Overview
ISO 8571-2:1988/Amd 1:1992 is an amendment to the ISO standard for Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) File Transfer, Access and Management (FTAM). It extends Part 2 - Virtual Filestore Definition - by adding filestore management features, new subclauses and clarifications to the original virtual filestore model. The amendment refines how files, directories and references are defined, described and managed at the Application Service Element (ASE) level of the OSI Reference Model.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Virtual filestore model: Defines an abstract model of a filestore used to describe files and filestore structure within the application layer (ASE).
- Object types: Specifies three object kinds - files, file-directories, and references - and their roles in the filestore hierarchy.
- Attributes and global state: Objects are described by attributes (access control, primary pathname, object type, etc.). Attribute values are global and visible to initiators interacting with the filestore.
- Filestore structure: Parent-child (parenthood) and linkage (references) relationships form a hierarchical filestore tree with a single root object.
- Name resolution & current name prefix: Rules for resolving complete and incomplete pathnames, including how the responder may use a current name prefix to map incomplete pathnames without revealing higher-level structure.
- Object selection semantics: Two selection methods - simple selection (explicit pathname selection) and generalized selection (group-based selection using attribute assertions). Behavior for selection, deselection, concurrency, and error conditions are specified.
- Actions on objects: Amendment introduces and clarifies actions that manipulate filestore objects and filestore state (e.g., changing current name prefix, managing generalized selection groups).
- Security and access control: References and path access control attributes support secure views and controlled access to filestore contents.
- Scope limits: Standard defines ASE-level services and protocol semantics; it does not prescribe local system interfaces or implementation APIs.
Applications and who uses it
- System architects and protocol designers implementing or interoperating with FTAM (File Transfer, Access and Management) services in OSI environments.
- Network and storage engineers designing virtual filestore models and access-control mechanisms for distributed file systems.
- Software developers and vendors producing standards-compliant file-transfer and management solutions for heterogeneous systems.
- Compliance officers and technical writers preparing documentation, conformance statements, and protocol test plans.
Related standards
- ISO 8571 (series) - FTAM family:
- Part 1: General introduction
- Part 3: File Service Definition
- Part 4: File Protocol Specification
- Part 5: Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement proforma
- Developed under ISO/IEC JTC 1 (Information technology)
Keywords: ISO 8571-2:1988/Amd 1:1992, virtual filestore, FTAM, Open Systems Interconnection, filestore management, file-directories, pathname resolution, generalized selection.
Open preview (PDF)Information processing systems — Open Systems Interconnection — File Transfer, Access and Management — Part 2: Virtual Filestore Definition — Amendment 1: Filestore Management
