Re: iSCSI - decimal coded binary strings - a proposed resolution

["Julian Satran" <Julian_Satran@il.ibm.com>]

Paul - I think we are talking again about two different thinks:

1. numerical values that could be more than 2**64 - I would not forbid it there
2. bit strings that could be longer than 64 bits - I find it acceptable
   
   The new text could be:
   
   decimal-constant: an unsigned decimal number - the digit 0 or a string of 1 or more digits starting with a non-zero digit.  Decimal-constants are used to encode numerical values or binary strings. Decimal constants can be used to encode binary strings only if the stringlength is explicitly speci-fied. There is no implicit length for decimal strings. This encoding MUST NOT used for numerical values equal or greater than 2**64 or binary strings that could be longer than 64 bits.
   
   Julo
   
   
   

   Paul Koning <ni1d@arrl.net> Sent by: owner-ips@ece.cmu.edu 07/08/2002 10:36 PM Please respond to Paul Koning

   To:        Julian Satran/Haifa/IBM@IBMIL         cc:        ips@ece.cmu.edu         Subject:        Re: iSCSI - decimal coded binary strings - a proposed resolution

   
   
   >>>>> "Julian" == Julian Satran <Julian_Satran@il.ibm.com> writes:
   
   Julian> Considering the widespread use of decimal encoding and the
   Julian> perceived difficulty of mapping them to a binary string -
   Julian> mainly due to the difficulty of matching lengths I suggest
   Julian> the following:
   
   Julian> Decimal encoding for binary strings will be used only where
   Julian> the length of the binary string is explicitly defined (by a
   Julian> constant or a rule that does not use the encoding itself)
   
   
   Julian> The definition for decimal constant becomes:
   
   Julian> decimal-constant: an unsigned decimal number - the digit 0 or
   Julian> a string of 1 or more digits starting with a non-zero
   Julian> digit. This encoding is not used for numerical values equal
   Julian> or greater than 2**64. Decimal-constants are used to encode
   Julian> numerical values or binary strings. Decimal constants can be
   Julian> used to encode binary strings only if the stringlength is
   Julian> explicitly specified. There is no implicit length for
   Julian> deci-mal strings.
   
   The point about "no implicitic length" certainly helps.
   
   I like David's suggestion (DLB's comments T.12) to disallow decimal
   for data items that are capable of being larger than 2**64 -- rather
   than tying it to whether the particular value being encoded happens to
   be bigger or smaller than 2*64.  That way it essentially becomes a
   property of the data type, which seems like a logical way to go.
   
   Text to do that would be something like "This encoding is not used for
   parameters that may have a value >= 2**64" or alternatively "This
   encoding is used only with parameters whose largest permitted value is
   less than 2**64".
   
                    paul