The Desktop Management Interface (DMI) provides the means for software and hardware components to define VPD information. DMI also provides a standard function set that management applications can use to access that information.
The DMI consists of four elements:
You define component descriptions in a language that is called the Management Information Format (MIF). Each component has a MIF file that describes the manageable characteristics of the component.
Component providers use the Component Interface (CI) to describe how to access management information and enable a component to be managed.
Applications use the Management Interface (MI) to manage components.
The CI and MI are data interfaces, as opposed to procedural interfaces.
The Service Layer (SL) is an active, resident code that runs on the system. The SL mediates between the MI and the CI and performs services on behalf of each.
The DMI is a local interface that is used within a single system. DMI does not replace existing network management protocols. DMI provides a consistent method for providing instrumentation to those protocols. The Service Layer is the broker of local instrumentation.
DMI provides the following:
The DMI does not address or specify a protocol for management over a network.