medhioub wrote:

I have few informations to understand, i hope that you can help me. What is the difference and the benefits of NML compared to NDL. NML implementation will be in RDF or XML Schema? And when the first NML specification will be published?

The first and foremore difference is that NML is a real standard. NDL is a specification but not an international standard. NDL is developed by the University of Amsterdam (though it is used elsewhere). NML is developed by multiple groups: DANTE, Internet2, University of Delaware and University of Amsterdam. That has two benefits: first, there will probably larger adoption of the specification. Secondly, it's specification has gotten more scrutiny already. For example, about naming (we had a long discussion on the definition of the word "network" recently), but also about features. NDL for example has limited support for change management, while cNIS -another network description specification, created by DANTE- has more extensive support for that (simply because it can specify the time a device exists, has existed or will exists). NML will take the best ideas of cNIS, NM/PerfSONAR topology spec, and NDL. The NML specification will use UML, a modelling language, which will be the authorative standard. That UML will be translated in both a XML and an RDF schema which can be used by specifications and protocol standards. When the first NML standard be published? That is hard to say. I hope soon, but that depend on the input and willingness of people to volunteer to write the standard (feel free to step forward!). I think realisticly, there will be a draft of the single layer specification by the end of this year, while the multi-layer specification and translation into RDF and XML will be in 2009 or so. Regards, Freek