Subject: Consensus on DLSw backward compatibility testing at Connectathon

From: [email-masked]
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 95 17:54:48 PDT

Data link switchers:

I am dismayed by the amount of discussion about the 1434 testing for 
this connect-a-thon, and particularly appalled at Wayne's uncalledfor 
jab at IBM in this forum.

Based on the input to date, including the recent suggestion of David M. 
(DEC), I am stating as chair that consensus appears to have been 
reached that:

a)  Time and equipment for testing for interoperability between 
products that claim to be compliant with AIW DLSw Version 1.0 (RFC 
1795) and products that claim to be compliant with RFC 1434 will be 
available at the DLSw  connect-a-thon.

b)  This v1.0-to-pre-v1.0 testing will be optional...repeat...optional.  No 
vendor will be required to provide such interoperability or backwards 
compatibility, as we agreed in RIG meetings.  No vendor, even one with 
a  1434 -based product, will be required or encouraged or cajoled or in 
any way pressured into such testing.  This includes any implication in 
this forum or any other about whether a company has done or should 
have done such testing.  Optional means optional, okay?

c)  As suggested by David, this testing will be scheduled for late in the 
week, after all of the basic Version 1 to Version 1 interoperability 
testing.  No vendor who does not wish to do this testing should be 
delayed by this optional testing.

d)  The test will be developed by the parties interested in such testing 
and no other vendors need to contribute to it.

e)  This is an informal, private test!  No results of ANY testing at the 
connect-a-thon will be made public, as we agreed.  Any two vendors 
who wish to repeat  successful  tests afterward and publicly announce 
their interoperability are free to do so, of course.  Any vendor who 
violates this privacy agreement will be denounced in the press.

Stop the name-calling, the slurs, the innuendos, and the insults.  If to 
you, this issue is "who cares?", then keep your fingers off the keyboard.
This kind of behavior is beneath us and counter-productive, and I will 
not tolerate it.

If there is any significant, intelligent concern about my stating 
consensus on this issue, please post it.  Otherwise, this issue is closed.  
Let s get on with the business of serving our customers.

Regards,

Louise Herndon Wells