-relationship (ER) data repository model used by PCTE is fairly

stable and unlikely to undergo major changes in the future. Enhancements to address

object-oriented design and further developments to aid data, control, and presentation

integration are all possible in the future.

Stability: ECMA PCTE is still very much a new specification, and enhancements or modifications are to be expected. The emergence of products implementing the full

standard in the next 2 years will undoubtedly indicate areas where the standard needs to

undergo evolution.

38
«

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents,

vendors will probably propose products that do not meet this specification or that are not

compatible with the specification.

Known problems /limitations: The current PCTE specification can accommodate the

representation of large data objects, such as documents, but does not provide an efficient

mechanism for representing small objects, such as data elements and the associated

actions. The lack of products implementing the full standard makes it impossible to test and evaluate the full standard.

Conformance testing: The new NAPI organization formed by DoD, NIST, and the Object

Management Group (OMG) has as one of its goals the development of a conformance test

suite. The completion of this test suite, however, is probably several years off.

Future plans: NIST is one of the participants in NAPI with the objective to develop a conformance test suite and to aid in the evolution of the PCTE standard. A language

binding for C++, in addition to the current C and Ada bindings, is now imder development.

4.10 Data Management Services

Data management services include the data dictionary/directory component for accessing

and modifying data about data (i.e., metadata), the database management system

component for accessing and modifying structured data, and the distributed data

component for accessing and modifying data from a remote database.

SPECIFICATION LOC PAV CMP MAT STB DFU PRL

Planned FIPS PUB 127-1 SQL • • • • • • •

FIPS PUB 156 IRDS O • • O

RDA o O o O

Legend: •-high evaluation O-average evaluation blank-low evaluation

LOC - Level of consensus STB - Stability

PAV - Product availability DFU ~ De facto usage

CMP ~ Completeness PRL ~ Problems/limitations

MAT ~ Maturity

4.10.1 Relational Database Management System Interface

Specification title: Planned HPS PUB 127-2 Database Language SQL

Specification available from: NTIS

PubUcation date: Expected mid-1993

39
sponsoring organLzation: Standards Committee X3H2

Applicability: FIPS SQL provides data management services for definition, query, update,

administration, and security of structured data stored in a relational database. A relational

database is appropriate for general purpose data management, especially applications

requiring flexibility in data structures and access paths; it is particularly desirable where

there is a substantial need for ad hoc data manipulation or data restructuring. The seairity

interface for granting and revoking privileges does not specify a secure DBMS; only its interface.

Level of consensus: Planned HPS PUB 127-2 adopts ANSI Standard X3.135-1992 (SQL),

which is identical to ISO/IEC Standard 9075:1992. SQL has been adopted as the database

management component by X/Open, OSF, SQL Access Group, and other vendor consortia.

Product availability: Numerous implementations of the original ANSI SQL exist on aU

classes and brands of platforms. The NIST SQL VaHdated Products List maintains a long

Ust of validated products and environments that conform to the earHer FIPS PUB. Vendors

are vigorously implementing the additional features of the new ANSI SQL as specified in

Planned FIPS PUB 127-2. In addition, vendors provide proprietary extensions to the

standard as a mechanism for adding value. These extensions may not be compatible with

future directions that the standard may take.

Completeness: The new SQL standard specifies data definition, view definition, access

control, integrity constraints, schema manipulation, data manipulation (Select, Insert,

Update, Delete), Dynamic SQL, transaction management, connection management, session

management, diagnostics management, information schema tables, and two methods of

programming language bindings (Module and Embedded) for seven different

programming languages (Ada, C, COBOL, Fortran, MUMPS, Pascal, and PL/I). FIPS SQL

requires ANSI Standard X3. 135-1 992 Entry SQL conformance to one or more FIPS

programming languages and requires a FIPS Flagger to flag extensions in an implementation. FIPS SQL provides options for three other levels of conformance (Transitional,

Intermediate, and Full), specifies character sets and a documentation schema required to

be supported in FIPS Intermediate SQL and above, and specifies default SQL sizing

requirements. The FIPS provides options for SQL interoperability using the Remote

Database Access (RDA) SQL Specialization. The FIPS also contains specifications for some

Discretionary Access Control (DAC) r echanisms, but not Mandatory Access Control

(MAC) nor the associated security labels. For a definition of DAC or MAC, refer to

"Trusted Database Management System Interpretation of the Trusted Computer System

Evaluation Criteria" (NCSC-TG-021 Version 1, "Lavender Book"), National Computer

Security Center, April 1991.

Maturity: The SQL data model is based on the relational model first published in 1969.

The first commercial systems were available in 1979, and the first SQL standard was

published in 1986. AU subsequent standards have been upward compatible enhancements

to add new faciHties and features.

40
Stability: The SQL language has firm mathematical foundations in the first-order predicate

calculus. Standards groups and vendors are firmly committed to upward compatibility in

revisions and future extensions to the standard. Existing features are expected to remain

stable for the foreseeable future.

De facto usage: Even if users do not reference this specification in procurement

documents, vendors will likely propose products that meet the specification or are compatible with it. Known problems /limitations: The existing standard is a nonprocedural data manipulation

language. It applies to stand-alone, single-environment database architectures. It also

applies to client-server architectures with proprietary internal interfaces and protocols.

When combined with the RDA standard in Section 4.10.3, SQL is suitable for

heterogeneous distributed database processing. Enhancements are under development to

provide user-defined data types, triggers, assertions, flow of control statements, and other

capabilities associated with object data management.

Conformance testing: A formal SQL test service was instituted by NIST in April 1990 and

currently uses Version 3.0 of the NIST SQL test suite. Version 3.0 has been pubUcly

available since January 1992. The SQL test suite measures conformance to both required

and optional features of Planned PIPS PUB 127-1. NIST publishes a quarterly Ust of FIPSvaHdated processors. Certificates of validation are issued for products tested that show

fully conforming test results. Validation summary reports (VSR) are issued for each test conducted, regardless of whether products have nonconformities. Version 4.0 of the NIST

SQL test suite, to test required features of the new FIPS SQL standard, is expected in mid1993.

Future plans: Specifications for SQL interoperability with remote heterogeneous sites are under development in an emerging ISO/IEC Remote Database Access (RDA) standard (see

sec. 4.10.3). An SQL Call Level Interface (SQL/CLI), to provide a services interface for

third-party software vendors, and a specification for Persistent SQL Modules, to allow

interchange of complete SQL stored procedures, are both under development with

completion expected early in 1995. An emerging SQL3 specification, with features for

managing complex objects in heterogeneous environments, is under development in ANSI

and ISO standardization committees, with completion expected in the 1996 time frame.

The SQL3 specification will include triggers, assertioiis, user-defined data types, object

hierarchies, inheritance, and other features for management of complex objects. A new

project for development of SQL Multimedia and other AppHcation Packages (SQL/MM)

is under baUot with completion of initial parts for Full-Text, Images, and Spatial Data

projected for completion in 1996. Revised FIPS SQL standards that adopt the new SQL

enhancements are expected as appropriate.

Alternative specifications: None.

41
4.1 0»2 Data Dictionary/Directory System

Specification title : FIPS PUB 156 Information Resource Dictionary System (IRDS)

Specification available from: NTIS

Publication date: April 5, 1989

Sponsoring organization: Standards Committee X3H4

Applicability: Data dictionary/directory services consist of utilities and systems necessary

to catalog, document, manage, and use metadata (information about data).

Level of consensus: ANSI Standard X3.138-1988 and the FIPS are the same document. ISO

has completed an IRDS specification that is significantly different in some respects from

the ANSI standard.

Product availability: Commercial implementations have been developed, but their quaUty

has not yet been determined. A prototype implementation is available from CSL which

contains a large subset of IRDS functionality.

Completeness: The FIPS specification includes human/computer interfaces only. ANSI

Standard X3.185-1992, IRDS Services Interface, provides an appUcation program interface

to the IRDS. It is appropriate for metadata interchange with a database management

system, and between an IRDS and application programs. ANSI Standard X3.195-1991,

IRDS Export-Import File Format, supports schema and metadata interchange among IRDScompliant databases, among IRDS and CASE tools with repositories or dictionaries,

between IRDSes and appUcation programs, and between other systems that wish to

employ the exchange mechanism that it specifies.

Maturity: Antecedents of the IRDS have been in existence for 15 years. The current

specification has been in development during the major part of this time.

Stabihty: The next 2 to 3 years should see nominal changes in the current standard.

Related standards efforts are specifying additional and upwardly compatible functionality.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents,

vendors will probably propose products that do not meet this specification, or that are not

compatible with the specification.

Known problems/limitations: Virtually all procurements that specify a data dictionary/repository require it to be active. In such cases, the FIPS PUB 156 IRDS would need

to be augmented by the ANSI standard, X3.185-1992, discussed above.

Conformance testing: Conformance tests for FIPS PUB 156 are currently under development.

42
Future Plans: Related standards work will provide additional functionality and capability

to manage object-oriented data structures and provide for enhanced communication of

information between applications and other data management tools. A major revision to

the standard is envisioned in about 3 years to include this new functionality.

Alternative specifications: None.

4.10.3 Distributed Data Access

Specification title: Remote Database Access (RDA) ISO/IEC 9579:1993

Specification available from: ANSI

Publication date: Expected Early 1993

Sponsoring organization: ISO/IEC JTCl

Applicability: RDA is used to establish a remote connection between an RDA client, acting

on behalf of an application program or a client data manager, and an RDA server,

interfacing to a process that controls data transfers to and from a database. The goal is to

promote the interconnection of appHcations and the interoperabiHty of database

management systems among heterogeneous environments.

Level of consensus: The ISO/IEC RDA specification was completed by the ISO technical

development committee in June 1992 and formal ISO/IEC approval is expected in early

1993. The specification is in two parts: Part 1 — Generic Model, Service, and Protocol, and

Part 2 — SQL Specialization. RDA is a working task group of the NIST Open System

Environment Implementor's Workshop (OIW) and RDA agreements for the Basic

Application Context of the SQL Specialization are part of the December 1992 Stable

Agreements. Agreements for the Transaction Processing (TP) AppUcation Context are under development in OIW. RDA will also be included in GOSIP version 3.

Product availabihty: Vendor consortia such as the SQL Access Group have demonstrated

interoperability with working prototypes among different SQL servers. Many SQL vendors

are planning to have conforming client and server products available soon after formal

adoption of RDA by ISO/IEC in 1993.

Completeness: RDA services consist of dialogue management, association control, resource handling, and data language services between a single client and a single server. Association control includes making a connection to a specific database at the server site. SQL statements are sent as character strings with a separate list of input parameters, and

resulting data or exception conditions are returned. Transaction management services are also included for both one-phase and two-phase commit protocols. Different application

contexts are negotiable to determine whether one-phase (Basic context) or two-phase

commit (TP context) are available. The existing specification does not consider integrated

concurrency control mechanisms, so distributed database management is the concern of

43
the client process. Extensions for true distributed database management among different

SQL implementations are under consideration.

Maturity: Methods for establishing communications Unks between cUent and server sites are well known, but agreements on nonproprietary communications protocols are very

new.

Stability: The chent-server architecture is just one of several architectures used for

implementing distributed systems and there is no final conclusion as to which is best. The

stability of RDA depends on the stabiHty of the cHent-server architecture.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents,

some vendors will propose products that meet this specification, and other vendors will

propose products that do not meet this specification.

Known problems /limitations: The RDA SQL Specialization only supports Entry SQL from

the SQL-1992 standard. Support for features in Intermediate SQL and Full SQL are under

development with approval expected in 1994. Although distributed extensions are under

consideration, RDA does not currently specify distributed database, except what is achievable by the chent using two-phase commit protocols among different servers.

Conformance testing: RDA will likely become a future part of conformance testing for

GOSIP. At the present time, RDA can be tested indirectly using the NIST SQL test suite,

with application programs at the client site and data at the server site.

Future plans: Enhancement projects for distributed database and stored database

procedures have already been proposed to ISO. Extensions to support new features in the

recently adopted SQL-1992 standard are under development. Vendor agreements reached

by various consortia are finding their way into the RDA standard.

Alternative specifications: None.

44
4.11 Data Interchange Services

Data interchange services provide specialized support for the exchange of information,

including format and semantics of data entities, between applications on the same

(homogeneous) or different (heterogeneous) platforms.

SPECIFICATION LOC PAV CMP MAT STB DFU PRL

ODA/ODIF/ODL ISO 8613 • • O O O

PIPS PUB 152 SGML o • • O

SPDL ISO 10180 • • • •

EMPM ANSI/NISO Z39.59 O • • • o

FIPS PUB 161 EDI • • • O • o

FIPS PUB 128 CGM • • • • • •

FIPS PUB 177 IGES • o • • •

STEP ISO 10303 • •

FIPS PUB 173 SDTS O o • • • • •

Legend: •-high evaluation O-average evaluation blank-low evaluation

LOC -- Level of consensus STB - Stability

PAV - Product availability DFU -- De facto usage

CMP -- Completeness PRL - Problems/limitations

MAT -- Maturity

4.11.1 Document Interchange

Specification title: Open Document Architecture/Open Document Interchange Format/Open Document Language (ODA/ODIF/ODL) ISO 8613:1989

Specification available from: ANSI

PubUcation date: May 1989

Sponsoring organization: ISO/IEC JTCl, CCITT

ApphcabUity: Open Docimient Architecture (ODA) is a framework that enables users to

interchange the logical structure, content, presentation style and layout structure (the

physical appearance) of documents from one appHcation to another, or from an

appUcation to various output devices. ODIF, Open Document Interchange Format, is an

ASN.l (Abstract Syntax Notation One-ISO 8824:1987 and ISO 8825:1987) encoding for

documents suitable for interchange between appUcations. ODL, Open Document

Language, is a generic Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) encoding for

documents suitable for interchange between appUcations. ODA/ODIF/ODL can represent

45
complex objects that include different types of contents, such as complex documents with

embedded text, graphic images, etc. Typical uses of ODA/ODIF might include

transmitting formatted documents, such as books and technical reports through

communications networks from one appUcation to another and then printing or editing

the file through varioiis filters (e.g., a text filter, a graphics filter, or a printer driver). An

ODA/ODIF encoded file can be a bitmap representation, a text character representation, or a combination of these and other representations. The physical appearance of the

document will normally be maintained throughout the operations of encoding,

transmitting, and Linencoding. Specific Document Apphcation Profile (DAP) encodings are required to make efficient use of ODA/ODIF, but they are not described or recommended

in the APP. Users should consult with experts in ODA/ODIF capabilities.

Level of consensus: The international standard (ISO 8613) was approved by two

international standards bodies, ISO and International Telegraph and Telephone

Consultative Committee (CCITT). Additionally ODA has been adopted for the encoding

of tiled raster images by the Department of Defense in the Computer-Aided Acquisition

and Logistics Support (CALS) initiative as described in MIL-R-28002B.

Product availability: A few vendors are implementing a major subset of ODA (Level 2 in

the specification) using ODIF as an interchange format.

Completeness: ODA/ODIF/ODL covers all aspects of document interchange, including

logical structure, layout structure, generic logical structure, generic layout structure, and

presentation. Documents can be interchanged in either a processable, formatted, or a mixed processable formatted form. A Document Application Profile (DAP) is also required

to interchange a document between appUcations. A DAP defines the environment for

combining the various complex parts of an ODA/ODIF encoded document and how this

document is to be treated in various contexts, such as printing or editing.

Maturity: The connection between document logical structure, layout, and content is still an active topic of research.

Stability: Minor revisions of the standard will be made as vendors develop implementations.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents,

vendors will probably propose products that do not meet this specification or that are not

compatible with the specification.

Known problems/limitations: A complex document can be encoded using ODA/ODIF,

but the specifications of individual encoding schemes and document structures are very

low-level. A Docimient AppUcation Profile (DAP) is recommended for specifying more

abstract structuring in a document.

Conformance testing: NIST is developing a plan for conformance testing. The Department

of Communications (Canada) and the NCC (UK) have test-suite developments imderway.

46
Future plans: A FIPS to adopt ISO 8613:1989 is planned within the next year.

Alternative specifications: Electronic Manuscript Preparation and Markup, standard

ANSI/NISO Z39.59-1988, is an alternative national standard for representing the logical

structure of books, articles, and serials. Several organizations have designed alternative

nonproprietary architectures with SGML encodings. Those organizations are the

Association of American Publishers (AAP), the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI), and the

Department of Defense CALS program. Many vendors still recommend that organizations

require unique nonstandard document architectures encoded in SGML.

4.11.2 Document Interchange

Specification title: FIPS PUB 152 Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML)

Specification available from: NTIS, ANSI, GCA

Publication date: September 26, 1988

Sponsoring organization: ISO/IEC JTCl

Applicability: Interchange of documents — SGML is intended to formally define the

grammar of languages for document markup. It provides a means to specify what markup

is allowed, what markup is required, and how markup is distinguished from text.

Level of consensus: SGML is defined by international standard ANSI/ISO 8879:1986. The

FIPS specifies a profile of capabilities that are defined in the ANSI/ISO standard and sets minimum options for use in Federal systems.

Product availability: Several implementations that use SGML encodings to parse their

input are available from vendors. More implementations are in development.

Completeness: A high percentage of SGML features are available in current implementations. SGML does not deal with the meaning of the markup. (Markup consists of the

common sets of document formatting codes used in classes of document types. For

example, technical nianuals may use a different markup from management guideline

documents due to the audience and content of the respective docimient types, and the

types of publishing layouts that are commonly used for each.) Therefore SGML does not

specify what to do after the document has been processed by an SGML-recognizing

program.

Maturity: The technology upon which SGML is based has existed for at least 7 years.

Precursors of SGML include Backus Naur Form, Regular, Context Free, Left-to-Right

scanning with k-token lookahead (LR[k]), and Context Sensitive grammars. These are well

imderstood and have a rich mathematical basis.

Stability: The position as a grammar representation standard makes SGML a very stable

specification. It is generalized to the extent that various other representations and models

47
can be included and represented within the SGML framework. The market is having

difficulty, however, adopting any of the many possible SGML-encoded markup

architectures as a basis for interchange. See Known problems/limitations.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents,

vendors will probably propose products that do not meet this specification, or are not

compatible with the specification.

Known problems /limitations: While consensus on the SGML standard has been reached

to some degree, there is still a great deal of disagreement on particular markup to be

employed. The APP recommends at least one specification for defining markup: Electronic

Manuscript Preparation and Markup (see sec. 4.1L4).

Conformance testing: The Graphics Communication Association (GCA) is discussing plans

to produce a conformance test suite. A prototype test suite has been developed by NIST.

Future plans: SGML is currently being reviewed by ISO and proposals for enhancements

may be put forward over the next 1 to 3 years. The standards developers have agreed that

any future changes will not affect existing conforming SGML documents.

Alternative specifications: ODA/ODIF/ODL ISO 8613:1989

4.11.3 Page Description Language

Specification title: Planned PIPS for Standard Page Description Language (SPDL) ISO/IEC

DIS 10180

Specification available from: ANSI

PubUcation date: April 18, 1991

48
Sponsoring organization: Standards Committee X3V1.8

Applicability: SPDL defines a language for representing images that are to be displayed

on a screen, printed on an output device, or transmitted through communications media

from one application to another. To support the interchange of SPDL documents in a variety of enviroimients, SPDL provides two document representation formats: a binary

interchange format and a clear text interchange format.

This standard is intended to be used for documents that are generated by any text processing systein. It is particularly applicable to:

- documents that are intended for electronic printed output;

- documents viewed on v^ndowing systems; and

- documents that are interchanged among systems with differing text output devices.

Level of consensus: This document is scheduled to become an international standard by

mid-1993.

Product availability: There are no implementations of SPDL. There are, however, many

implementations of the original specification that was modified to become the proposed

international standard.

Completeness: The current specification is able to completely describe the page layout of

virtually any document or image type for display, print, and interchange requirements in

either binary or clear text representations.

Maturity: The specification is based on several existing page description language products

(e.g., PostScript) available from different vendors.

Stability: Consensus has evolved on the current specification. No major changes are expected in the next 1 to 3 years.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurements, vendors vdll

propose products that do not meet this specification, or that are not compatible with this

specification.

Knovm problems /limitations: None.

Conformance testing: NIST is developing an SPDL interpreter for implementing a conformance testing program.

Future plans: This specification is the basis for a proposed FIPS for SPDL. The FTPS is expected to be adopted by mid-1993, or as soon thereafter as the international standard

is adopted.

Alternative specifications: None.

49
4.11.4 Manuscript Markup Interchange

Specification title: Electronic Manuscript Preparation and Markup (EMPM) ANSI/NISO

Z39.59-1988

Specification available from: ANSI, AAP

Publication date: 1988

Sponsoring organization: ISO/IEC JTCl

Applicability: Electronic Manuscript Preparation and Markup is a specialized Document

Type Definition (DTD) that includes an architecture encoded in SGML (see sec. 4.11.2)

suitable for the interchange of the logical structure of books, articles, and serials. It provides a high-level language for describing these logical structures.

Level of consensus: EMPM is a national standard initially developed by the Association

of American Publishers (AAP) and available as ANSI/NISO Z39.59-1988.

Product availability: Implementations are available generally within products that also

implement SGML document interchange, such as SGML editors and conversion utilities.

Completeness: The standard offers a complete set of markup for logical structure of

specific document types. The standard offers Uttle assistance with layout and presentation

style issues.

Maturity: The logical structure of documents is well known and captured in such

docimients as the Chicago Manual of Style.

StabiUty: The position as standard for the markup of logical structure makes this a very

stable standard. No changes are expected within the next 2 years.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement docimients,

vendors will probably propose products that do not meet this specification or that are not

compatible with the specification.

Known problems /limitations: The physical appearance of documents is not covered.

Conformance testing: None is specified directly for EMPM. The base standard for the

formulation of EMPM, SGML, does, however, specify conformance testing.

Future plans: None.

Alternative specifications: Open Document Architecture (ODA) standard ISO 8613:1989,

is an alternative international standard for representing the logical structure of documents.

Several organizations have designed alternative nonproprietary architectures with SGML

encodings. Those organizations are the Association of American Pubhshers (AAP), the

50
Text Encoding Initiative (TEI), and the Department of Defense CALS program. Many

vendors still recommend that organizations require imique nonstandard document

architectures encoded in SGML.

4.11.5 Graphics Data Interchange

Specification title : Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM), HPS PUB 128

Specification available from: NTIS

Pubhcation date: Revision expected to be approved by mid-1993.

Sponsoring organization: Standards Committee X3H3

AppUcability: Graphics data interchange is specified in terms of a file format that can be

created independently of device requirements and translated into the formats needed by

specific output devices, graphics systems, and computer systems. The standard specifies

the content of graphic data interchange.

Level of consensus: The FIPS is based on national and international standard ANSI/ISO

8632:1992 for neutral (implementation and machine independent) graphics file formats.

Vendors commonly use CGM as an exchange format for the storage, interchange, or output of a wide range of graphical pictures (from sUdes for presentation graphics or business charts to diagrams generated by scientific applications). Most CGM implementations conform to the CALS Application Profile (CALS AP), which is the DoD effort to

standardize technical docimients and engineering drawings. The FIPS recommends the use

of the CALS application profile.

Product availability: Numerous CGM implementations exist for use in Federal

procurements. Virtually all major microcomputer software products that utilize graphics can generate or interpret CGM files.

Completeness: CGM contains capabilities to describe and format virtually any type of

picture or drawing. It has a global symbol capability, the capability for three-dimensional

geometry, and engineering drawing capabilities such as control over fine details of line

dravmigs.

Maturity: CGM research and development has been performed for the past 10 years.

Stability: The CGM standard has been revised to include additional graphics functionaHty

and to correct defects in the standard. The standard defines three versions of the

Computer Graphics Metafile. Version 1 metafiles are as defined by the original CGM

standard document (ISO 8632:1987). Version 2 and Version 3 metafiles are as defined by

the amendments to the CGM standard.

De facto usage: Even if users do not reference this specification in procurement

documents, vendors will likely propose products that meet the specification or are

51
compatible with it. Users should be careful to specify any subsetting of the CGM

capabilities that are allowed and should note that the FIPS does not specify what is allowable as subset implementations.

Known problems/limitations: If an image is not completely specified in the CGM file (e.g.,

whether or not text fonts are solid or outline) an application may invoke default values

for interpreting the image.

Conformance testing: NIST is currently operating a CGM test service to test for

conformance of both CGM metafiles and CGM generators. The Metafile Test Service tests binary encoded metafiles for conformance to FIPS PUB 128 or the CALS Application

Profile (AP) as defined in MIL-D-28003, "Mihtary Specification: Digital Representation for

Communication of Illustration Data: CGM Apphcation Profile." A certificate of validation

will be issued for metafiles passing the tests with no failures. The Generator Test Service

tests CGM generators (i.e., software that produces CGM metafiles) for conformance to both

FIPS PUB 128 and the CALS AP. A certificate of validation will be issued only for

implementations that pass both sets of tests with no failures. A registered report will be

issued after the tests are conducted. If test failures have occurred, the specific failures will

be noted in the registered report.

Future plans: Work is in progress on an amendment to the CGM standard, "Rules for

Profiles," which will provide rules for defining valid profiles or subsets of ISO/IEC

8632:1987.

Alternative specifications: None.

4.11.6 Graphical Product Data Interchange

Specification title: FIPS PUB 177 Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES)

Specification available from: NTIS

Publication date: December 1992

Sponsoring organization: IGES/PDES

Applicability: IGES standardizes the representation of specific types of complex graphic

objects and attributes for data interchange. In this instance, product data interchange

encompasses technical drawings, documentation, and other data required for product

design and manufacturing, including geometric and nongeometric data such as form

features, tolerances, material properties, and surfaces. The information typically associated

with computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) can be described. IGES does

not cover the complete lifecycle of manufactured products: it addresses only the

specification of products; not the manufactiiring process relationships.

Level of consensus: The specification was originally defined in National Bureau of

Standards Interim Report (NBSIR) 88-3813. It has been defined as ANSI standard, ANSI

52
Y14.26-1989 (also known as IGES 4.0), by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers

(ASME).

Product availability: Numerous implementations of IGES are available in the marketplace.

Completeness: IGES defines the representation of engineering data, but does not include

all interfaces for use, such as the interface between the data specification and numerically

controlled machining tools.

Maturity: The processes of machine numerical control have been defined and enhanced

in direct relation to the requirements for defining and using exchange specifications for

engineering data.

Stability: No substantial changes are foreseen in the near term. As the specification

advances with newer versions, compatibility will be maintained.

De facto usage: Even if users do not reference this specification in procurement

documents, vendors will likely propose products that meet the specification or are compatible with it. Known problems/limitations: Not all interfaces between the data exchange specification

and external components, such as htmian/computer interface and machine interfaces have

been defined.

Conformance testing: Testing is performed by CAD/CAM Data Exchange Technical Centre

(CADETC), UK.

Future plans: IGES Version 5.1 has been released for comment and review. IGES Version

6.0 will be processed as an ANSI standard.

Alternative specifications: STEP (See sec. 4.11.7).

4.11.7 Product LifecycBe Data Interchange

Specification title: Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data (STEP) Draft

Proposed ISO 10303

Specification available from: ISO TC184/SC4 Secretariat (NIST)

Publication date: Draft available.

Sponsoring organization: ISO

Apphcability: STEP is an advanced form of representing complex data objects for

interchange. It is used in total lifecycle descriptions of engineered products that can be

implemented on advanced manufacturing systems. This includes specification of products

throughout the stages of their lifetimes. These stages consist of initial concept design.

53
engineering analysis, manufacturing production, and product support. ISO 10303 consists

of multiple volumes. These volumes specify the elements of the STEP strategy (i.e., AppHcation Protocols, Information Models, Implementation Methods, Conformance Tools,

and Description Methods).

Level of consensus: The specification is defined in ISO committee draft International

Standard 10303. (STEP was previously knov^n as Product Data Exchange Specification

[PDES], but the name of the proposed standard w^as changed to differentiate it from PDES

which is actually the initiative that is creating STEP. PDES is now called Product Data

Exchange using STEP.)

Product availabiUty: Vendors are engaged in development of prototype implementations

of small subsets of the specification.

Completeness: The standard defines a complete product lifecycle including all aspects of

describing technical diagrams and docimients in a neutral format for transmission over communications networks and processing by nimierically controlled machining and

assembly tools.

Maturity: STEP was initially built on the concepts of IGES and was extended to include

the full hfecycle of products from initial requirements and design through final production

and installation.

Stability: STEP is still in a committee draft stage and may undergo revision at any time.

Many of the component specifications have not been defined. The initial release of STEP

as an international standard is expected in 1994.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents,

vendors wdll probably propose products that do not meet this specification, or that are not

compatible with the specification.

Known problems/limitations: Many of the component specifications have not yet been

defined.

Conformance testing: None.

Future plans: STEP wUl be proposed as an international standard when full agreement has

been reached. This is expected in 1994.

Alternative specifications: IGES

4.11.8 Electronic Data Interchange

Specification title: PIPS PUB 161 Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

Specification available from: NTIS

54
Publication data : March 29, 1991

Sponsoring organization: X12, United Nations Working Party UN/ECE/WP.4

Applicability: Electronic data interchange (EDI) is a procedure in which instances of

documents to be interchanged between separate organizations are converted to strictly

formatted sequences of data elements and transmitted as messages between computers.

The strict formatting permits computer programs to assemble and disassemble the

messages and communicate the data of the messages to and from application programs.

EDI is intended primarily for documents that are nontext (i.e., that consist of a sequence

of numeric or alphanumeric fields), although an appHcation standard has been developed

that allows for the inclusion of product specifications in the form of graphics as parts of

such messages. Typical applications are in the procurement process, such as transmitting

invoices and purchase orders, and for governmental regulatory activities, such as submission of tax returns and customs forms.

Implementation of EDI requires a family of standards. A family must include (1) syntax

standards that specify message organization, the character set for data, and the control

characters that start, end, and separate data elements and other groupings within the

message; (2) standards for message envelopes that enable a communications protocol to

carry and direct the message; (3) data element standards that specify data element types,

and for some data elements, the list of data items permitted; (4) data segment standards

that form meaningful groupings of data elements; and (5) standards for specific document

types.

Level of consensus: There are two widely used families of standards. The U.S. domestic

standards have been developed by ANSI-accredited standards committee, XI2. There may

be as many as 30,000 domestic implementations of XI 2 EDI at this time. The international

family of standards, called EDIFACT (EDI For Administration, Commerce, and Transport)

is developed and maintained by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe,

Working Party Four on Trade Facilitation (UN/ECE/WP.4). U.S. input to EDIFACT

development is through the Pan American EDIFACT Board, one of five EDIFACT boards

that cover the world. There may be several thousand EDIFACT implementations at this

time, and the X12 committee has recently voted to adopt the EDIFACT syntax by 1997.

Product availability: Implementation software is widely available. Users with more than

a few interchange partners employ computer-based networks as store-and-forward

delivery agents. These so-called value-added networks, or VANs, are similarly widely

available.

Completeness: The two families of standards, X12 and EDIFACT, are complete to the

extent that the syntax and supporting standards are available to enable interchanges to occur for any document type that has been standardized. Development of standards that

support additional document types is continuing at a rapid pace in both famlHes of

standards.

55
Maturity: The concept is proven, and the number of implementations continues to

increase.

StabiHty: New versions and releases are being produced approximately on a yearly basis.

Users need to stay current. The conversion of XI 2 implementations to EDIFACT could

introduce costs of retrofitting.

De facto usage: Even if users do not reference this specification in procurement

documents, vendors will likely propose products that meet the specification or are compatible with it. Known problems/limitations: The acceptance of electronic documents in a court of law

has been considered questionable in the past. With wide use of EDI, and with change

and/or reinterpretation of statutes and regulations, as well as with adoption of electronic

techniques for originator authentication and transmission integrity, this issue will be less

important in the future. Maintenance of audit trails and assurance of trustworthy recordkeeping will assist, however, in providing confidence in the authenticity of electronic

documents.

Conformance testing: NIST is studying this issue at the present time.

Future plans: FIPS PUB 161 will be updated to reflect X12 adoption of EDIFACT

standards. The implementation of a Federal digital signature standard and development

of a national infrastructure for management and distribution of cryptographic keys for that

standard wiU promote the use and acceptance of EDI. Development of products that

implement CCITT standards X.400, X.435, and the X.500 series will further enhance EDI

as an accepted data interchange procedure.

Alternative specifications: None.

4.1 1 .9 Spatial Data Interchange

Specification title: FIPS PUB 173 Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS)

Specification available from: National Mapping Division, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Pubhcation date: Draft available.

Sponsoring organization: USGS

Apphcability: This standard is mandatory in the acquisition and development of

government applications and programs involving the transfer of digital spatial data among

heterogeneous computer systems. The use of the SDTS applies when the transfer of digital

spatial data occurs, or is likely to occur, within or outside of the Federal government.

SDTS is not tied to particular data structures, classes of computer platforms, or

distribution media.

56
Level of consensus: A recent Geographic Information System (GIS) industry survey

indicates that 65 percent of GIS vendors intend to support SDTS. This is significant since

more than 90 percent of GIS are turn-key systems. Many of the specifications included in

SDTS have long histories of development and use.

Product availability: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has developed public domain

software for encoding and decoding data into and out of the SDTS neutral exchange file.

Completeness: SDTS provides specifications for the organization and structure of digital

spatial data transfer, definition of spatial features and attributes, and data transfer

encoding.

Maturity: Work began on this standard in 1982 with the participation of academia,

industry, and the U.S. Government. International efforts to develop a spatial data

interchange standard have all emulated SDTS in various ways. The testing, modification,

and refinement of SDTS has occurred over an 8 year period.

Stability: SDTS was designed to be modular and extensible. The neutral exchange format

specified for SDTS implementation is independent of SDTS.

De facto usage: GIS technology is fundamental to all governmental organizations, and

vendors will likely propose products that will meet the SDTS specification or are compatible vAih it.

Problems/limitations: Unknown

Conformance Testing: Software for conformance testing of SDTS is currently being

planned.

Future plans: The SDTS Vector Profile has undergone several revisioiis and is now in the

final refinement and testing phase. SDTS Raster Profile development is underway.

Alternate specification: None

57
4.12 Graphics Services

Graphics services provide the interfaces for manipulating and programirdng apphcations

concerning images and graphics in a device-independent manner. The specifications

included in this service area are the Graphical Kernel System (GKS) FIPS PUB 120-1, and

the Programmer's Hierarchical Interactive Graphics System (PHIGS) FIPS PUB 153. They

are targeted at different types of users and applications.

SPECIFICATION LOC PAV CMP MAT STB DFU PRL

FIPS PUB 120-1 GKS • • • • • • •

FIPS PUB 153 PHIGS • • • O • • •

Legend: •-high evaluation O-average evaluation blank-low evaluation

LOC ~ Level of consensus STB - Stability

PAV ~ Product availability DFU ~ De facto usage

CMP ~ Completeness PRL ~ Problems/limitations

MAT ~ Maturity

4.12.1 Two-Dimensional Graphics API

Specification title: FIPS PUB 120-1 Graphical Kernel System (GKS)

Specification available from: NTIS

Publication date: January 8, 1991

Sponsoring organization: Standards Committee X3H3

Applicability: This specification fulfills the requirement for a language to program

two-dimeiisional graphical objects that will be displayed or plotted on appropriate devices

(raster graphics and vector graphics devices).

Level of consensus: The GKS FIPS is based on ANSI Standard X3.124-1985 and ISO

Standard 7942:1985. Bindings for Ada, Fortran, and Pascal have been defined and

standardized.

Product availability: A full range of products and automated tools based on GKS has been

available from various vendors for 5 or more years.

Completeness: The standard includes constructs and Ubrary calls for virtually any kind of

tw^o-dimensional graphic image.

Maturity: Initial work started on this specification in 1978 and has been developed

substantially by international orgaruzations in the ensuing years. It was founded on a graphics standards methodology developed in 1976.

58
Stability: No changes are foreseen.

De facto usage: Even if users do not reference this specification in procurement

documents, vendors will Hkely propose products that meet the specification or are compatible with it.

Known problems/Umitations: None.

Conformance testing: NIST has hcensed a conformance test suite for GKS. Using this test suite, NIST is currently operating a GKS Test Service to test implementations for

conformance to the FIPS. The test suite is available for the Fortran binding to GKS. A

registered test report will be issued after the conduct of tests. A certificate of vahdation

will be issued only to implementations passing the tests with no failures. If failures have

occurred, the specific failures will be identified in the registered test report. The results of

tests on individual implementations that have passed will be posted in the Validated

Products List (VPL) which is pubhshed quarterly by NIST.

Future plans: The GKS test suite will undergo revision as warranted.

Alternative specifications: PHIGS (see sec. 4.12.2)

4.12.2 Interactive and Three-dimensional Graphics API

Specification title: FIPS PUB 153 Programmer's Hierarchical Interactive Graphics System

(PHIGS)

Specification available from: NTIS

Publication date: October 14, 1988

Sponsoring organization: Standards Committee X3H3

Apphcability: This specification fulfills the requirement for a language to program twoand three-dimeiisional graphical objects that wiU be displayed or plotted on appropriate

devices in interactive, high-performance envirormients, and for managing hierarchical

database structures containing graphics data.

Level of consensus: The FIPS is based on ANSI Standards X3.144-1988 and X3.144.1-1988,

and ISO Standard 9592:1988.

Product availabilitv: Numerous implementations are available for various hardware/software platforms.

Completeness: PHIGS is a fuU-functioned specification for the development of interactive

two- and three-dimensional graphics appHcations that manage hierarchical database

structures containing graphics data. Bindings for Fortran, C, and Ada have been adopted.

59
Maturity: Many of the concepts for this standard were drawn from previous work. Chief

among those works are the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) SIGGRAPH

Graphics Planning Committee Core Graphics System and the Standard Graphical Kernel

System (GKS) ANSI X3.124-1985.

Stability: No changes are planned in the next 1 to 3 years.

De facto usage: Even if users do not reference this specification in procurement

documents, vendors will likely propose products that meet the specification or are compatible with it. Known problems /Umitations: Unknown

Conformance testing: Version 2.0 of the NIST PHIGS test suite and a formal PHIGS test service became available from NIST on October 1, 1992. The PHIGS test suite tests implementations using the Fortran binding for conformance to the PIPS. A registered test report is issued upon completion of testing. A certificate of validation will be issued only

to implementations passing the tests with no failures. If any failures have occurred, they

will be identified in the registered test report. A C binding version of the test suite will

be available in late 1993.

Future plans: A binding for Pascal is under development. A new standard, called PHIGS

Plus, is being developed which adds shading, Hghting, and other advanced graphics

programming capabilities that were not intended for inclusion in the original version.

Conforming PHIGS programs will be able to execute under PHIGS Plus with no changes.

Alternative specifications: None.

60
4.13 Network Services

This area of the APP includes data communications, transparent file access, personal/microcomputer support, distributed computing support, distributed systems

management, and network application program interfaces.

SPECIFICATION LOC PAV CMP MAT STB DFU PRL

DM API iccc: o-\r\(\o 10 rll Arl ICtC r lUUO. I<i w

PTAKyi IPPP PIO^IA 1

1 1 AlVl ItZCC r 1 <ioO. 1

FIPS PUB 146-1 GOSIP 2 • • • • • O O

ISDN ASI • o • O o o

ISDN O o O o o •

DCE RPC o

TFA IEEE PI 003.8 o • •

FIPS PUB 179 GNMP • o • • o

X.400 API IEEE PI 224.1 o • o • o •

X.500 API IEEE PI 224.2 o • • • • •

Legend: •-high evaluation O-average evaluation blank-low evaluation

LOC " Level of consensus STB ~ Stability

PAV ~ Product availability DFU ~ De facto usage

CMP ~ Completeness PRL ~ Problems/limitations

MAT ~ Maturity

4.13.1 Communication API for Protocol Independent Interfaces

Specification title: Protocol Independent Interfaces (PII) IEEE P1003.12 Draft 2.0

Specification available from: IEEE

Publication date: Draft available

Sponsoring organization: IEEE

Applicability: P1003.12 defines the protocol-independent application interfaces to enable

one process to communicate with another local process or a remote process over a network. Draft Version 2.0 wUl consist of a low-level interface specification.

The Detailed Network Interface (DNI) specification supports protocol-independent local

and network process-to-process commimications with access to protocol-dependent

61
features. DNI is intended to provide access to protocol-specific features of the underlying

network for highly portable applications that need access to sophisticated network

features. Since two currently recognized industry practices in the DNI specification are X/Open Transport Interface (XTI) and BSD Socket interface, a dual DNI standard

(DNI/XTI and DNI/sockets) specification is being created for P1003.12. The DNI/XTI and

DNI/Sockets APIs will provide transport layer access. The DNI/Socket API will also allow

access to lower OSI layers. The intermixing of DNI/XTI calls and DNl/Sockets will not

be specified. That is, the specification will not prescribe what combinations or subsets of

both XTI and Sockets should be implemented.

Level of consensus: The first ballot is expected soon after the July 1993 POSIX meetings.

Product availability: Products currently exist based on XTI and sockets.

Completeness: The completed specification will contain language independent specification

(LIS) and C bindings in addition to Test Methods.

Maturity: The draft specification incorporates the technology of the XPG4 version of the

X/Open CAE Specification—X/Open Transport Interface (XTI), dated January 1992, and

the 4.4 BSD sockets interface, with interface mappings to ISO Transport and Internet

Transport information for XTI. These are implementations of products that have existed

for 5 or more years.

Stability: The specification requires significant effort in the areas of LIS specification, LIS

test assertions generation, sockets semantics documentation, sockets test assertions

generation, and verification of consistency with other POSIX standards. While all sections

of the document may be affected by the consistency verification, the bulk of the changes

will relate to the LIS and sockets. The LIS is in a definition phase. The sockets activity is largely one of documenting the current semantics.

De facto usage: Even if users do not reference this specification in procurement

documents, vendors will probably propose products that meet this specification or are compatible with the specification.

Known problems/limitations: Certain areas of the specification require Haison with other

groups including P1003.1, P1003.4, P1003.6, and P1003.17. For Draft 2.0, the Simple

Network Interface (SNI) and the Naming Interface are not included. Work on these areas has been postponed in order to process a ballot of the DNI specification in mid-1993.

Conformance testing: Test methods will be defined for measuring the conformance of

implementations to this specification. Work on XTI assertions is under way.

Future plans: Considerable work still needs to be done on the Simple Network Interface

(SNI) and the Naming Interface. SNI and the Naming Interface will be included in the

future.

62
Simple Network Interface (SNI) will support protocol-independent network process-toprocess communications in a protocol-independent ma nner. SNI is intended to provide

a simple view of underlying networks for portable applications that do not need access

to sophisticated network features.

The Naming Interface will support naming/addressing needs for SNI and DNI. The

PI003.12 naming interface will be based on the P1224.2 naming interface and PI 224 Object

Management work.

Alternative specifications: X/Open CAE Specification—^X/Open Transport Interface (XTI),

January 1992.

4.13.2 Communication API for OSI Services

Specification title: OSI ACSE/Presentation Application Program Interfaces IEEE PI 238

Specification available from: IEEE

Publication date: The expected publication date for the completed specification is early

1994.

Sponsoring organization: IEEE

Applicability: This specification provides an API between applications and the OSI

Association Control Service Element (ACSE) and presentation services.

Level of consensus: Consensus has not been reached on a base document for an OSI

ACSE/Presentation API.

Product availability: Products conforming to P1238 are not expected imtil late 1994.

Completeness: The specification will have language-independent and C language bindings,

as well as Test Methods.

Maturity: The specification is imder development. The imderlying model is the OSI sevenlayer model which enjoys a large following.

Stability: Numerous changes in the specification can be expected over the next 1 to 2

years.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents,

vendors will probably propose products that do not meet this specification, or that are not

compatible with the specification. The PI 238 specification is being used primarily by the

FTAM API which is under development by the same working group.

63
Known problems /limitations: Suitability of different language bindings may be a concern,

as well as high-level to low-level mappings among different layers in the OSI Reference

Model.

Conformance testing: Test assertions are under development as part of the specification.

These assertions are compatible with existing ACSE/Presentation tests.

Future plans: The Industry/Government Open Systems Specification (IGOSS) will

reference this specification when it is completed. Until then, adherence to this developing

specification is suggested. Final approval of the P1238 specification is scheduled for early

1994.

Alternative specification: None

4.13.3 File Transfer API

Specification title: OSI API for File Transfer, Access, and Management (FTAM) IEEE

P1238.1

Specification available from: IEEE

Pubhcation date: The expected publication date for a completed specification is mid-1994.

Sponsoring organization: IEEE

Applicability: This specification is designed for use as a standard appHcation interface to

File Transfer, Access, and Management (FTAM) implementations. These are the APIs for

locating files, controlling low-level connections between file systems, and accessing the

files.

Level of consensus: This specification defines an API for the protocols defined in ISO 8571,

Parts 1-5, and the OIW Implementation Agreements, NIST Special Publication 500-202,

"Stable Implementation Agreements for Open Systems Interconnection Protocols, Version

5, Edition 1," December 1991, and Oraft "Working Implementation Agreements for Open

Systems Interconnection Protocols." No consensus has been reached on a base specification

for this API.

Product availabihty: De facto FTAM API products are available. Products conforming to

the P1238.1 specification are not expected until late 1994.

Completeness: The specification will have language-independent and C language bindings,

as well as Test Methods.

Maturity: The FTAM concept has existed in various forms over the last 7 years. The

codification process has been underway for over 2 years.

64
Stability: The FTAM standard and corresponding OIW Implementation Agreements are both very stable. The specification has stabilized to a level of nninor adjustments to correct

inconsistencies.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents,

vendors will probably propose products that do not meet this specification, or that are not

compatible with the specification.

Known problems /limitations: The specification does not differentiate between high- and

low-level file operations.

Conformance testing: Test assertions are under development as part of the specification.

These test assertions will be used to develop specific validation and interoperation test cases.

Future plans: Final approval is scheduled for early 1994. Future versions of IGOSS are expected to reference the approved draft.

Alternative specification: None.

4,13.4 Communication Protocols for OSI

Specification title: FIFS PUB 146-1 Government Open System Interconnection Profile

(Version 2.0)

Specification available from: NTIS

Publication date: April 1991

Sponsoring organization: OSE Implementor's Workshop

Applicability: GOSIP is mandatory for all data commimications environments where

interoperability is desired. GOSIP is based on Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)

standards, the world-wide consensus standards for multivendor data communications

based on OSI protocols. The GOSIP protocols provide interoperabiHty among appHcations

in a heterogeneous network.

GOSIP mandates no service interface accessibihty. Therefore, any service interface

accessibility requirements must be clearly stated and mandated in procurement

documentation. For example, GOSIP mandates no specific direct access to transport

services. If the acquiring authority requires direct access to transport services, such a requirement must be included in a soHcitation. The issues involved in determining such

a requirement are complex. Refer to the "Government Open System Interconnection Profile

(GOSIP) Users' Guide," NIST Special Pubhcation 500-192, for a discussion of these issues.

Level of consensus: The GOSIP FIPS is based on the ISO and CCITT international

standards, implementors agreements developed at the OSE Implementor's Workshop, and

65
U. S. Government requirements. (The OSE Implementor's Agreements are specified in

NIST Special Publication 500-202, "Stable Implementation Agreements for Open Systems

Interconnection Protocols, Version 5, Edition 1/' December 1991, and Draft "Working

Implementation Agreements for Open Systems Interconnection Protocols.") DoD has

mandated GOSIP use in all computer communications procurements for aU services. In

addition, the Departments of Energy and Veterans Affairs, as well as other Federal

agencies, have specified the use of GOSIP in procurements.

Product availability: Various products implementing specific protocol levels of the OSI

layered model have been produced and conform to the HPS. Vendors are given an 18-

month period between promulgation of a new version of GOSIP and the date that it must

be referenced in Federal procurements to ensure that new products will be available.

Completeness: GOSIP is essentially a family of protocols and representation specifications.

It provides a complete transparent, end-to-end data communications capabihty based on

OSI transport class 4 (TP4) and connectionless network protocol (CLNP). GOSIP Version

1.0 provides electronic mail and file transfer access and management apphcations. It operates over a variety of local and wide area network technologies. Version 2.0 adds

remote logon and office document interchange applications, a new network addressing

structure to support dynamic routing, provision to operate over an Integrated Services

Digital Network (ISDN), and allows an optional connectionless transport service to

support transparent file access (see sec. 4.13.8) and other applications.

Maturity: As of October 3, 1992, GOSIP Version 2.0 became a mandatory requirement in

Federal information processing (FIP) resources procurements. GOSIP Version 3.0, which

will reference the services and protocols contained in the IGOSS, is expected to be

mandated for Federal procurements initiated in late 1995.

Stabihty: The GOSIP process is extremely stable. New versions of existing protocols will

be upwardly compatible with current versions.

De facto usage: Even if users do not reference this specification in procurement

documents, vendors will likely propose products that meet the specification or are compatible v^th it. (Notwithstanding the fact that TCP/IP is widely used in Government

communications, especially DoD networks, GOSIP is mandated for all Federal communications procurements and major communications upgrades after October 1992.)

Known problems /Umitations: Knowoi problems/Limitations include testing, transition,

international harmonization, and the need for additional functionality.

Conformance testing: The U.S. GOSIP Testing Program permits Federal Agencies to

substantiate claims of GOSIP compliance through conformance and interoperability

testing. The U.S. GOSIP Register Database (GORD) contains up-to-date reference

information. Lists of GOSIP-conformant products are published in the quarterly VaHdated

Products List (VPL).

66
Future plans: A future version of GOSIP will include added functionality. Key features

may vary with specific combinations of vendor products and users. NIST is producing

guidelines for users to evaluate which applications are best for individual requirements.

The Industry/Government Open Systems Specification (IGOSS), upon which GOSIP

Version 3.0 will be based, represents a collaboration between the Manufacturing

Automation Protocol/Technical and Office Protocols (MAP/TOP) Working Group, the

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the Canadian Government, and the U.S.

Government. It is expected to be promulgated in 1993. Additional functionality expected

includes the following: (1) Message Handhng Systems (MHS) Extensions; (2) Electronic

Data Interchange (EDI) User Agent; (3) File Transfer, Access and Management (FTAM)

Extensions; (4) Directory Services; (5) Remote Database Access; (6) E>istributed Transaction

Processing; (7) Manufacturing Message Specification; (8) X-Windows over OSI; (9)

Information Retrieval; (10) Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI); (11) Frame Relay; (12)

Intermediate System-Intermediate System (IS-IS) routing and Inter-Domain Routing

Protocol (IDRP); (13) Network Management; and (14) Connectionless Upper Layer Service.

OSI standards have been developed over the last 10 years and are based on a wellimderstood reference model, the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) seven-layer

communications model.

Alternative specifications: None.

4.13.5 Communication API for Integrated Digital, Video, and Voice

Specification title: AppHcation Software Interface (ASI) Version 1 (for accessing and

administering Integrated Services Digital Network [ISDN] services)

Specification available from: NIST

Publication date: Jime 5, 1992

Sponsoring organization: NIST

Applicability: The AppUcation Software Interface (ASI) focuses on the definition of a common application interface for accessing and administering ISDN services provided by

hardware conunonly referred to in the vendor community as Network Adapters (NAs).

Level of consensus: The ASI is based on the implementation agreements produced by the

North American ISDN Users' Forum (NIUF). These agreements are, in general, based

upon relevant ANSI standards.

Product availabilitv: Current products are proprietary products based on proprietary

specifications. Products based on ASI Version 1 are expected to emerge during 1993.

Completeness: The ASI is an evolving specification. Items for inclusion are based on

services defined in ANSI and the NIUF. As the definitions emerge from these bodies, they

are included in the ASI.

67
Maturity: While ISDN usage is not widespread, the technology is well defined and

understood. The ASI specification provides a uniform interface to these services.

Stability: This specification is an evolving interface and changes are anticipated to

incorporate new features. These changes are primarily due to additional ISDN features as specified by ANSI and the NIUF. These changes are expected to be in the form of

additions to the existing specification, not a replacement.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement docimients,

vendors will probably propose products that do not meet this specification or that are not

compatible with the specification.

Known problems/limitations: The greatest known problem is the limited set of service

definitions available through the ASI today. As the services are defined in the standards

bodies and the NIUF, the service definitions will be included in the ASI.

Conformance testing: Conformance tests are planned for the ASI.

Future plans: The ASI will continue to include additional ISDN services in its specification.

Additional work includes device control and an additional higher level interface. Future

versions of the FIPS for ISDN are expected to include the ASI. The ASI is expected to be

submitted for consideration as an ANSI standard.

Alternative specification: None.

4.13.6 Communication Protocols for Integrated Digital, Video, and

Voice

Specification title: NIST Planned FIPS on Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)

Specification available from: NIST

Pubhcation date: Draft available.

Sponsoring organization: NIST

Applicability: The proposed FIPS PUB compiles the existing NIUF agreements for ISDN

as developed and approved in the NIUF as of November 1990. These agreement are published in NIST Special Pubhcation 500-195, dated September 1991. These agreements

cover Layer 1 Basic Rate Interface (BRI) at the U, and S/T reference points; Layer 1 Primary Rate Interface (PRI) at the U reference point; Layer 2 BRI and PRI; Layer 3 BRI

Basic Call Control for Class I equipment; and Layer 3 PRI Basic Call Control for Class II equipment.

Level of consensus: The proposed ISDN FIPS is currently undergoing comment resolution

in the review process. Final approval is expected mid-1993. The proposed ISDN FIPS is

68
based on the implementation agreements produced by the NIUF. These are, in general,

based upon relevant ANSI standards.

Product availability: Currently, only proprietary products are available. Vendors will soon

propose products based on Bellcore National ISDN-X (NI-X), for which the current version

is NI-1. Plans are for NI-3 to become ahgned with the ISDN PIPS during 1995. At that

time, NI-3 compliant products will also be compliant with the ISDN PIPS.

Completeness: The ISDN PIPS will adopt the implementation agreements from the NIUF.

These agreements evolve through an ongoing process. The ISDN HPS is based on the

agreements as pubUshed in NIST Special Publication 500-195, September 1991. As

additional agreements are made, these will become a part of future revisions of the PIPS.

Maturity: While ISDN usage is not widespread in the United States, the technology is well

defined and imderstood. Standards for ISDN have existed for a nimiber of years.

Stability: While the specification is a proposed PIPS, few changes are expected during the

comment process. It is expected that this PIPS will be revised to include additional

implementation agreements from the NIUF.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents,

vendors will probably propose products that do not meet this specification or that are not

compatible with the specification.

Known problems /limitations: None.

Conformance testing: The proposed FTPS references the conformance tests that have been

completed by the NIUF. These include the Layer 1 BRI S/T interface and the Layer 2 BRI

Link Access Procedures D (LAPD). Plans exist for continuing this process.

Future plans: The Bellcore National ISDN-X process is producing a set of ISDN

implementations that should be aligned with the NIUF by NI-3 in the 1995 timeframe.

Vendors are now implementing NI-1. The work of the NIUF is an ongoing process. This

work will be included in future revisions of the PIPS as updates to implementation

agreements.

Alternative specifications: Bellcore National ISDN 1. GOSIP references ISDN; however, the

ISDN referenced by GOSIP only contains a small amoimt of the functionaUty contained

in the proposed PIPS.

4.13.7 Remote Procedure Call

Specification title : OSF Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) Remote Procedure Call

(RPC) Component

Specification available from: Open Software Foundation (OSF)

69
Publication date: Draft available.

Sponsoring organization: OSF

Applicability: Distributed computing services include specifications for remote procedure

calls and distributed realtime support in heterogeneous networks (as opposed to single

node support as specified in operating system services). Distributed access services include

functional support for submitting, starting, and stopping processes among processors in a heterogeneous network. OSF RFC includes support for naming, dynamic binding, and

security (authentication, data privacy, and integrity protection). An API for OSF RFC is defined.

Level of consensus: The content of OSF RPC is determined by OSF members.

Product availability: Vendor partial implementations are available and based on the OSF

specification.

Completeness: No specifications exist that define a complete set of functions necessary to

provide remote procedure commimications for all types of appHcation platforms (i.e., the

language-independent representation of remote procedure calls). OSF RPC contains a language mapping for C.

Maturity: In general, OSF specifications are based on object-oriented structures and

relationships. The underlying services and data formats are weU-established, but the

objects to be managed are still evolving.

Stabihty: Other industry consortia are reviewing the possibility of adopting OSF RPC.

Other specifications are emerging as possible alternatives.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents,

vendors will probably propose products that do not meet this specification, or that are not

compatible with the specification.

Known problems /iimitations: The specification is incomplete and still in a draft state.

Conformance testing: Vahdation suites will be available at the time the specification is complete for OSF RPC.

Future plans: Continued development of the specification to include new technology as

it becomes available.

Alternative specifications: ONC RPC (Open Network Computing Remote Procedure Call).

When the ISO 11578 RPC standard is complete, it will supersede other RPC specifications.

At this point, it still needs significant work to complete.

70
4.13.8 Transparent Network Access to Remote Files

Specification title: Transparent File Access (TFA) IEEE PI 003.8 Draft 7

Specification available from: IEEE

Publication date: Draft available.

Sponsoring organization: IEEE

Applicability: Transparent file access includes capabilities for managing files and

transmitting data through heterogeneous networks in a manner that is transparent (i.e., does not require knowledge of file location or of certain access requirements) to the user. In a GOSIP environment, TFA should be based on the services provided by FTAM.

Level of consensus: This specification is still in a draft stage. The first ballot was

completed in May 1992. The specification entered first recirculation ballot in early 1993

(i.e., ballot on resolution of actions stemming from first ballot).

Product availability: Many functions of TFA are widely available in existing vendor

implementations of network oriented file systems and have interfaces that closely resemble

the TFA interface. (These implementations may or may not be based on FTAM services.)

Completeness: The specification is in draft form but is essentially complete. It is still subject to modification during the balloting process.

Maturity: Much research on distributed file access and file systems has been performed

and pubUshed over the last 10 years. As a consequence, many of the problems of

distributed files and file systems have become known and various solutions have been

developed. There are still areas of distributed file access, such as global address resolution,

concurrency, and security that will have profoimd effects on TFA fanctionahty. In some

cases, the capabiUties of hardware and software that are available today cannot support

the requirements of TFA in all cases. A minimal set of functionahty has been identified.

Stability: Significant changes in the specification are unlikely, but numerous smaller

changes are anticipated. This could have a cascading effect on other parts of the

specification. Until consensus on the minor aspects of major features is reached, one must

consider the specification in a state of flux.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents,

vendors will probably propose products that do not meet this specification or that are not

compatible wdth the specification.

Known problems/hmitations: Currently, there is no specification for the file system

semantics that result from most implementations of systems with TFA-like features. Such

systems are usually referred to by the protocols that each implementation uses (e.g., NFS,

RFS, AFS, NCS). The eventual TFA specification should overcome this limitation.

71
Conformance testing: None.

Future plans: A specification is expected to be proposed as a FIPS by late 1993.

Alternative specifications: None.

4.13.9 Network Management

Specification title: FIPS PUB 179 Government Network Management Profile (GNMP)

Version 1.0

Specification available from: NTIS

Publication date: December 14, 1992

Sponsoring organization: NIST

Applicability: The GNMP is the standard reference for all Federal Government agencies

to use when acquiring Network Management (NM) functions and services for computer

and communication systems and networks.

Level of consensus: This specification has been aligned with an industry published

specification, the Open Management Roadmap OMNlPoint 1 specification. The

OMNlPoint 1 specification represents the results of the Open Management Roadmap

activity. The Open Management Roadmap activity is a partnership of government,

industry, vendors, and users, initiated and managed by the Network Management Forum

(NMF) to coordinate all related network management activities of developing standards

and defining specifications to produce interoperable network management products.

Currently, the partnership includes: Her Majesty's Treasury, U.K. (CCTA), European

Community Testing Services for Network Management (CTS3/NM), the National Institute

of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Network Management Forum (NMF), X/Open,

the Object Management Group (OMG), the Open Software Foundation (OSF), the

Corporation for Open Systenms (COS), the Interoperability Technology Association for

Information Processing (INTAP), the Standards Promotion and AppUcation Group (SPAG),

UNIX International (Ul), and the User Advisory Council (UAC). Standards organizations

and regional workshops, such as the OIW, are source organizations in the Roadmap

activity. The Roadmap defines a nimiber of Open Management Network Interoperability

Points (OMNlPoints) that are snapshots of standards, specifications, and agreements for

network management to which the vendor partners agree to develop products and for

which the user partners expect to purchase products.

Product availability: A few products implement parts and subsets of the specification, but

full implementations will probably be available in 1993.

Completeness: For the definition of management information. Version 1 .0 GNMP focuses

primarily on identifying the information required for managing implementations that

incorporate the functionaUty specified for layers 1 and 2 of the OSI Reference Model.

72
The second version of the GNMP, planned to be released approximately 18 months after

Version 1 .0 GNMP is promulgated, will add the information required mainly for

managing implementations of the functions specified for layers 3 through 7 of the OSI

reference model. Version 3 will specify the management information (MI) required for the

management of computer applications and services that are outside of the seven-layer

communications stack, such as computer operating systems and database management

systems.

Maturity: The primary source of specifications in the Version 1.0 GNMP is part 18 of the

"Stable Implementation Agreements for Open Systems Interconnection Protocols," June

1992. This source provides implementation specifications for network management based

on the services and protocol standards issued by the ISO/IEC. Version 1.0 GNMP is an

integral part of OMNlPoint 1. The first OMNlPoint specification, OMNlPoint 1, was

released in August 1992.

Stabihty: GNMP will imdergo revision over the next 3 to 5 years to include new

functionaUty. These additional functions will be backward-compatible with existing

implementations

.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents,

vendors will probably propose products that do not meet this specification or that are not

compatible with the specification.

Known problems/hmitations: The mos^ pressing problem known is that of a lack of a complete set of system object definitions, and security standards for network management.

Conformance testing: NIST plans to provide certification procedures and tests for

demonstrating product conformance.

Future plans: Version 2 GNMP is planned to be released approximately 18 months after

Version 1.0.

Alternative specifications: OMNlPoint 1 specification.

4.13.10 Electronic Messaging API

Specification title: X.400 Based Electronic Messaging Application Program Interface (API)

IEEE P1224.1 Draft 3

Specification available from: IEEE Working Group P1224.1

Publication date: Draft available.

Sponsoring organization: IEEE

Applicability: X.400 provides electronic mail interoperability among heterogeneous

computer systems. X.400 is an international standard protocol definition. The X.400 API

73
defines an interface between the user of a mail system and the mail system. IEEE P1224.1

is a language-independent specification.

Level of consensus: An IEEE standard is expected in mid-1993. The U.S. Technical

Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO/IEC Joint Technical Committee 1 (JTCl) has recommended

the X.400 API standard for FASTTRACK (accelerated) approval. It is anticipated that an

ISO standard will follow by the end of 1993.

Product availability: Once the standard is complete, numerous products are expected.

Completeness: This specification is a complete detailed level X.400 interface. A high-level

interface has not yet been defined. The X.400 API is contained in four documents which

are (1) P1224.1—Language Independent Specification; (2) P1326.1—Language Independent

Test Methods; (3) P1327.1—C Language Bmdings; (4) P1328.1—C Language Test Methods.

Maturity: The principal elements of the X.400 API have been agreed upon for the last 3

years. In time, as the API is fully implemented, the standard will reach a high level of

maturity.

Stabihty: This specification is stable. Tuning modifications can be expected until the final

specification is accepted as an IEEE standard.

De facto usage: If users do not reference this specification in procurement documents, it is imcertain whether vendors will propose products that meet this specification or that are compatible with the specification. Procurement documents may have to require this API

before it will be widely used in X.400 implementations.

Known problems /limitations: None.

Conformance testing: Test methods have been defined for measuring the conformance of

implementations to this specification.

Future plans: The Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and X.400 Message Store APIs will

be addenda to the X.400 API standard. Additionally, a high-level API may be standardized

in the future.

Alternative specification: None.

4.13.11 Directory Services API

Specification title : Directory Services Application Program Interface (API) IEEE PI 224.2

Draft 5

Specification available from: IEEE Working Group PI 224.2

Publication date: November 1992.

74
Sponsoring organization: IEEE

Applicability: CCITT X.500, which is an international standard protocol definition,

provides Directory Services interoperability among heterogeneous computer systems. The

Directory Services Application Program Interface (DS API) defines a standard directory

service user agent interface to support application portabiUty at the source-code level.

Although the DS API is intended to provide access to CCITT X.500 functionality, its scope

is not limited to just X.500, and could be used to access other directory services as well.

IEEE PI 224.2 is a language-independent specification.

Level of consensus: This specification is still in draft stage and has completed a second

ballot by IEEE working group members. Final adoption is expected in early 1993. The U.S.

TAG to JTCl has reconunended the DS API standard for FASTTRACK approval.

Product availabiUty: Once the standard is complete, ntmnerous products are expected.

P1224.2 (and related specifications) are based on X/Open's XDS specification, which has

subsequently been adopted by OSF for inclusion in its Distributed Computing Environment (DCE), and by UNIX International (UI) for inclusion in the UI Atlas environment.

Completeness: This specification is a complete detailed level X.500 interface to directory

services. The DS API is contained in four docimients which are 1) P1224.2 - Language

Independent Specification; 2) P1326.2 -Language Independent Test Methods; 3) P1327.2 - C Language Bindings; and 4) P1328.2 - C Language Test Methods.

Maturity: The principal elements of the DS API have been agreed upon for several years.

In time, as the API is fully implemented, the standard will reach a high level of maturity.

The DS API is based on X/Open's XDS, which is part of the XPG4 specification.

Stabihty: No significant changes are foreseen over the next 1 to 2 years.

De facto usage: Even if users do not reference this specification in procurement

documents, vendors will likely propose products that meet the specification or are compatible with it. This specification is included as an integral part of OSF's Distributed

Computing Environment (DCE), X/Open's Common AppHcation Environment, and UI's

Atlas.

Known problems /limitations: None.

Conformance testing: Test methods have been defined for measuring the conformance of

implementations to this specification.

Future plans: Directory services protocol mapping will be included in future versions of

GOSIP.

Alternative specification: X/Open Directory Service (XDS).

75
5. STRATEGIC EVALUATIONS

As part of the evaluation of APP specifications, users should take into account the

strategic value of each specification. Table 2 summarizes NIST's views on the strategic

value of each specification recommended in this report.

The valuations are made according to the following guidelines:

a) Strategic now (STR)—In selecting these specifications, users would be reasonably

safe in making substantial investment and long-term plans covering mission-critical

systems and the infrastructure needed to support them. Changes are expected to be

upwardly compatible.

b) Strategic in the future (FTR)—Specifications that are subject to change but appear to

be headed for standardization fall into this category. Existing standards that may be

subject to changes that are not entirely upwardly compatible also fall into this

category. There are some long-term risks involved, but the actions of the consensusbuilding process will tend to minimize them. Users should select these specifications

where strategic specifications are unavailable and an investment must be made, but

should plan for possible evolution in the future.

c) Nonstrategic (GAP)—^These specifications are stop-gap measures recommended with

the warning that any user investment will be at significant risk. They are not

appropriate for long-term planning. Users should, for these reasons, niinimize their

risk by rnirdrnizing investment.

Subsequent versions of this report may incorporate this dimension of evaluation in the

overall evaluation criteria.

Table 2. Strategic Value of APP Specifications

OSE SERVICE AREA / Applicable Specifications STR FTR GAP

OPERATING SYSTEM SERVICES

FIPS PUB 151-2 Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX)—System Application Program

Interface [C Language] •

NIST Planned FIPS PUB on Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX)—Part 2: Shell and

Utilities Interface IEEE Std 1003.2-1992, Information Technology—Portable Operating System

Interface (POSIX)—Part 2: Shell and Utilities

•

Amendment 1: Realtime Extension [C Language] IEEE P1003.4 •

Security Interface for the Portable Operating System Interface for Computer Environments IEEE PI 003.6 •

HUMAN/COfulPUTER INTERFACE SERVICES

NIST Planned FIPS PUB 158-1 for User Interface Component of Applications Portability Profile •

Draft Standard for Infonnation Technology—X Window System Graphical User Interface

Part 1 : Modular Toolkit Environment (IEEE P1 295.1) •

76
OSE SERVICE AREA / Applicable Specifications STR FTR GAP

SOFTWARE ENGINEERING SERVICES

FIPS PUB 119 Ada •

FIPS PUB 160C •

FIPS PUB 21-3 COBOL •

FIPS PUB 69-1 Fortran •

FIPS PUB 109 Pascal •

Portable Connmon Tools Environment (PCTE): Abstract Specification, Standard EChM-149 •

DATA MANAGEMENT SERVICES

FIPS PUB 156 Information Resource Dictionary System (IRDS) •

Planned FIPS PUB 127-1 for Database Language SQL •

Remote Database Access (RDA) •

DATA INTERCHANGE SERVICES

Office Document Architecture/Office Document Interchange Format (ODA/ODIF) ISO

8613:1989 •

Standard Page Description Language (SPDL) ISO/IEC DIS 10180 •

FIPS PUB 1 52 Standard Generalized Mar1<up Language (SGML) •

Electronic Manuscript Preparation and Markup (EMPM) ANSI/NISO Z39.59-1988 •

FIPS PUB 128 Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM) •

FIPS PUB 177 Initial Graphic Exchange Specification (IGES) •

Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data (STEP) Draft Proposed ISO 10303 •

FIPS PUB 161 Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) •

FIPS PUB 173 Spatial Data Transfer Specification (SDTS) •

GRAPHICS SERVICES

FIPS PUB 120-1 Graphical Kernel System (GKS) •

FIPS PUB 1 53 Programmer's Hierarchical Interactive Graphics System (PHIGS) •

NETWORK SERVICES

IEEE PI 003.1 2 Protocol-independent Interfaces •

IEEE P1238 0SI ACSE API •

IEEE PI 238.1 File Transfer Access and Management (FTAM) API •

FIPS PUB 146-1 Government Open System Interconnection Profile Version 2 •

ISDN ASI •

77
OSE SERVICE AREA / Applicable Specifications STR FTR GAP

ISDN Protocols OSF DCE Remote Procedure Call •

IEEE P1 003.8 Transparent File Access •

FIPS PUB 179 Government Network Management Profile (GNMP) •

IEEE P1 224.1 X.400 Electronic Messaging API •

IEEE PI 224.2 X.500 Directory Services API •

78
6. CONCLUSION

The long-term goal of the program on which this report is based is the establishment of

an open system environment for use in Federal information systems support. In this open

system environment, interoperability, portability, and scalabiUty must be the driving forces

for the development of standard interfaces, services, protocols, and formats. Eventually, users would Hke to see all of the OSE specifications take the form of Federal Information

Processing Standards (FIPS). In the interim, NIST has reviewed many of the specifications

that are now available and has made recommendations on those that are believed to have

a higher probability of becoming successful additions to the suite of OSE specifications.

The short term goals of Federal information requirements demand action now. In response

to these goals, NIST has developed a suite of specifications that can be used in system

development and acquisition. Many of these specifications are Federal standards, and

others are national or international standards. These specifications are relatively stable and

can be used with little risk.

There is, however, a measure of risk involved in using nonstrategic specifications, such

as standards work-in-progress with its inherent risk of change, and those based on non- open specifications. The risk associated with these specifications is based on the premise

that the Federal user has virtually no control in the direction that these specifications may

take.

The tradeoffs amoimt to accepting less portabihty and interoperability in return for

meeting current information requirements, and not waiting until all open system

specifications become available. This state of affairs is possibly comparable to walking on

a frozen river: in some places, it is safe to walk; in others, one must tread carefully. No

clearly right or wrong decisions will be made in selecting specifications. Some decisions

will be more right than others. Users can only hope with today's technology to amehorate

the effects of long-term changes. NIST wiU continue to perform evaluations and pubHsh

its recommendations. Users must decide for themselves what is best for them.

79
ANNEX A — DOCUMENT SOURCES: CONTACT INFORMATION

The following organizations are responsible for distributing standards for various

standards-making organizations. Ordering and fee information for specific standards may

be obtained directly from the addressees.

AAP

Association of American Publishers

EPSIG (Electronic PubUshing Special Interest Group)

c/o OCLC

6565 Frantz Road

DubUn, OH 43017-0702

Phone: (614) 764-6000

ANSI

American National Standards Institute

1430 Broadway

New York, NY 10018

Phone: (212) 354-3300

ANSI International Publications

Information on standards from ISO and its member bodies (e.g., DIN, BSI, JISC), lEC, and

CEN/CENELEC

Phone: (212) 642-4995

ANSI General Sales (National Standards)

Phone: (212) 642-4900

CCITT

International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee

Place des Nations

CH-1211 Geneva 20

Switzerland

COSMIC

Computer Software Management and Information Center

The University of Georgia

382 East Broad Street

Athens, GA 30602

Phone: (706) 542-3265

FAX: (706) 542-4807

80
Department of Defense

Defense Printing Service Detachment

Standardization Documents Order Desk

700 Robbins Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094

Phone: (215) 697-1187

Any Federal organization or DoD contractor can order numerous types of standards,

including FIPS PUBs and MIL-STDs from the Defense Printing Service.

Data Interchange Standards Association

ASC X12 and PAEB Secretariat

1800 Diagonal Road, Suite 355

Alexandria, VA 22314

Phone: (703) 548-7005

FAX: (703) 548-5738

ECMA

European Computer Manufacturers Association

Rue du Rhone 114

CH-1204 Geneva

Switzerland

Phone: 01 1-41-22-735-36-34

Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS PUB)

U. S. Department of Commerce

National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

Springfield, VA 22161

Phone: (703) 487-4650

FAX: (703) 321-8547

NIST publishes an index of HPS PUB that is available through NTIS. Request "NIST

PubUcations List 58."

GCA

Graphic Communications Association

199 Daingerfield Road

Alexandria, VA 22314-2888

Phone: (703) 519-8160

FAX: (703) 548-2867

GPO

Government Printing Office

Superintendent of Documents

U. S. Government Printing Office

Washington, DC 20402

Phone: (202) 783-3238

81
lEC

International Electrotechnical Commission

3 Rue de Varembe

P. O. Box 131

CH-1211 Geneva 20

Switzerland

Phone: 011-41-22-34-01-50

IEEE (for accepted standards)

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. 445 Hoes Lane

P. O. Box 1331

Piscataway, NJ 08855-1331

Phone: (201) 562-3800

IEEE (for draft standards)

1730 Massachusetts Avenue, N. W.

Washington, DC 20036-1903

Phone: (202) 371-0101

ISO

International Organization for Standardization

Central Secretariat

1 Rue de Varembe

P. O. Box 56

CH-1211 Geneva 20

Switzerland

Phone: 011-41-22-34-12-40

JTC1 TAG

Joint Technical Committee 1 Technical Advisory Group

311 First Street NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: (202) 737-8888 (Press 1 twice.)

National Computer Graphics Association

2722 Merrike Drive, Suite 200

Fairfax, VA 22031

Phone: (703) 698-9600

National Computer Security Center

INFOSEC Awareness Division

ATTN: lAOC (X711 Ms. KeUer)

Ft. George G. Meade, MD 20755-6000

82
National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

U. S. Department of Commerce

National Techrdcal Information Service (NTIS)

Springfield, VA 22161

Phone: (703) 487-4650

FAX: (703) 321-8547

OSF

Open Software Foundation

11 Cambridge Center

Cambridge, MA 02142

SQL-Access

SQL Access Group

c/o Robert Crutchfield

Fransen and Associates, Inc. 2171 Campus Drive, Suite 260

Irvine, CA 92715

Phone: (714) 752-5942

T1 Standards

Standards Committee Tl Telecommunications

1200 G Street, N.W.

Suite 500

Washington, DC 20005

Phone: (202) 434-8845

FAX: (202) 393-5453

UniForum

2901 Tasman Drive, #201

Santa Clara, CA 95054

Phone: (800) 255-5620 or (408) 986-8840

FAX: (408) 986-1645

UNIX International (Ul)

Waterviev^ Corporate Centre

20 Waterview Boulevard

Parsippany, NJ 07054

Phone: (800) 848-6495 or (201) 263-8400

FAX: (201) 263-8401

83
X3

Technical Committee X3 — Information Processing Systems

Computer and Business Equipment Manufacturers Association (CBEMA)

Director, X3 Secretariat

311 First Street NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: (202) 737-8888 (Press 1 twice.)

X/OPEN — X/OPEN Portability Guide (XPG)

1750 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94111

Phone: (415) 323-7992

84
ANNEX B — REFERENCES

"Ada," HPS PUB 119

"Amendment 1: Realtime Extension [C Language]/' IEEE Working Group P1003.4

"Application Software Interface (ASI) Version 1 (for accessing and administering

Integrated Services Digital Network [ISDN] services)"

"C" HPS PUB 160

"COBOL," HPS PUB 021-3

"Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM)," HPS PUB 128

"Directory Services Application Program Interface (API)," IEEE Working Group P1224.2

Draft "Standard for Information Technology—X Window System Graphical User

Interface—Part 1: Modular Toolkit Environment," IEEE Working Group P1295.1

Draft "Working Implementation Agreements for Open Systems Interconnection Protocols"

"Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)," HPS PUB 161

"Electronic Manuscript Preparation and Markup (EMPM)," ANSI/NISO Z39.59-1988

"Fortran," HPS PUB 69-1

"Graphical Kernel System (GKS)," FIPS PUB 120-1

"Government Open System Interconnection Profile (GOSIP) Users' Guide," NIST Special

PubUcation 500-192

"Government Open System Interconnection Profile (GOSIP Version 2.0)," FIPS PUB 146-1

"Information Resource Dictionary System (IRDS)," FIPS PUB 156

"Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES)," FIPS PUB 177

NIST Planned HPS PUB 127-2 on "Database Language SQL,"

NIST Planned HPS on "Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)"

85
NIST Planned FIPS PUB on Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX)—Part 2: Shell

and Utilities Interface IEEE Std 1003.2-1992, Information Technology—Portable Operating

System Interface (POSIX)—Part 2: Shell and Utilities

NIST Planned FIPS PUB on "Standard Page Description Language (SPDL)/' ISO/IEC DIS

10180

"Open Document Architecture/Open Document Interchange Format/Open Document

Language (ODA/ODIF/ODL)/' ISO 8613:1989

"OSF Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) Remote Procedure Call (RPC)

Component," Open Software Foundation

"OSI API for File Transfer, Access, and Management (FTAM)," IEEE Working Group

P1238.1

"OSI AppHcation Program Interfaces," IEEE Working Group PI238

"Pascal," FIPS PUB 109

"Portable Common Tools Environment (PCTE): Abstract Specification," Standard

ECMA-149, European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA)

"Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX)—System AppUcation Program Interface

[C Language]," HPS PUB 151-2

"Programmer's Hierarchical Interactive Graphics System (PHIGS)," FIPS PUB 153

"Protocol Independent Interfaces," IEEE Working Group P1003.12

"Reference Model for Frameworks of Software Engineering Environments (Technical

Report ECMA TR/55, 2nd Edition)," NIST Special Publication 500-201

"Remote Database Access (RDA)," ISO/IEC 9579:1993

"Security Interface for the Portable Operating System Interface for Computer

Envirormients," IEEE Working Group PI003.

6

"Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS)," FIPS PUB 173

"Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data (STEP)," Draft Proposed ISO 10303

"Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML)," FIPS PUB 152

86
"Transparent File Access (TFA)/' IEEE Working Group P1003.8

"User Interface Component of Applications Portability Profile," Planned PIPS PUB 158-1

"Version 1.0 Government Network Management Profile (GNMP)," PIPS PUB 179

"X.400 Based Electronic Messaging Application Program Interface (API)/' IEEE Working

Group PI 224.1

87
ANNEX C — BIBLIOGRAPHY

A Guide for Acquiring Integration Services, Acquisition of Information Resources, U.S.

General Services Administration, Information Resources Management Service, Division

KMPP, Washington, DC, November 1991, pp. 125.

An Analysis of Application Environments, Emerging Technologies Group, Inc., Dix Hills,

NY, 1989, pp. 494.

Draft Model RFP ~ Request for Proposals, Federal Computer Acquisition Center

(FEDCAC), Boston, MA, as of 17 April 1992, pp. 300+.

Guide to the POSIX Open Systems Environment, Draft 15, IEEE PI 003.0, Jime 1992.

Model RFP ~ Request for Proposals, Department of the Air Force, Air Force Computer

Acquisition Center (AFCAC), Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, as of 14 August

1991, pp. 500+. (The major part of AFCAC has been absorbed by the General Services

Administration's Federal Computer Acquisition Center [FEDCAC].)

Strategies for Open Systems — Stage Tw^o — The Experience With Open Systems, DMR

Group, Inc., Boston, 1990, pp. 196.

88
INDEX

Abstract Syntax Notation One 3, 45

Ada 3, 13, 22, 32, 33, 39, 40, 58, 59, 77, 85

American National Standards Institute 3, 33, 80

ANSI Standard X3.124-1985 58

ANSI Standard X3.135-1992 40

ANSI Standard X3.138-1988 42

ANSI Standard X3.185-1992 42

ANSI Standard X3.23-1 985 34

ANSI Standard X3.9-1978 36

ANSI/IEEE770X3.97-1983 . 37

ANSI/ISO 8632:1992 51

ANSI/NISO Z39.59 45, 47, 50, 77, 85

API 3, 9, 12, 15, 23, 26-28, 30, 31, 58, 59, 61-64, 67, 70, 73-75, 77, 78, 85-87

Application Portability Profile iii, 2, 3, 9

application program interface 3, 5, 8, 9, 23, 30, 42, 73-76, 85-87

application software interface 3, 67, 85

architecture 5, 29, 44, 45, 50, 77, 86

assertions 16, 26, 28, 41, 62, 64, 65

authentication 16, 56, 70

Basic Call Control 68

Basic Rate Interface 3, 68

Bitmap Distribution Format 29

BSD Socket interface 62

CAD/CAM 3, 52, 53

CALS 3,46,47,51,52

CASE iii, 3, 12, 20, 22, 42

CCITT 3, 45, 46, 56, 65, 75, 80

Certificates of vaUdation 24, 41

CGM 3, 22, 45, 51, 52, 77, 85

client-server architecture 29, 44

client-server operations 12

COBOL 13, 22, 32, 34, 35, 40, 77, 85

commands and utilities 12, 23, 25

Computer Graphics Metafile 3, 51, 77, 85

Computer Systems Laboratory 1, 3

Computer-Aided Acquisition and Logistic Support 3, 47

computer-aided design and manufacturing 3, 52

Computer-Aided Software Engineering 3

connectionless network protocol 66

contact information 80

Corporation for Open Systems 3, 72

COS 3,72

CSL 2, 3, 21, 22, 24, 42

DAC 3, 40

data^communication 15

89
data dictionary/ directory 14, 39, 42

data format 10, 14, 15

data interchange 3, 7, 10, 14-16, 45, 47, 51-57, 67, 74, 77, 81, 85

data management 10, 11, 13, 16, 39-41, 43, 77

Database Language SQL 39, 77, 85

DCE 3, 61, 69, 75, 78, 86

directory services 14, 42, 67, 74, 75, 78, 85

distributed data services 14

document sources 80

ECMA PCTE 3, 32, 38

ECMA reference model 37

EDIFACT 3, 55, 56

EEI 4, 9

Electronic Data Interchange 3, 54, 55, 67, 74, 77, 85

Electronic Manuscript Preparation and Markup 4, 47, 48, 50, 77, 85

EMPM 4, 45, 47, 48, 50, 77, 85

European Computer Manufacturers Association 3, 37, 81, 86

evaluation criteria iv, 2, 18, 40, 76

External Environment Interface 4, 8, 9

FDDI 4, 67

Federal Information Processing Standard 4, 24

Fiber Distributed Data Interface 4, 67

File Transfer, Access and Management 4, 67

HPS PUB 021-3 , . 22, 85

nPS PUB 069-1 22

FTPS PUB 109 22, 32, 36, 77, 86

HPS PUB 119 22, 32, 77, 85

FIPS PUB 120-1 22, 58, 77, 85

HPS PUB 127-2 22, 39, 40, 85

FIPS PUB 128 22, 45, 51, 52, 77, 85

FIPS PUB 151-2 23, 24, 76, 86

HPS PUB 152 45, 47, 77, 86

HPS PUB 153 22, 58, 59, 77, 86

FIPS PUB 156 39, 42, 77, 85

FIPS PUB 158-1 28-30, 76, 87

FIPS PUB 160 22, 32, 33, 77, 85

HPS PUB 161 45, 54, 56, 77, 85

FIPS PUB 173 45, 56, 77, 86

FORTRAN 13, 22, 32, 35, 36, 40, 58-60, 77, 85

Frame Relay 67

framework iii, 8, 11, 37, 38, 45, 48

FTAM . 4, 61, 63-65, 67, 71, 77, 86

Geographic Information System 4, 57

GIS 4,57

GKS 4, 22, 58-60, 77, 85

GNMP 61, 72, 73, 78, 87

GOSIP 1, 4, 22, 23, 43, 44, 61, 65-67, 69, 71, 75, 85

90
Government Network Management Profile . 72,7^,^7

Government Open System Interconnection Profile 1, 4, 65, 77, 85

Graphical Kernel System 4, 58, 60, 77, 85

Graphical User Interface 4, 12, 28, 30, 31, 76, 85

Graphics Services 10, 15, 58, 77

GUI 4, 29-31

HCI 4, 12

human/computer interface 4, 7, 9, 10, 12, 16, 28, 29, 53, 76

IEEE P1003.12 61, 77

IEEE P1003.6 23, 24, 27, 76

IEEE P1003.8 61, 71, 78

IEEE P1201.1 30

IEEEP1201.2 30

IEEE P1224.1 X.400 78

IEEE P1224.2 X.500 78

IEEE P1238 61, 63, 64, 77

IEEE P1238.1 61, 64, 77

IGES 4, 45, 52-54, 77, 85

IGOSS 4, 64-67

Industry/Goveniment Open Systems Specification 4, 64, 67

information interchange 9

Initial Graphics Exchange Specification 4, 52, 85

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 4, 8, 23, 82

Integrated Services Digital Network 4, 21, 66-68, 85

integrated software engineering environment 4, 37

Inter-Chent Communications Conventions Manual 4, 30

Interactive and Three-dimensional Graphics API 59

International Organization for Standardization 4, 33, 82

interoperability iii, 1, 4, 9, 15, 22, 23, 38, 40, 41, 43, 65, 66, 72, 73, 75, 79

IRDS 4, 39, 42, 77, 85

ISDN 4, 5, 61, 66-69, 77, 78, 85

ISEE 3, 4, 13, 31, 37, 38

ISO 10180 45

ISO 10303 45, 53, 54, 77, 86

ISO 1539:1980 36

ISO 7185:1983 37

ISO 8571 64

ISO 8613:1989 45, 47, 48, 50, 77, 86

ISO 8824:1987 45

ISO 8825:1987 45

ISO Standard 7942:1985 58

ISO Standard 9592:1988 59

ISO TC184/SC4 53

ISO/IEC 9579:1993 43,86

ISO/IEC DIS 10180 48, 77, 86

ISO/IEC JTCl 43, 45, 47, 50

ISO/IEC Standard 9075:1992 40

91
Joint ANSI X3J9-IEEE Pascal Standards Committee 36

kernel operations 11, 23, 24, 33

MAC 4, 40

Mandatory Access Control 4, 40

Manufacturing Automation Protocol/Technical and Office Protocols 4, 67

MAP/TOP 4,67

MIT X Window System 28, 29

multimedia specifications 12

National Bureau of Standards 4, 52

National Computer Security Center 4, 28, 40, 82

National Technical Information Service 5, 23, 81, 83

National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program 5, 21, 30

NIST Special Publication 500-195 68, 69

NIST Special PubHcation 500-201 .86

NIU-Forum 5

NTIS 5, 23, 28, 32-36, 39, 42, 47, 51, 52, 54, 58, 59, 65, 72, 81, 83

NVLAP 5, 21, 22, 30

Object Management Group 5, 39, 72

object-oriented 34, 35, 38, 43, 70

ODA/ODIF 5, 45, 46, 48, 77, 86

ODL 5, 45, 46, 48, 86

OIW 5, 21, 43,64, 65, 72

OMG 5, 39, 72

OMNIPoint 72, 73

Open Document Architecture /Open Document Interchange Format 5, 45, 86

Open Document Language 5, 45, 86

open system environment iii, 2, 5, 7, 8, 16, 21, 43, 79

OSE Implementor's Workshop 5, 65

OSE Profile iii, 9

OSE Reference Model 2, 8, 9

OSI Network Management Framework 11

P1224.1 X.400 78

P1224.2X.500 78

Pascal 13, 22, 32, 33, 36, 37, 40, 58, 60, 77, 86

PDES 5, 52, 54

Persistent SQL Modules , 41

personal/micro computer support 15

PHIGS 5, 22, 58-60, 77, 86

portability . iii, 1-3, 6, 9, 26, 28, 75, 76, 79, 84, 87

Portable Common Tools Environment 3, 37, 77, 86

Portable Operating System Interface for Computer Environments 76, 86

POSIX.2 25, 26

Primary Rate Interface 5, 68

Product Data Exchange using STEP 5, 54

Programmer's Hierarchical Interactive Graphics System 5, 58, 59, 77, 86

Project Athena 29

protocol 4, 5, 10, 15, 29, 43, 55, 61-63, 66, 67, 73, 75, 77, 86

92
Protocol Independent Interfaces 5, 61, 86

rationale . 20, 37

RDA 5, 39-41, 43, 44, 77, 86

realtime extension 12, 23, 26, 76, 85

Relational Database Management System Interface 39

Remote Database Access 5, 40, 41, 43, 67, 77, 86

remote procedure caU services 15

routing 4, 66, 67

scalability iii, 1, 79

SDTS 5, 45, 56, 57, 77, 86

security 1, 4, 10, 11, 14-16, 19, 20, 23, 24, 27, 28, 40, 70, 71, 73, 76, 82, 86

security services 15, 16

SGML 5, 45, 47, 48, 50, 51, 77, 86

Simple Network Interface 5, 62, 63

SNI 5, 62, 63

Spatial Data Transfer Specification 5, 77

Spatial Data Transfer Standard 56, 86

SPDL 5, 45, 48, 49, 77, 86

SQL 5, 22, 33, 39-41, 43, 44, 77, 83, 85

SQL Call Level Interface 41

SQL/CLI 41

SQL3 41

Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data 5, 53, 77, 86

Standard Generalized Markup Language 5, 45, 47, 77, 86

Standards Committee X3H2 40

Standards Committee X3H3 51, 58, 59

Standards Committee X3H4 42

Standards Committee X3J11 33

Standards Committee X3J3 35

Standards Committee X3J4 34

Standards Committee X3K13.6 29

Standards Committee X3V1.8 49

STEP 5,45,53,54,77,86

Structured Query Language 5

system management . 12, 23

Technical Report ECMA TR/55, 2nd Edition 86

test suite 24, 28, 33, 39, 41, 44, 48, 59, 60

testing laboratories 22, 24

TFA 5, 61, 71, 87

Transparent File Access 5, 15, 61, 66, 71, 78, 87

transport class 4 66

triggers 41

Trusted Database Management System 40

Two-Dimensional Graphics API 58

Uiuted Nations Working Party UN/ECE/WP.4 55

User Interface Component 28, 76, 87

Validated Products List 5, 24, 33-37, 40, 59, 66

93
VPL 5, 24, 33-37, 59, 66

Window management 12

X Protocol 29

X Window System 28-31, 76, 85

X/Open Transport Interface 6, 62, 63

X12 55, 56, 81

Xlib , 29

XPG4 6, 26, 62, 75

Xt Inlrinsics 29

Y14.26-1989 53

us GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1993— 34 1- 83 2/ 8 3 0 Li 7

94
ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW PUBLICATIONS ON

COMPUTER SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY

Superintendent of Documents

Government Printing Office

Washington, DC 20402

Dear Sir:

Please add my name to the announcement Hst of new publications to be issued in the series: National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 500-.

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