RE: iSCSI base64 and 12-92

["Michael Krueger" <michael.krueger@windriver.com>]

On Thursday, May 23, 2002 7:07 AM, Julian Satran wrote:

> As we have to keep them for numbers I reinstated them for small values too
> (why implement a check) and for those that don't take
> numerical big-endian representation for granted there is now text that
> says it  without referring to internal representation.

Retaining base-64 encoding for normal-sized numbers (size less than or equal
to the machine's largest arithmetic word size, usually 32 or 64 bits) may
make the language in the spec simpler, but it does NOT simplify
implementation by eliminating a check; in fact, it would require additional
checks and implementation complexity.

Keys that can contain large numbers (larger than the machine's largest
arithmetic word size) must be handled differently from normal-sized numbers
anyway, precisely because they are beyond the machine's normal arithmetic
capabilities; therefore, a check based on the key type must be done no
matter what.  If the spec requires support for base-64 encoding for
normal-sized numbers, implementers will also have to check for the "0b"
prefix, pass the string off to a base-64 decoding routine (taking care not
to overflow the machine's word size), and then properly pad, byte-swap, and
cast the result, or, if "0b" was not found, call strtol() instead.  This
seems like needless implementation complexity to support something NOBODY
will do, i.e., specify a normal-sized number like MaxConnections in base 64!
If the base-64 requirement for normal-sized numbers were dropped, a single
call to strtol() would suffice.

In short, let's keep it simple: decimal and hexadecimal representations for
normal-sized numbers, hexadecimal and base-64 representations for binary
items and large-sized numbers.  (I would still argue that "large-sized
numbers" are just a special case of binary items, but that's a fine point.)

Michael

--
Michael J. Krueger              mailto:michael.krueger@windriver.com
Wind River Networks                         http://www.windriver.com
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Alameda, CA  94501                                 fax: 510-749-2010