Cisco Systems Inc. and Microsoft Corp. reported today the
Directory-Enabled Networks (DEN) protocol moved one step closer to being
declared an industry standard as it goes before a customer advisory board
for open review.
Since DEN’s
launch in September 1997 by Cisco and Microsoft, the protocol has passed
through several intensive reviews conducted by a DEN Ad Hoc Working Group
comprising industry leaders such as 3COM, AT&T, Bay Networks, Lucent
Technologies, and Netscape Communications.
DEN is a model for developing integrative networking components and
services for use in heterogeneous directories. The model aims to provide
developers with a common platform for creating new intelligent networking
applications.
The initiative now moves to the Desktop Management Task Force (DMTF)
standards body, which includes members such as Charles Schwab & Company,
Sprint, and Texaco. The DMTF will now review the content of the DEN
specification and then be responsible for submitting it as a standard.
The DMTF is currently working on the Common Information Model (CIM)
specification which serves to provide a common means of sharing and
managing data across enterprises. The group will work to incorporate DEN
into CIM.
“With the specification review process moving to the DMTF, vendors and
customers have an open forum and process to enable standardization of the DEN
specification,” said Mike Nash, director of marketing, Windows NT Server
group at Microsoft.
“This is a huge win for customers. For the first time, they will be able to
benefit from a unified model for integrating users, applications and
network services.”