Object modelling for OSI management

An object modelling approach has been adopted by ISO and ITU in their specification of network management standards. This is being taken up by IEEE both for the specification of local area network and operating system management. The author reviews the key features of the ISO approach, identifies the relevant standards and discusses those areas where further work is known to be required. Although the approach has the potential for a powerful and general method for object specification, this potential can only be realised as the result of further research into formal methods for specifying management information, management knowledge and management policies