[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 93 (Monday, May 15, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25888-25890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-11917]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 950215052-5052-01]


Approval of Federal Information Processing Standards Publications 
(FIPS) 146-2, Profiles for Open Systems Internetworking Technologies, 
and 179-1, Government Network Management Profile

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Commerce.

ACTION: The purpose of this notice is to announce that the Secretary of 
Commerce has approved two revised standards, which will be published as 
FIPS Publication 146-2, Profiles for Open Systems Internetworking 
Technologies (POSIT), and FIPS 179-1, Government Network Management 
Profile (GNMP).

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SUMMARY: On September 14, 1994 (59 FR 47119-47121), notice was 
published in the Federal Register that revisions to Federal Information 
Processing Standard 146-1, Version 2 of the Government Open Systems 
Interconnection Profile (GOSIP), and FIPS 179, Government Network 
Management Profile, (GNMP) were being proposed for Federal use.
    The written comments submitted by interested parties and other 
material available to the Department relevant to [[Page 25889]] the 
revised standards were reviewed by NIST. On the basis of this review, 
NIST recommended that the Secretary approve the revised Federal 
Information Processing Standards Publications, and prepared a detailed 
justification document for the Secretary's review in support of that 
recommendation.
    The detailed justification document which was presented to the 
Secretary is part of the public record and is available for inspection 
and copying in the Department's Central Reference and Records 
Inspection Facility, Room 6020, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 14th Street 
between Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues, NW., Washington, DC 
20230.
    These FIPS contain two sections: (1) An announcement section, which 
provides information concerning the applicability, implementation, and 
maintenance of the standards; and (2) a specifications section which 
deals with the technical requirements of the standards. Only the 
announcement sections of both standards is provided in this notice.

EFFECTIVE DATE: These revised standards may be used immediately by 
Federal Government agencies.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may purchase copies of these revised 
standards, including the technical specifications sections, from the 
National Technical Information Service (NTIS). Specific ordering 
information from NTIS for these standards is set out in the Where to 
Obtain Copies Section of the announcement section of each standard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Gerard F. Mulvenna, telephone (301) 975-3631, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

    Dated: May 9, 1995.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director.

Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 146-2

(Date)

Announcing the Standard for Profiles for Open Systems Internetworking 
Technologies (POSIT)

    Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FISP PUBS) 
are issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology after 
approval by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to Section 111(d) of the 
Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 as amended by 
the Computer Security Act of 1987, Public Law 100-235.
    1. Name of Standard. Profiles for Open Systems Internetworking 
Technologies (POSIT)(FIPS PUB 146-2).
    2. Category of Standard. Hardware and Software Standards, Computer 
Network Protocols.
    3. Explanation. FIPS 146-1 adopted the Government Open Systems 
Interconnection Profile (GOSIP) which defines a common set of Open 
Systems Interconnection (OSI) protocols that enable systems developed 
by different vendors to interoperate and the users of different 
applications on those systems to exchange information. This change 
modifies FIPS 146-1 by removing the requirement that Federal agencies 
specify GOSIP protocols when they acquire networking products and 
services and communications systems and services. This change 
references additional specifications that Federal agencies may use in 
acquiring data communications protocols.
    4. Approving Authority. Secretary of Commerce.
    5. Maintenance Agency. U.S. Department of Commerce, National 
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Computer Systems 
Laboratory (CSL).
    6. Related Documents.
    a. NIST Special Publication 500-217, Industry Government Open 
Systems Specification (IGOSS), or subsequent versions, May 1994.
    b. Internet Official Protocol Standards, Internet RFC 1610, or 
subsequent versions.
    c. NIST Special Publication 500-224, Stable Implementation 
Agreements for Open Systems Interconnection Protocols, or subsequent 
versions.

    Note: This reference is the most recent version of the Stable 
Implementation Agreements. The Stable Implementation Agreements are 
updated at regular intervals, but no more than once a year. 
Interested parties should contact NIST for information about the 
latest available version.

    d. NISTIR 5438, Industry/Government Open Systems Specification 
Testing Framework, or subsequent versions, June 1994.
    7. Objectives. The primary objectives of this standard are:

--To promote interconnection and interoperability of computers and 
systems that are acquired from different manufacturers in an open 
systems environment;
--To reduce the costs of computer network systems by increasing 
alternative sources of supply;
--To facilitate the use of advanced technology by the Federal 
Government;
--To provide guidance for the acquisition and use of networking 
products implementing open, voluntary standards such as those developed 
by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the International 
Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-
T; formerly the Consultative Committee on International Telegraph and 
Telephone [CCITT]), and the International Organization for 
Standardization (ISO).

    8. Specifications. See documents in Implementation Section.
    9. Applicability. Open, voluntary standards should be used by 
Federal Government agencies when acquiring computer networking products 
and services and communications systems or services.
    10. Implementation. The Industry Government Open Systems 
Specification (IGOSS) issued as NIST Special Publication 500-217 
updates the OSI protocols in FIPS 146-1 and may be used immediately by 
Federal Government agencies when they wish to acquire computer 
networking products and services and communications systems or services 
that are based on OSI standards.
    In addition, other specifications based on open, voluntary 
standards such as those cited in paragraph 7 may be used.
    The National Institute of Standards and Technology has described a 
testing program in IGOSS Industry/Government Open Systems Specification 
Testing Framework, (NISTIR 5438). This testing is voluntary and limited 
to the protocols that conform to the standards included in the IGOSS. 
However, this and other test methodologies may be adapted for use in 
testing compliance to other profiles whenever government agencies have 
demonstrable need for more stringent testing.
    11. Special Information. The National Institute of Standards and 
Technology plans to work with other government agencies and with 
industry to develop additional profiles based on open, voluntary 
standards and to publish these profiles in separate documents. Future 
versions of this standard will reference these additional profiles and 
will contain information related to recommended use of such additional 
profiles.
    Interoperability is a key requirement for the effective usage of 
information technology. Consequently, Federal agencies are strongly 
encouraged to acquire components that have either been tested for 
interoperability or otherwise demonstrably meet the agencies' 
interoperability requirements. The appropriate extent of such testing 
[[Page 25890]] will be determined by the affinity groups developing the 
profiles and by the acquiring agencies.
    12. Where to Obtain Copies. Copies of this publication are for sale 
by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), U.S. Department 
of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161. When ordering, refer to Federal 
Information Processing Standards Publication 146-2 (FIPSPUB146-2), and 
title. Specify microfiche if desired. Payment may be made by check, 
money order, or NTIS deposit account.
Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 179-1

(Date)

Announcing the Standard for Government Network Management Profile 
(GNMP)

    Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FIPS PUBS) 
are issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology after 
approval by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to Section 111(d) of the 
Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 as amended by 
the Computer Security Act of 1987, Public Law 100-235.
    1. Name of Standard. Government Network Management Profile (GNMP) 
(FIPS PUB 179-1).
    2. Category of Standard. Hardware and Software Standards, Computer 
Network Protocols.
    3. Explanation. This Federal Information Processing Standard adopts 
the Government Network Management Profile (GNMP) Version 1.0. The GNMP 
specifies the common management information exchange protocol and 
services, specifies management functions and services, and the syntax 
and semantics of the management information required to support 
monitoring and control of the network and system components and their 
resources.
    The primary source of specifications in the Version 1.0 GNMP is 
part 18 of the OIW Stable Implementation Agreements, June 1992, 
developed by the Open Systems Environment Implementors Workshop (OIW) 
sponsored by NIST and the IEEE Computer Society. This source provides 
implementation for network management based on the service and protocol 
standards issued by the International Organization for Standardization 
(IOS).
    Additional profiles will be developed implementing open, voluntary 
standards such as those developed by the Internet Engineering Task 
Force (IETF), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 
and the International Telecommunications Union, Telecommunication 
Standardization Sector (ITU-T; formerly the Consultative Committee on 
International Telegraph and Telephone [CCITT]).
    4. Approving Authority. Secretary of Commerce.
    5. Maintenance Agency. U.S. Department of Commerce, National 
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Computer Systems 
Laboratory (CSL).
    6. Cross Index.
    a. NIST Special Publication 500-202, Stable Implementation 
Agreements for Open Systems Interconnection Protocols, Version 5, 
Edition 1, NIST Workshop for Implementators of Open Systems 
Environment, June 1992. (NOTE: This reference is not the most recent 
version of the Stable Implementation Agreements; however, it is the 
source of specifications for GNMP, Version 1.0).
    b. FIPS PUB 146-2, Profiles for Open Systems Internetworking 
Technologies.
    7. Related Documents. Related documents are listed in the Reference 
Section of the GNMP document.
    8. Objectives. The primary objectives of this standard are:

--To promote interconnection and interoperability of computers and 
systems that are acquired from different manufacturers in an open 
systems environment;
--To reduce costs of computer network systems by increasing alternative 
sources of supply;
--To facilitate the use of advanced technology by the Federal 
Government;
--To provide guidance for the acquisition and use of networking 
products implementing open, voluntary standards such as those cited in 
paragraph 3.

    9. Specifications. GNMP specifications in FIPS 179.
    10. Applicability. Open, voluntary standards should be used by the 
Federal Government agencies when acquiring computer networking products 
and services and communications systems or services. These include the 
specifications referenced above.
    11. Implementation. This specification may be used immediately by 
Federal Government agencies when they wish to acquire computer 
networking products and services and communications systems or services 
that are based on OSI standards.
    In addition, other specifications based on open, voluntary 
standards such as those cited in paragraph 3 may be used. The OMNIPoint 
which references IETF and OSI standards can serve as an example for the 
development of such specifications.
    12. Special Information. The National Institute of Standards and 
Technology plans to work with other government agencies and with 
industry to develop additional profiles based on open, voluntary 
standards and to publish these profiles in separate documents.
    Future versions of this standard will reference these additional 
profiles and will contain information related to recommended use of 
such additional profiles.
    Interoperability is a key requirement for the effective usage of 
information technology. Consequently, federal agencies are strongly 
encouraged to acquire components that have either been tested for 
interoperability or otherwise demonstrably meet the agencies' 
interoperability requirements. The appropriate extent of such testing 
will be determined by the affinity groups developing the profiles and 
by the acquiring agencies.
    13. Where to Obtain Copies. Copies of this publication are for sale 
by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), U.S. Department 
of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161. When ordering, refer to Federal 
Information Processing Standards Publication 179-1 (FIPSPUB179-1), and 
title. Specify microfiche if desired. Payment may be made by check, 
money order, or NTIS deposit account.

[FR Doc. 95-11917 Filed 5-12-95; 8:45 am]
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