Overview
ISO/IEC 13187:2011 - Information technology - Server management command line protocol (SM CLP) specification - defines a general framework for a standardized Server Management Command Line Protocol (SM CLP). Prepared by SNIA and adopted via fast-track, this international standard guides developers implementing SM CLP and serves as a reference for system administrators and other users of SM CLP implementations. The specification covers both the semantic behavior and the syntax of commands, input/output data formats, session handling and extensions.
Key Topics
- Semantics and Syntax: formal definitions for command verbs, options, targets, target properties and associations.
- Standard Verbs: a defined verb set (examples in the standard include cd, create, delete, dump, exit, help, load, reset, set, show, start, stop, version) and their expected behavior.
- Command Options: standard option definitions (for example: all, destination, display, examine, force, help) and their forms and behavior.
- Input/Output Data: specification of input data handling, output data schema, command status data elements and supported output formats.
- Session Model: session prompt, SESSION reserved target, and command processing rules.
- Extensibility & OEM Support: mechanisms for extending the protocol and vendor-specific (OEM) extensions.
- Internationalization/Localization: support considerations for localized outputs and international deployments.
- Error and Status Handling: standardized command status elements to enable consistent automation and scripting responses.
Applications
ISO/IEC 13187:2011 is practical for:
- Developers and implementers building SM CLP servers or clients to ensure interoperability across server management tools.
- System administrators and operators who rely on CLI-based server management for configuration, monitoring, firmware and service control.
- OEMs and hardware vendors implementing vendor-specific extensions while maintaining a standard command model.
- Automation and orchestration solutions that script management workflows and require predictable command semantics and output schemas.
- Tool integrators creating cross-platform management consoles or probes that consume standardized SM CLP output.
Using SM CLP reduces integration effort, improves interoperability of server management tools, and simplifies automation by standardizing command verbs, options and output formats.
Related Standards
- ISO/IEC catalog and SNIA specifications (see ISO/IEC search/catalog for related server and management standards).
- Implementers should consult other ISO/IEC and SNIA management standards for complementary interfaces, data models and transport-layer considerations.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 13187:2011, Server Management Command Line Protocol, SM CLP, server management, command line, SNIA, CLI specification, command verbs, output data schema, OEM extensions, internationalization.