The top relational database vendors are collaborating to define a standard Management Information Base for managing heterogeneous relational databases using the Simple Network Management Protocol. The open specification will enable users to identify and characterise databases from any vendor using any third-party SNMP-based management tool such as SunNet Manager, HP OpenView, NetView/6000 or NetLabs/DiMONS. The 12 involved are ASK Group, Borland International Inc, Digital Equipment Corp, Gupta Corp, IBM Corp, Independence Technologies Inc, Informix Inc, Oracle Corp, Progress Software Corp, Red Brick Systems Inc, Sybase Inc and Tandem Computers Inc. When queried via SNMP, a database will return information identifying itself, the database vendor, and some fundamental parameters that characterise database status and its activity level.
