RE: LDAP and XML (RE: iSCSI Naming: WWUIs, URNs, and namespaces)

[Black_David@emc.com]

Doug,

> In my defense, whatever the database and whatever the function, it must be
> related to the iSCSI architecture for it to belong within the IPS efforts.
> This was a premise and not a request.  

XML is not a database and does not require a database - a web server
can serve XML from scripts and files.  XML is an encoding format like
HTML, SGML, or even XDR, although both HTML and XDR have
significantly less ability to convey semantic content.  The XML
format can be used to deliver the same sort of management
information as is found in a MIB like the iSCSI MIB.  I would
think the resulting relationship to the iSCSI architecture is
clear and obvious.

> Am I wrong about the over-shadowing concern of a naming server?

In this case yes, because it's not related to the place where XML appears in
the iSCSI requirements document.  The discussion of iSCSI naming is not
relevant in this context because the requirements document does not envision
or require that XML be used in iSCSI naming or name resolution.  Please
make sure you understand the paragraph beginning with "XML is not a
database" before responding to this paragraph.

As to the potentially broader issue of whether LDAP ought to be used/usable
as part of iSCSI naming and discovery, the short answer is
"Send Draft" (i.e., submit an Internet-Draft with a concrete proposal), as
past list discussion has generated no interest in LDAP beyond yourself,
and I don't believe that further list discussion is likely to change that.

Thanks,
--David

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David L. Black, Senior Technologist
EMC Corporation, 42 South St., Hopkinton, MA  01748
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