RE: Progressing MAM

["Ash, Gerald R (Jerry), ALABS" <gash@att.com>]

> I would like to get a sense of the list about using this document as the
> basis for the WG MAM specification and for accepting this as a WG
> document. Thoughts anyone?

There is another proposed MAM specification draft at http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-wlai-tewg-bcmodel-01.txt.  This I-D  should also be considered for the MAM specification.  I believe it would be best to combine the efforts into a unified specification draft.
 
> The material providing analysis of the various merits/shortcomings of
> various models is very useful stuff for the WG, but I would suggest
> keeping this information in a document separate from the MAM
> specification. Rationale include:
>     - MAM definition has been thoroughly discussed/agreed in WG and
> could be finalized very quickly, while detailed analysis 
> still requires more WG time.
>     - pros/cons analysis is of informational nature while the MAM
> specification has MUST/SHOULD.

I disagree.  The pros/cons analysis should be an integral part of the specification (as in an Appendix) to provide critical guidance to users' implementation of the models in their networks.  There are some very important guidelines which users should be aware of before choosing a BC model for their network.  

Unless this essential information is progressed together with the specification, it may well get lost, delayed, or at least be hard for users to come by.  We already have analysis already in hand in http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-wlai-tewg-bcmodel-01.txt, so there should be no delay caused by its inclusion or need for more WG time.  There is no down-side to including the analysis in an Appendix to the specification.

Furthermore, the Russian Doll BC specification draft http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-tewg-diff-te-russian-01.txt lacks this kind of critical analysis, which should be added before the draft goes forward (will post this comment when RD specification goes to last call).

Jerry