(Open)

The February 1997 meeting elected to hold this action open indefinitely to encourage future suggestions.

28-Feb: NMS to ask Martin Kirk if he would consider a presentation on X/Open, especially SysMan, at the next Panel meeting (in September). (Open)

28-Feb: DC to forward the JTC1 'Guide for Project Editors' document to DF.

(Done: 6-Mar-1997)

28-Feb: NMS to chase DJ on his proposed paper on POSIX reserved names, to be circulated to IST/5/-/15 for consideration before the May WG15 meeting.

(Done: 20-May-1997)

The paper has been passed to the System Services group in the IEEE for their comments and consideration.

28-Feb: Panel members are reminded that ISO POSIX drafts are mailed from the BSI to the Panel convener, and are therefore available from IST/5/-/15's new Convener, Nick Stoughton, if they wish to see or review any draft. (Done)

28-Feb: DC to check out the availability of the Cultural Conventions Specifications pages (WG15 Action Item 9610-33) and email the list as to their existence. (Done: 2-Mar-1997)

28-Feb: AJ indicated that he had some interest in the ISO 1003.1j work, and would email Joe Gwinn to check its current status. (Done: 10-Oct-1997)

Nothing additional to report. AJ is remaining aware of 1003.1j progress.

28-Feb: DC to email Jim Isaak, WG15 Convener, to indicate no response to WG15 Action Item 9610-49 (OSE Conformance Test Documents) was made by the UK. (Done: May-1997)

28-Feb: Re: WG15 Action Item 9610-62, Interpretations Records of Response, AJ to notify the WG15 Convener, Jim Isaak, of those responses that have changed since October, to ensure that only the current set is considered and progressed within ISO. (Open)

AJ believed that this has been done, but offered to check that no misalignment had occurred during or since the May WG15 meeting.

(Done: May-1997)

28-Feb: DC to email the WG15 list with the evening arrangements for the WG15 meeting at Exeter, emphasising that the room rate would not be reduced if attendees decided to eat elsewhere.

(Done: 3-Mar-1997)

28-Feb: Panel members to notify NMS by March 11th if they or others wish to attend the WG15 meeting in May at Exeter. (Done: 11-Mar-1997)

28-Feb: Andrew Josey to confirm the availability of a room for IST/5/-/15 on September 26 at the X/Open offices and report to Nick Stoughton. (Done: 5-Mar-1997)

. Consideration of ISO ballots: P348, P351

. Actions:

The Panel considered its response to P348:

Re SC22 N2459: Panel recommends a YES vote. 13210 as guidelines for writing Test Methods is a useful and relevant document.

Re SC22 N2583: This should reference 14515p1, not 13210. The Panel recommends a YES vote, with the comment that it refers to the wrong document.

The UK Action Item Report to WG15 (P345) was noted.

. Actions: P347

The following actions from the May 1997 meeting of WG15 (P347) require attention by the UK member body:

9705-15 Member Bodies - Review the Web pages, especially the document on Cultural Convention Specifications and report any comments to Keld Simonsen. (rolled over from 9610-33). (P343 refers)

Done: see the Panel comments above on P343.

9705-33 Member Bodies - provide feedback to Head of U.S. delegation (Roger Martin) by 11-July as to whether work on 1003.1m (Checkpoint/Restart) and 1003.1p (Resource Limits) should be pursued, and whether new, additional manpower can be provided - lack of extra manpower will result in withdrawal of sponsorship of the IEEE PARs and hence work by the U.S. development body.

NMS reported that this was discussed at the July IEEE meeting. The PARs are likely to be submitted for withdrawal, given the lack of additional support. The expectation is that both will die in the IEEE, which is meeting next week.

The UK can offer no additional manpower; the work is felt to be useful but the UK accepts the withdrawal of the PARs and the subsequent loss to the POSIX ISO standards if no other MB is able to progress the work.

9705-41 Member Bodies - consider and report to the next WG15 meeting whether 22.21.03.01 (-) System Administration Overview {1387.1/7+} be withdrawn, or whether they can make available resources to progress the work. MBs should note that JTC1 regulations currently indicate that five MBs are necessary to endorse work on a proposed NP.

The UK proposes that the Work Item be withdrawn.

9705-55 Member Bodies - seek volunteers for the post of WG15 Convener, to run for three years from September 1998 at the latest. Applicants should have sponsorship from their employers and from their National Bodies.

Terms of reference for the post of WG15 convener have been received by email. The UK recommends that these be posted to the WG15 web site. The UK is actively seeking a volunteer, but is not in a position to report or to make a proposal at this stage.

All WG15 actions resulting from Resolutions are dealt with above. The WG15 Resolutions are available on the Panel's web pages.

. Status Report of IEEE PASC:

NMS reported that the July meeting saw a few PARs withdrawn, including the 1003.1 LIS (1372), given lack of progress and manpower. Work may still continue at the ISO level, and could be revived in the IEEE if sufficient commitment is available. The revision of 1003.1r also fell, largely due to the UK comments on 1003.1g (PII), which were approved and forced the changes on 1003.1g implied by the 1003.1r PAR.

A number of new PARs were submitted and approved.

1003.1a has just reformed its ballot group, now having about 50 members. NMS hopes to get funding from Usenix to complete the drafting work.

Larry Dwyer proposed at the July meeting that the IEEE produce no more POSIX standards. This was met with some courtesy, but his proposal was not approved. It was agreed that existing POSIX standards should not be broken by new work. Security is one such example. Overall it was felt that the IEEE has produced a useful and well-received body of standards. There are ad-hoc groups looking at issues of backwards compatibility, and these should report at the meeting next week in Reno. Eight or nine actions came out of the discussions, including:

There are vacancies in the IEEE, including: Functional Tech Ed chair.

Numbers at the July meeting were substantially up on previous attendances. These were mostly due to one-day attendees for the sexier agenda items (Larry Dwyer, and a 'weapons' BOF).

Jay Ashford is doing an excellent job on the IEEE status document, SD-11, providing regular updates. Panel members are invited to check them out on the 'web pages.

The reports to IST/5 were noted.

IST/5/-/15 would like to offer its sincere condolences to IST/5, and to Brian Meek's family and friends on his untimely death. Brian had a sympathetic ear for the POSIX Panel, even when its work threatened to swamp the IST/5 agenda. He will be sorely missed.

. IST/5/-/14 Liaison: (DJ)

Derek Jones was unable to attend the IST/5/-/15 meeting to present any report.

The meetings will take place at The Open Group (AKA X/Open) offices, Apex Plaza, Reading.