The LSP/SNI Test Facility
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb047633 |
| Pages | 41-49 |
| Published date | 01 January 1986 |
| Date | 01 January 1986 |
| Author | Ray Denenberg |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
The LSP/SNI Test Facility
Ray Denenberg
Vendors who are implementing
the Standard Network Interconnection
(SNI) protocols for computer to
computer communications can now test
their implementation against the LSP/SNI
Test Facility, which has been
developed by the Library of Congress.
The facility is intended to verify the
correct functioning of the SNI
protocols for the Open System
Interconnection (OSI) layers. The
development and use of the Test Facility
are discussed.
The LSP/SNI Test Facility, developed by the
Library of Congress, is now operational and avail-
able for remote access. Participants of the Linked
Systems Project (LSP), as well as vendors who are
implementing the Standard Network Interconnection
(SNI) protocols, may validate their implementations
by testing with the Test Facility. Both the Library
of Congress and OCLC (two of the four current LSP
participants) have successfully validated their SNI
implementations via the Test Facility.
The SNI Test Facility evolved from the exper-
iences gained, during SNI project testing, by the
original three LSP participants (Library of Congress,
the Research Libraries Group, and the Washington
Library Network). Early in the SNI project, the SNI
Task Group developed a protocol test-methodology
which worked well as a short term approach to
intersystem testing, for a small number of partici-
pants.1
However, SNI project testing was expensive
in terms of operator resources and test software,
and also had certain technical limitations. The
experiences of project testing, as well as the in-
creasing number of potential LSP implementors,
led to the development of a dedicated test facility.
Because of its influence on the development
of the Test Facility, SNI project testing is briefly
described below.
SNI PROJECT TESTING
SNI layers one, two, and part of three consist
of the X.25 protocol, which is vendor supplied.
Software development for SNI therefore began at
layer three, the Network layer.
Implementation of the SNI was in stages: the
Denenberg is with the Network Development
and MARC Standards office of the Library of Con-
gress.
ISSUE 13 41
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