When a MIB module is used for configuration, an object with
this SYNTAX always contains a legal value (a non-zero-length
string) for an index that is not currently used in the relevant
table. The Command Generator (Network Management Application)
reads this variable and uses the (non-zero-length string)
value read when creating a new row with an SNMP SET.
When the SET is performed, the Command Responder (agent) must
determine whether the value is indeed still unused; Two Network
Management Applications may attempt to create a row
(configuration entry) simultaneously and use the same value. If
it is currently unused, the SET succeeds and the Command
Responder (agent) changes the value of this object, according
to an implementation-specific algorithm. If the value is in
use, however, the SET fails. The Network Management
Application must then re-read this variable to obtain a new
usable value.
Note that the string containing the single octet with
the value 0x00 is a reserved value used to represent
the special case where no additional indexes can be
provisioned, or in systems that do not offer
write access, objects defined using this TEXTUAL-CONVENTION
MUST return the string containing the single
octet with the value 0x00.
MplsIndexType
binary
This is an octet string that can be used as a table
index in cases where a large addressable space is
required such as on an LSR where many applications
may be provisioning labels.
Note that the string containing the single octet with
the value 0x00 is a reserved value used to represent
special cases. When this TEXTUAL-CONVENTION is used
as the SYNTAX of an object, the DESCRIPTION clause
MUST specify if this special value is valid and if so
what the special meaning is.
In systems that provide write access to the MPLS-LSR-STD
MIB, mplsIndexType SHOULD be used as a simple multi-digit
integer encoded as an octet string.
No further overloading of the meaning of an index SHOULD
be made.
In systems that do not offer write access to the MPLS-LSR-STD
MIB, the mplsIndexType may contain implicit formatting that is
specific to the implementation to convey additional
information such as interface index, physical card or
device, or application id. The interpretation of this
additional formatting is implementation dependent and
not covered in this document. Such formatting MUST
NOT impact the basic functionality of read-only access
to the MPLS-LSR-STD MIB by management applications that are
not aware of the formatting rules.