iscsi : numerical negotiation wording is ambiguous

[Santosh Rao <santoshr@cup.hp.com>]

Julian & All,

The definition of numerical negotiation in Section 2.2.4 of Rev 7.97 
reads :

"In numerical negotiations, the offering and responding party state
 a numerical value. The result of the negotiation is key dependent;
 frequently the lower or the higher of the two values is used."


The above definition is ambiguous, since it does not specify whether it is
the originator or the responder that computes the result of the 
negotiation.

i.e. Is it the responsibility of the target to pick the higher or lower of
the 2 values and respond with the result of the negotiation ?

OR :
Is it the originator that has to pick the result of the negotiation
based on the key it sent and the key it got back ?

I would suggest that the wording be clarified to indicate that the
responder picks the result of the negotiation and sends this result back
in its response for this key.

Perhaps, some re-wording along the following lines may be in order :

"In numerical negotiations, the offering party states a numerical
 value, and the responding party states the result (operational value)
 after the negotiation.  The result of the negotiation is key
 dependent; responder determines it based on the lower or the higher 
 of the two values - offering party's value, and what the responder 
 can support."

Comments ?

Regards,
Santosh


-- 
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Santosh Rao
Software Design Engineer,
HP, Cupertino.
email : santoshr@cup.hp.com
Phone : 408-447-3751
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