. DCE-RPC Interoperability (XDSA-DCE) - Introduction
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Distributed Software Administration - DCE Interoperability (XDSA-DCE)

Distributed Software Administration - DCE Interoperability (XDSA-DCE)
Copyright © 1997 The Open Group

Introduction

Scope and Purpose of XDSA-DCE

This document is the X/Open Distributed Software Administration (XDSA-DCE) specification. XDSA-DCE provides a mechanism for addressing the interoperability needs of the POSIX 1387.2 standard for Software Administration.

The scope of the POSIX 1387.2 standard does not include interoperability. The XDSA-DCE specification defines a way in which the various distributed roles communicate and transfer data. This interface is one means to achieve interoperability between different implementations of the POSIX 1387.2 standard.

XDSA-DCE is implemented using the X/Open Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) remote procedure calls (RPC). The interface has no DCE run-time requirements, although it supports the use of DCE naming and security services when operating in a DCE cell.

XDSA-DCE is designed with the intention that it will support the current and future versions of the POSIX 1387.2 standard by only adding additional legal values and associated semantics to the current RPC parameters, but not modifying the protocol.

Scope of the POSIX 1387.2 Standard

The scope of the POSIX 1387.2 standard for software administration includes the following:

The POSIX 1387.2 Standard

The referenced document POSIX 1387.2 is the IEEE POSIX Standard 1387.2-1995: Information Technology - Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX) System Administration - Part 2: Software Administration.

Throughout this XDSA-DCE specification, in any description of POSIX 1387.2 where a variance with this standard arises, the referenced POSIX 1387.2 standard is the definitive specification.

POSIX 1387.2 Distributed Roles

While not defining protocols for interoperability, the POSIX 1387.2 standard has defined the distributed model by defining the distributed roles. The three key roles related to interoperability are the manager, source and target roles shown in POSIX 1387.2 Distributed Roles .
Figure: POSIX 1387.2 Distributed Roles

The manager role is the process that interacts with the administrator. It sends requests and receives results from the target role, and sends requests and receives data from the source role.

The target role operates on software collections (performing the administrative task). It requests and receives the actual software files from the source role.

The source role receives requests for data or actual software files and returns the data and software files in the software collection.

Examining the syntax of the POSIX 1387.2 standard commands, there are four main components:

Thus, distributed operation involves sending the software selections, command and options from the manager to each target.

Some software commands also involve taking software from a source and transferring it (applying it) to the target. Therefore, distributed operation also involves the target requesting software files for the software selections it is processing from the source.

Terminology

This specification assumes some familiarity with the terminology used in the POSIX 1387.2 standard.

It also uses some terms which have specific meaning for XDSA-DCE. In particular, XDSA-DCE uses some different terms for the same concepts described in the POSIX 1387.2 standard.

The key POSIX 1387.2 standard and XDSA-DCE terms are defined in the Glossary at the end of this specification.

Conformance

Mandatory
An implementation is conformant to this specification if it implements at least the required portions of this specification as defined in Chapters 1 through 6.
Options
The following aspects of XDSA-DCE are optional:

XDSA-DCE Daemon

The XDSA-DCE Daemon option is defined by XDSA-DCE Daemon of this specification.

XDSA-DCE Security

The XDSA-DCE Security option is defined by XDSA-DCE Security of this specification.

In order for an implementation to conform to any of these options, it must conform to all of the specification defined for that option.


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