Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!EMU.NCSL.NIST.GOV!colella
From: colella@EMU.NCSL.NIST.GOV (Richard Colella)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.iso
Subject: Re: X.500 information
Message-ID: <8907311824.AA07359@emu.ncsl.nist.gov>
Date: 31 Jul 89 18:24:54 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Lines: 47

> 
> We would also like to see any info on X.500 implementations. Thanks.
> 
> -- 
>   
> Ken Howell                                      ...!mcnc!rti!sas!sasgkh
> 

We are implementing ISO 9594/X.500 here at NIST.  The software design
was finished a few months ago and is available through anonymous ftp
on osi.ncsl.nist.gov (129.6.48.100) in the directory ./pub/directory:

	NIST_phase2_doc.ps	- PostScript version
	NIST_phase2_doc.ps.Z	- ... compressed
	NIST_phase2_doc.tar	- LaTeX source
	NIST_phase2_doc.tar.Z	- ... compressed

It is being implemented on top of ISODE.  It consists of a DSA that
implements full DAP and DSP, a DUA with a well-defined programmatic
interface, and a menu-driven terminal interface that is configurable
and easy to use without giving up the power of x.500.  To address the
widest possible set of terminal users, we use `curses' for the screen
manipulation.  Some of the goals are:

- to be as conformant as possible to 9594/x.500.  With a few exceptions
  this appears achievable (e.g., we ARE implementing access control and
  are NOT implementing non-specific subordinate references);

- to make the implementation publicly available;

- to provide a possible reference implementation for GOSIP-compliant
  systems;

- to (maybe) provide the basis for a conformance test system; and,

- to allow easy substitution of the DBMS we provide with a commercial
  one.  This way those who just want to experiment can do so without any
  expense, and those who want to run it in a more "production"
  environment can easily substitute the DBMS of their choice (our
  DBMS interface looks like simplified SQL).
  
We anticipate finishing in Q1 1990.  There are things that we would like
to add after that, depending on resources, such as strong authentication.
Time will tell.......

Regards,
Richard