Re: text format of configurations

[Bill Woodcock <woody@pch.net>]

    > - the tools to _automate_ interaction with the box.  eg: SNMP or XML over
    >   telnet/ssh with standardized DTDs, ala snmp MIBs.  any thing that can
    >   be done in CLI, MUST be possible via XML.

Is XML, per se, a hard requirement for you?  Or would a syntax which was
the same on the CLI, and had the same advantages that you see in XML be
preferable?

    > - it MUST be possible to determine the FULL configuration of a box.  ie: NO
    >   hidden "defaults".  if 'ip directed-broadcast' is the default, a 'show
    >   config' option MUST exist that will display that in the o/p (ascii or XML).

Hmmm.  In principle I like this, but it could get awfully bulky awfully
fast.  There are a _lot_ of defaults in some configs.  Perhaps required
support for a "super verbose" version of "show config"?  Something like
"show config full" or "show config all"?

                                -Bill