Re: Enumerated INTEGER - start with zero or one (0 or 1) ?

["C. M. Heard" <heard@pobox.com>]

On Sun, 29 Dec 2002, Wijnen, Bert (Bert) wrote:

> What is our collective thinking about this?
> 
> While reviewing the RMON APM MIB module, I find that most
> enumerations start with 1, but a few start with 0 (zero)
> for (as far as I can tell) no good reason.
> 
> RFC2578 sect 7.1.1. recommends that they start at 1.
> Should we encourage people to include an explantion in the 
> DESCRIPTION clause if they do not follow that recommendation?
> 
> In any event, it would be good if we can make some clarification
> in the GUIDELINES doc, so that we have a consistent review of
> this topic.

Here is what I put into the latest under-construction
version of the Guidelines document:

   - For integer-valued enumerations:

     - INTEGER is REQUIRED;
     - Integer32, Unsigned32, and Gauge32 MUST NOT be used.

   Note that RFC 2578 recommends (but does not require) that integer-
   valued enumerations start at 1 and be numbered contiguously.  This
   recommendation SHOULD be followed unless there is a valid reason to
   do otherwise.

//cmh