Enabling Manageable Products for DMI

The product manufacturer needs to decide which attributes of the product are manageable. To enable a product for DMI you write a MIF file that contains descriptions of these manageable attributes. Group the attributes logically so you can write instrumentation code to provide attribute data.

Use the SystemView Agent Programmer's Guide in the Toolkit in the Problem Determination Tools folder as a reference for enabling products. This book defines requirements for products that communicate with the Service Layer. To develop such a product:

• Read the SystemView Agent Programmer's Guide to get an understanding of how components interface with the Service Layer and the supported commands.

• Define manageable attributes and specific features of your product. Look for existing MIF groups that may apply to your product.

• Begin with the ComponentID group and define MIF groups that are based on the features of your product. Use as many of the existing standard groups that apply to your product as is possible. Standard groups are available from the Desktop Management Task Force (DMTF). If needed, add proprietary groups for unique features of the product.

• Decide if the attributes are read-only, read-write, or write-only, and define MIF attributes for each group.

• Use the syntax that is defined in the SystemView Agent Programmer's Guide to create your MIF file.

• Determine whether to use run-time programs or the direct interface to provide component information to the Service Layer. Write your instrumentation code accordingly.

• Change the programs that install or delete MIF database file for your component.

• Decide which errors, exceptions, or problems are to be sent to the Service Layer as indications and the attribute information to include. Real-time, intelligent product management is made possible by using indications because the system immediately notifies management applications when a problem occurs. Add code to your product to send these indications to the Service Layer. The system uses the DmiIndicate command block to pass events to the Service Layer. See the SystemView Agent Programmer's Guide in the Problem Determination Tools folder on the system for information about the DmiIndicate command block.