LX/05-0022

Draft Minutes

INCITS Study Group on Linux
Meeting Number 8
Review of Ballot and Comments on Linux Standard Base PAS Submission (DIS 23360)

Teleconference Logistics:
Tuesday, June 7, 2005
16:00-17:00 Eastern
Dial-in Number:    1-913-643-5111
Participant Passcode:     448655#


1. Administrative
1.1 Call to Order (D. Thewlis)
Mr. Thewlis called the meeting to order at 16:10 Eastern Time

1.2 Introduction of New Members and Attendees (D. Thewlis)
The following members were in attendance:

Don Cragun, Sun
Ron Silletti, IBM
Nick Stoughton, USENIX
Dave Thewlis, Intel, Convenor
Ted Ts'o, IBM
Mats Wichmann,  Intel

1.3 Changes in Membership (D. Thewlis)
None.  Membership stands at six:  Hewlett Packard, IBM, Intel, Oracle, Sun, USENIX

1.4 Approval of Minutes from the Seventh Meeting of the INCITS Study Group on Linux - February 24, 2005 (D. Thewlis)
          Reference:  LX/05-00016

            The Minutes of the Seventh Meeting of the INCITS SGL were approved without change.  M/Cragun, S/Stoughton, Unanimous.    
1.5 Approval of the Draft Agenda for the June 7, 2005 Teleconference (D. Thewlis)

Reference:  LX/05-0021

The agenda was approved without change.  M/Stoughton, S/Cragun, Unanimous.

1.6  Convenor's Annual Report to INCITS Executive Board for INCITS Study Group on Linux                                                (D. Thewlis)

Reference:  LX/05-0018

Noting the discussion at the end of the Annual Report on whether the Study Group should be continued or turned into a Technical Committee, Mr. Thewlis was requested to contact Ms. Higginbottom, the Chair of the INCITS Executive Board, and discuss the question with her.



2. Convener's Remarks
(D. Thewlis)

 Mr. Thewlis noted that he did not expect to complete the work under item 3 in the agenda on this call, but rather to establish a subsequent conference call or other ways forward that might be needed.


3.  Linux Standard Base PAS, DIS 23360 Status

3.1 Review of LX/05-0017 (JTC 1/SC 22 N8999) - Summary of Voting and Table of Comments for ISO/IEC DIS 23360, Linux Standard Base Core Specification 2.0.1 (D. Thewlis)
          Reference:  LX/05-0017

Mr. Stoughton noted that the work of developing a preliminary disposition of comments was well underway but not complete, and anticipated another week or more to complete his review, prompting the scheduling of a follow-on teleconference on 24 June (see below) when the preliminary disposition of comments document would be complete.  He added that the vast majority of all dispositions at this point will be to accept the comments. In general, we would expect that U.S. positions would be to support the Disposition of Comments as written; however we will need to establish specific U.S. Positions on any items where we expect controversy. 

A comment that all responding NBs made in some form or another was in the relationship of Linux to POSIX, and that the next draft will defer to POSIX except in clearly identified areas where there are behavioral differences. The LSB workgroup continues to try and identify these areas where possible, and future versions will try to address options.  Also we want to ensure that there is no divergence between the document approved by ISO/IEC and the document approved by FSG. All changes in last 6-9 months since 23360 committed will be included in new draft.  Currently the FSG continues to use version numbers, the next one being 3.0 (the DIS is 2.0.1).  Once the DIS becomes an International Standard, version numbers will no longer be used to identify specification releases, but instead the particular year of the standard (signifying the base standard and Technical Corrigenda). The goal is to ensure that the FSG and the International Standard remain in lockstep.  However, if for some reason the ISO community rejects some portion of a T.C. have to figure out how to deal with it; probably by removing that feature from T.C. and adding a new standalone module to support it.  But the plan is that there won't be two different versions of LSB.  A key thing for everyone to note is that the terminology on naming conventions has caused a lot of confusion.  The document being considered is the LSB Core, not just the LSB.  There are other specifications within the LSB family that have not been submitted to ISO (yet) but still contain LSB in their title.  These may or may not be required for FSG trademark branding.  One of most notable differences between draft 2.0.1 submitted to ISO ballot and the current state of the draft is structural:  use of new style sheets and appearance.  Lots of moving things around so it has a more logical structure; not a lot of real content change.  Most section numbers changed; page numbers changed.

Normative references are potentially a significant issue.  ISO/IEC don't like normative references to non-normative documents.   ISO has some wiggle room in case of PAS (initial submission plus one update). The long-term goal is to fall into line with ISO policy; in the interim, the FSG is moving towards that policy but not a gallop.  Some significant problems have been addressed, and are moving towards getting escrow copies of reference specifications so URLs work.  The FSG plans to look at weak normative references but the work won't be complete this side of the Singapore meeting, or indeed before publication; it would probably delay publication by many months.  Some are substantial documents that need to be reworked to get into main specification.  Hope is JTC 1 policy will come down to allowing formal specs from a wider range of organizations than ISO and IEC, so that e.g. IETF standards could be referenced, and other specs by recognized bodies.  If that ends up being policy that reduces the load.  Still two or three that don't meet that level of acceptance and would need further work.

There is still a concern with "chip specs."  ABIs reference specific hardware information, e.g. Intel hardware manuals, which won't ever be public specs. Sort of things we should be encouraging JTC 1 ad hoc to recognize as being acceptable standard.  As long as this is all moot for first issuance, this isn't problem for Singapore.  But what about something in code base not in a published manual?  Worst problem still going is C++ underlying documents.  That's not in play at this point.  Are their others on table that could block LSB Core?  Several underlying ELF specs are in a questionable status; some are at draft levels.  Most references remaining in the LSB Core are actually okay and fall into allowed category.  Getting them all into escrow is important; already have noticed places where URLs have gone stale and can no longer find document. 

          3.2 Consideration of how the SGL wishes to approach developing U.S. positions on NB comments for the Ballot Resolution Meeting

This will be based upon our review of the complete disposition of comments once received.



4. Determination of U.S. Delegation to DIS 23360 Ballot Resolution Meeting (D. Thewlis)

       The delegates to the Ballot Resolution meeting will be:

        Mr. Cragun, Sun Microsystems
        Mr. Thewlis, Intel, Head of Delegation
        Mr. Ts'o, IBM
        Mr. Wichmann, Intel

       Mr. Stoughton is the Convenor of the Ballot Resolution Meeting; as such he will not be part of a NB delegation.

       Mr. Thewlis will file the required notification with INCITS and ANSI before the deadline.



5. Next Meetings (D. Thewlis)

5.1  Establishment of  other INCITS SGL conference calls or meetings prior to Ballot Resolution Meeting, if any.

The 9th meeting of the INCITS Study Group on Linux will be held by teleconference:

Friday, June 24
13:00-14:00 Eastern, 10:00-11:00 Pacific
Dial-in Number:    1-913-643-5111
Participant Passcode:     448655#


5.2  Ballot Resolution Meeting for DIS 23360 - 29 August-1 September, 2005 - Singapore

       Reference: 
LX/05-0020

Mr. Thewlis noted that the individual members of the delegation are individually responsible for  making their hotel reservations and for registering for the meeting (Page 2 of LX05/0020 contains the Registration and Hotel information).  Meeting Registrations and Hotel Reservations are both due by 15 August 2005

We may have a U.S. Caucus on Sunday evening the 28th if anything happens very late which we need to discuss prior to Monday morning.  The Caucus will be held at the Furama City Centre if it occurs.

Mr. Thewlis also requested the other members of the delegation to post their arrival information and hotel choices to the group once they have taken care of their travel arrangements.



6. Review of Action Items (D. Thewlis)

1.  Mr. Thewlis to contact Ms. Higginbottom about the direction the INCITS EB would like to pursue as far as maintaining a Linux-related TAG in INCITS.

2.  Mr. Thewlis to contact Ms. Higginbottom about the status of the JTC 1 Ad Hoc on Directives and the direction being taken by that group on normative references to non-ISO/IEC standards.



7. Adjournment                                           
(D. Thewlis)

The meeting was adjourned at 17:05 Eastern time. M/Stoughton.