Question : What is a craft interface?

I've been reading about a thing called a craft interface. It appears to be a GUI to manage networks and is usually on a PC or console through an RS232 port.

I'm looking for something that defines what it is, what it looks like, what functionality is expected, etc., etc.

Everyone seesm to use the term without defining the term. I've searched hundreds of web sites, but just locate companies (Cisco,  Wind River, etc.) that use the term rather cavalierly. They seem to think "everyone" understands what they mean.

I don't!!

TIA

Gary Hasman

Answer : What is a craft interface?

Gfhasman,

Monday morning reaction. Sorry.

I didn't use the dictionary reference to be flippant. I was suggesting that the definition of craft you'd find there is relevant.

There are a lot of words in networking that are misued and a lot of words that simply have a lot of different uses. Packet, frame, datagram are three that often get misused. They have very precise definitions within the context of the protocol that they represent. But if you check any of a number of communications dictionaries, command refereces, data processing terms, etc. you will see that "craft" doesn't really have a context sensitive definition. What I mean is, you won't find "craft" in a telecommunications dictionary. (For example, http://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/fs-1037/fs-1037c.htm.)

Your "why dont they call it a command line interface?" question is appropriate. The answer is "craft" is only one word, one syllable, "command line interface" is three words, six syllables.

Good luck (I really mean it!),
Steve