White Paper. Desktop Management Interface 1

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1 White Paper Toshiba is a member of the Desktop Management Task Force (DMTF), a cooperative, industry-wide effort to make personal computers easier to use and manage. The goal of DMTF is to provide a common management framework for PCs that is intelligent, enabling PC products to operate easily with one another. The Desktop Management Interface (DMI) specification is a result of DMTF efforts to create a common interface for managing personal computers and network servers that is independent of operating system protocols. The DMI specification simplifies the installation, configuration and control of PCs, servers and related hardware devices. DMTF-sponsored working committees, representing a wide range of vendors, have defined standard Management Information Format (MIF) files for computer products. Initially, DMI was designed for desktop PCs. As a member of the DMTF and a key member of the Mobile Working Group, Toshiba has partnered with other industry leaders to extend the DMI specification to cover notebook computers. As more PC products become available, properly installing software, configuring hardware and managing system resources become more difficult. These tasks typically require some knowledge of existing dynamic link libraries (.dlls), port and hardware configurations, and previously-installed software. If this information is not easily accessible, understanding a computer becomes increasingly difficult for PC users. DMI creates a common, manageable PC system that is easily understood. It communicates system resource requirements and provides real-time system diagnostics. Management problems increase dramatically for network administrators. Networked PCs currently lack a comprehensive way to manage system resources. The goal of DMI is to simplify this process by integrating a common interface that can be communicated across different operating systems. For network administrators, resource and configuration information becomes available within the network architecture. Therefore, remote control access, centralized asset management, and help desk support become management tools available with DMI. Advanced Configuration and Power Management Interface (ACPI) is another interface designed to manage computers more effectively. Where DMI provides the ability to manage and track hardware and software, ACPI facilitates power and device resource management by the operating system. It assigns system resources to, and conserves power on notebook computers. For additional information regarding Toshiba s implementation of ACPI, please see Toshiba s white paper entitled Advanced Configuration and Power Interface Specification. DMI works with existing standards, such as the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and Plug and Play. DMI-ready PC products allow PC users and LAN administrators to manage computer resources consistently across different platforms. This makes systems and products easier to use and manage, while reducing costs and simplifying technical support. Desktop Management Interface 1

2 End-user solutions Network manager solutions Event notification features PC users benefit because DMI-compliant software will manage any computer, whether stand-alone or networked. PC software is easier to install and manage. Management with DMI lowers technical support costs. Users are able to immediately identify installed software versions. Software installation itself is simplified. Users are no longer asked questions about the type of video card, the brand name of the network interface card, or which version of the OBDC driver they have installed on their PC; instead, a component of the DMI (the Service Layer) supplies this information directly. Network managers benefit from DMI-compliant PCs and software, designed to be compatible with existing operating systems, such as DOS, Windows, OS/2, UNIX and Mac OS. Additionally, DMI seamlessly integrates with existing management protocols, such as the Common Management Information Protocol (CMIP) and the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). DMI management features allow network administrators to remotely audit any computer on the network and, if necessary, make changes via management software. DMI provides a continually updated inventory of networked hardware and software components for proactive, real-time network management. All PC users benefit from the regular collection of information generated by monitoring and diagnostic routines. Software agents and diagnostics routines report threshold events to desktop users and/or network managers, enabling preventative measures to avoid network downtime. DMI specification DMI groups DMI elements The DMTF has released two versions of the Desktop Management Interface Specification. Version 1.1 was released January 18, Version 2.0 was released March 27, The second version reorganizes the component names and provides a more in-depth definition of component relationships. The DMI groups definitions are created by the DMTF's working groups, the backbone of the DMTF. Falling under the umbrella of either the CIM Technical Development Committee (CIM TDC) or the DMI TDC, and comprised of DMTF members with specific areas of expertise, working groups develop "standard groups" which provide guidelines for implementing the DMI and CIM specifications for different products or applications. For example, the Mobile Working Group of the DMTF has defined a Mobile Supplement to the System Standard Groups definition. It contains standard groups for mobile such a portable battery, device bay, LCD video, pointing device, power management and more. Likewise, the DMI Security Working Group is working to extend the DMI 2.0 specification to define standard interfaces to secure the interaction between DMI management applications and the Service Provider. Established and dissolved on an as-needed basis, DMTF working groups are open to participation by all DMTF members. Standard groups are approved by the DMTF on an on-going basis. The DMI is composed of the following four elements: Service Layer (SL) Management Interface (MI) Component Interface (CI) Management Information Format (MIF) database The DMI is responsible for auditing DMI-compliant software and hardware to assist PC users and network supervisors with asset management. Desktop Management Interface 2

3 DMI Specification 1.1 Management Applications Management Interface (MI) Service Layer (SL) Component Interface (CI) MIF Database Hardware and Software Components Management Interface Service Layer Component Interface Component MIF The Management Interface enables the Service Layer to communicate with management applications. The Service Layer is responsible for all DMI activities. It resides permanently in the background. The Service Layer collects information from products and manages that information in the Management Information Format (MIF) database. It responds to specific requests from the Management Interface by retrieving the requested information from the MIF database or by passing the requests on to the DMI-compliant products. The Service Layer recognizes GET, SET and LIST commands in addition to other commands defined in the DMI Specification. The Component Interface enables the Service Layer to communicate with DMI-compliant products. To meet the design requirements for interoperability across the various operating systems and computer architectures, the DMTF began by defining the configuration information necessary to manage a desktop computer. The DMTF then designed a standard format for this information and subsequently named that format the Management Information Format (MIF). Computer manufacturers, software vendors and hardware vendors provide configuration information for each DMI-compliant product by adding an MIF file to their setup and installation procedures. The Service Layer stores this information in the MIF database and makes it available on request. A Component MIF file is an ASCII text file listing the attributes of a software or hardware device. Typically these attributes include: Manufacturer Product Version Serial Number Installation Verification Desktop Management Interface 3

4 Event Group MIFs Management applications Hardware and Software Components Component interface For example, a Component MIF file indicating the Manufacturer, as defined by the specification, includes: Name = Manufacturer ID = 1 Description = The organization that produced this component Access = Read-Only Storage = Common Type = String (64) The DMTF also defines MIF files for Event Groups and DMI Service Providers. Event Group MIF files provide information on standard system events, such as whether a computer port is enabled, the printer is on or the temperature of the processor exceeds its specified limit. Additionally, the files can include commands to notify PC users or the system administrator if events, such as overheating, occur. Management software consists of remote or local programs for changing, interrogating, controlling, tracking and listing the elements of a computer system. A management application can be a local diagnostics or installation program, or an agent that redirects information from the DMI to a remote computer through a network or modem. In other words, a management application could be anything from a simple browser searching the MIF database on the local system, to a networked agent supporting a standard protocol like SNMP. Management applications access the Service Layer through the Management Interface. Intel s LANDesk management products and the Systems Management Server (SMS) from Microsoft are examples of management applications that call the Component Interface. The DMI s open architecture provides the opportunity for vendors to develop a variety of management applications. DMI-compliant software and hardware products are referred to as manageable products. They include: Software applications, such as commercially available word processors, spreadsheets and utilities, as well as custom applications. Operating systems, such as DOS or UNIX, which share many manageable characteristics, including version numbers, performance statistics and configuration information. System hardware, such as processors, motherboards, network cards, mass storage devices and display subsystems. Emerging technologies such as multimedia, video conferencing and mobile computing. Peripheral devices, which connect to the PC s serial or parallel port. These have several manageable attributes, including the data rate, port address, and product-specific attributes. Manageable products, once installed, communicate with the Service Layer through the Component Interface. They receive management commands from the Service Layer and return information about their status to the Service Layer. They also send indications to the Service Layer when needed. The DMI Specification defines an indication as a notification from a manageable product to the Service Layer. It informs management applications that an important event has occurred. This could be an error or the detection of a device operating outside its pre-established parameters. The Component Interface handles communication between manageable products and the Service Layer. The Component Interface passes requests from Get and Set operations to manageable products, and passes these on to the Management Interface. The Component Interface and the standard MIF file format make it easy for software and hardware vendors to provide the management registration information along with their installation programs. Desktop Management Interface 4

5 DMI Specification 2.0 The DMI Specification Version 2.0 refined the relationship between the various elements of the Desktop Management Interface without changing the basic manner in which the elements solve the problems of desktop management. The names of some of the elements were changed to more accurately reflect DMI relationships. The Service Layer was renamed the DMI Service Provider (DMI SP). The Component Interface was divided into two parts: the Service Provider API for Components and the Component Provider API. The Management Interface was divided into two parts: the Service Provider API for Management Applications and the Management Provider API. The MIF Database was renamed the Service Provider Database. One of the major goals of the 2.0 enhancement was to simplify remote access of a client by an administrative system, using the RPC (Remote Procedure Call) industry standard. The following diagram demonstrates the relationship between the various elements of the DMI in Version 2.0. Local Block Interface Application MI Interface Client RPC Support Indication Server MI Interface Client RPC Support Indication Server Data Block Mgmt Interface (VI.X MI) Data Block Component Interface (VI.X MI) RPC Support Management Interface Server DMI Service Provider Procedural Component Interface Indication Client RPC to/from remote Service Provider Database Block C1 Component (HW/SW) Procedural C1 Hardware Component Procedural C1 Software Component Procedural C1 Firmware Component As the use of mobile computers increases in corporate network environments, the need for better mobile systems management continues to grow. Mobile PCs have unique features not found on desktop systems such as docking stations, batteries, and alternative pointing devices. In addition, mobile PCs create special management challenges, as they are often connected to the corporate network for short periods of time or not at all. These and other factors make it difficult for IS managers to track their mobile PCs and perform even routine management functions. Recognizing that mobile computers represent a growing component of today s corporate networks, the Mobile Working Group of the DMTF, was established in the Fall of 1996 to address the unique management needs of mobile PC systems. The DMTF Mobile Working Committee has completed Desktop Management Interface 5

6 the Mobile Supplement to the DMTF Systems Standard Group standard specification, providing for mobile PC management under the DMI 2.0 standard. The mobile specification is used to create Management Information Format (MIF) files that can be read by DMI-enabled management applications. It includes descriptions for battery, AC line and docking status, infrared port, video display type, pointing devices and device bay. It also defines how to associate power management characteristics with devices already defined by the DMI. Implementation guidelines for notebook systems and proposed updates to the Systems Standard Group Definition are also part of the mobile specification. The DMTF has defined compliance for both management software and hardware devices. Products providing and using DMI management services, such as operating systems and management software, must adhere to the Management Interface definition of the DMI specification. To be compliant: Management applications must use the Management Interface to request information on DMI manageable products. Operating systems must deliver DMI information, when requested, to management applications through the Management Interface. Component products such as PCs, adapter cards, printers and software managed by DMI compliant applications, must adhere to the DMTF Standard Group Compliance Rules by supporting the Component ID standard. DMI-compliant components must follow the established implementation structure for any other supported standards groups. Components must be able to identify themselves to the DMI Service Layer and follow the procedure for supporting other standard groups as defined in the DMTF Management Information Format file specifications. Toshiba Bundles LANDesk Client Manager from Intel Reduced Cost of Ownership Working closely with Intel engineers, Toshiba has tailored a management software package that meets the needs of the corporate IT professional. Currently, Toshiba bundles Intel s LANDesk Client Manager on selected products (For a complete listing of DMI compliant products, please see Appendix I). LANDesk provides both client and administrator-side management software, enabling both remote and local system monitoring, configuring and updating, as well as comprehensive asset tracking. Administrators are able to manipulate clients settings remotely, as well as monitor the overall health of the system, and report that information to both user and manager. Toshiba s implementation of LANDesk management is designed to reduce the total cost of owning and maintaining PC clients. Providing comprehensive self-help diagnostics, PC Health functions deliver local and remote alerting of potential problems before they occur, reducing the need for mission-critical service and support. Automatic polling and alerting for memory and hardware conditions helps to minimize downtime and promote more effective troubleshooting. Toshiba enterprise systems are designed to support System Management BIOS Specification Version 2.0, leveraging special PC hardware to provide predictive failure mechanisms for catching problems with the hard drive, fan, power supply or temperature. In addtion, LANDesk Client Manager takes periodic snapshots of critical configuration files for easy configuration management and restoration when necessary. An administrator s console enables network managers with to unobtrusively monitor each PC workstation s status. With security set to full access, managers can transfer files and remotely reboot the client workstation as appropriate. Desktop Management Interface 6

7 Standards-based Management Because LANDesk Client Manager is based on the industry-standard Desktop Management Interface (DMI), it is compliant with other DMI-based network management products. This standards-based approach means that Toshiba products can be used in conjunction with other management tools, dropping seamlessly into an existing managed PC environment. DMI home page Desktop Management Interface 7

8 Model Name Satellite Satellite 220CDS Satellite 300CDS/CDT Satellite 310CDS/CDT Satellite 320CDS/CDT Satellite 330CDS/CDT Satellite 2500CDS Satellite 4000CDS/CDT Satellite 4010CDS/CDT Satellite 4020CDT Satellite Pro Satellite Pro 440CDX/CDT Satellite Pro 460CDT Satellite Pro 480CDT Satellite Pro 490CDT Satellite Pro 490XCDT Tecra Tecra 530CDT Tecra 550CDT Tecra 740CDT Tecra 750CDT Tecra 750DVD Tecra 780DVD Tecra 8000 Portégé Portégé 300CT Portégé 320CT Portégé 3010CT Portégé 7000CT Portégé 7010CT Libretto Libretto 100CT Desktop Management Interface 8