Evolving Web services standards for managing system resources

UPDATE: In response to customers asking to resolve their concerns with competing management specifications, IBM, Microsoft, HP and Intel are planning to develop a common set of specifications for resources, events, and management that can be broadly supported across multiple platforms. To support the launch of this work the participants have jointly developed a Roadmap which outlines a plan to develop a harmonized set of specifications, with provisions for a smooth migration to the new specifications as they emerge and move through to standardization. The plan outlines the approach to build on existing specifications and defining a set of enhancements that enable this convergence. In many scenarios, vendors and customers building solutions using Web services will find that the existing specifications support their scenarios. Vendors and customers may use the new specifications and functions when needing the common capabilities. The early work done to create the roadmap gives confidence that customers and partners who start or continue with WSDM are on a path to the "harmonized" specifications to meet their business needs. Customer and vendors are realizing great value from Web services solutions today based on existing specifications and standards which address a variety of use cases. There is an opportunity to increase this value with a more unified set of specifications. IBM, Microsoft, HP and Intel are publishing a joint roadmap paper outlining the technical strategy to develop a set of composable and interoperable specifications that will provide a common base for the functionality currently described by a number of related specifications. To see the roadmap, download the PDF Toward Converging Web Service Standards for Resources, Events, and Management. "We in Globus view this as a very good thing. It will no doubt be quite a long time before these new converged specifications are produced. In the meantime, we will continue to support and enhance our WSRF/WS-N infrastructure. When the new specification are stable, we will implement them, in a way that provides an easy migration path," said Ian Foster, Globus Founder. The authors are committed to providing this work as the base for the next generation of standardization in this area. Consistent with previous roadmap efforts, the development, interoperability testing and standardization process will take time with some of the initial specifications identified in this roadmap published as early as 2Q06. Customers and vendors should continue investing in solutions and products based on the implementations of the current specifications related to this work. The vendors are assuring that this harmonization of the competing specifications will be a smooth evolution from today’s environment and provide a simplified technology base for the future. As the new specifications are finalized a clear migration path will be defined.