This working group shall develop a standards-track specification for the next generation data definition language for specifying network management data. As a starting point, the WG will use the SMIng language developed in the IRTF Network Management Research Group. SMIng represents a superset of the SMIv2 (Structure of Management Information v2) and the SPPI (Structure of Policy Provisioning Information). The objective is to replace both the SMIv2 and the SPPI with a single, merged language as the data definition language for the monitoring, configuration, and provisioning of network devices. The language developed will enable the modeling of network management information in a manner that provides the benefits of object-oriented design. To achieve this, the language must allow the design of highly reusable syntactic/semantic components (templates) that can be reused by multiple IETF working groups for convenience, consistency, and to maximize interoperability in device management. A registration mechanism will also be described for reusable components defined using the language so that their existence and purpose may be archived. The language will provide for the definition of a transport-independent model so as to allow a variety of implementation-specific technologies to be derived from a single definition. To demonstrate this, the working group will define two technology specific transport mappings: one for SNMP, and one for COPS. The language will also provide: - syntax optimized for parseability, human readability, and non-redundancy - conventions for representing inheritance and containment of defined data - enhanced attribute-level and association-level constraints - a maximal amount of machine-parseable syntax so that programmatic tools can aid in modeling and implementation - a language extension capability This working group will also define typical usage scenarios for the language and highlight its features. Finally, it will develop a framework by which reusable components specified using this language can be registered and made readily available for continued reuse and improvement. The working group will not define models for specific technologies, except as required for illustrative examples. Specific models are to be developed by the subject matter experts using the SMIng in the appropriate technology specific WGs.