[comp.protocols.iso] Test System RFI Announcement by COS

cfs@cos.com (Cathy F. Summers) (12/07/90)

The Corporation for Open Systems International has issued the following
announcement of a RFI for OSI upper layer conformance test sytems.  COS
hopes to achieve the widest possible distribution of this announcemnt.

For more information, please contace Derek Robinson as specified in the
announcement.

Cathy Summers		cfs@cos.com

============================  RFI Announcement  ========================


FOR IMMEDIATE           COS ISSUES 'RFI' FOR FTAM, X.400,
RELEASE                 X.500 AND NETWORK MANAGEMENT


                        McLEAN, VA., NOVEMBER 29, 1990 -- The Corporation
CONTACT:                For Open Systems International (COS) today issued
                        a formal "Request For Information" to the world's
Eric Bolton             conformance testing community and other
(COS)                   interested parties as part of an ambitious
703-883-2755            program to add extensive new protocol testing
                        capabilities to the COS Mark Program.
RFI CONTACT:
Derek Robinson          According to the RFI document, the Mark Program
(COS)                   expansion includes support for additional FTAM
703-883-2724            functionality, as well as the addition of testing
                        capabilities for CCITT X.400 (1988), Directory
                        Services (CCITT X.500) and OSI Network Management
                        protocols.

                        The RFI document noted that the expansion of the
                        Mark program will be phased in over a two-year
                        period, culminating in COS Mark-approved means of
                        testing, aligned with stable Internationally
                        Standardized Profiles (ISPs) and the U.S. GOSIP
                        program, for each of the above protocols.

                        COS said it was issuing the RFI "to take
                        advantage of recent developments in areas such as
                        OSI conformance test system architectures,
                        advances in upper-layer abstract and executable
                        test suites, automated verdicts, automated test
                        case selection, and test engine portability."

                        The RFI was issued under COS' test system
                        sponsorship program which invites the global
                        testing community to help COS develop
                        internationally-aligned conformance testing
                        systems for the world market.

                        According to the RFI document, "COS sponsorship
                        will enable OSI test system vendors to align
                        executable test suites and test system
                        functionality such that they may be approved for
                        use with the COS Mark Program, and may also
                        become candidates for the GOSIP 'Means of
                        Testing' registers.  It is COS' immediate goal
                        that all COS-employed test systems be also GOSIP
                        registered, and COS will provide assistance to
                        achieve this."

                                              -Over-

                        COS ISSUES 'RFI,' Page 2



                        For more information on the RFI, please contact
                        Mr. Derek Robinson, COS' Upper Layers Development
                        Manager, at 703-883-2724.

                        The COS Mark Program is a user-vendor sponsored
                        OSI/ISDN product certification program.  The
                        objective of the COS Mark Program is to identify
                        and distinguish those products in the marketplace
                        that have met COS requirements and therefore have
                        an increased likelihood of interoperation.

                        Users who procure COS Mark licensed products, in
                        addition to U.S. GOSIP compliance, receive this
                        warranty:

                             Commitment:  that if an interoperability
                        problem develops, you won't go it alone.  Each
                        COS Mark licensed vendor is bound by its COS Mark
                        License to work toward the resolution of
                        interoperability problems between products
                        bearing the COS Mark, should they arise.

                             Confidence:  that COS Mark products have
                        been subjected to rigorous conformance testing;
                        it's a requirement for the award of the COS Mark.

                             Comfort:  that COS interoperability analysis
                        is available at no cost if an interoperability
                        problem cannot be resolved through normal vendor
                        efforts.

                                                ###