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Distributed Management Task Force
Distributed Management Task Force
Distributed Management Task Force
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Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit industry standards organization that creates open manageability standards spanning diverse emerging and traditional IT infrastructures including cloud, virtualization, network, servers and storage. Member companies and alliance partners collaborate on standards to improve interoperable management of information technologies.

Key Information

Based in Portland, Oregon, the DMTF is led by a board of directors representing technology companies including: Broadcom Inc., Cisco, Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Intel Corporation, Lenovo, Positivo Tecnologia S.A., and Verizon.

History

[edit]

Founded in 1992 as the Desktop Management Task Force, the organization's first standard was the now-legacy Desktop Management Interface (DMI). As the organization evolved to address distributed management through additional standards, such as the Common Information Model (CIM), it changed its name to the Distributed Management Task Force in 1999, but is now known as, DMTF.

The DMTF continues to address converged, hybrid IT and the Software Defined Data Center (SDDC) with its latest specifications, such as the Redfish standard, SMBIOS, SPDM, and PMCI standards.

Standards

[edit]

DMTF standards include:

References

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Distributed Management Task Force

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The Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) is a non-profit industry that develops and promotes open manageability standards to simplify the management of diverse IT s, including , , networks, servers, and storage systems. Founded in 1992 as the Desktop Management Task Force, the organization initially focused on addressing management complexities in desktop and network environments through its first standard, the (DMI), which has since become legacy. Over the decades, DMTF evolved to support broader enterprise and internet-scale needs, earning recognition as an accredited standards developer by ANSI and ISO for its contributions to international management protocols. Key milestones include the development of foundational technologies in the and , such as the Common Information Model (CIM) and Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM), which enable platform-independent representation and remote management of IT resources. In 2015, DMTF launched , a RESTful standard for scalable hardware management that has gained widespread adoption in data centers and AI , with its latest release (2025.3) incorporating updates for enhanced schemas and features. DMTF's standards portfolio also includes SMBIOS for BIOS-level hardware inventory, as well as protocols like MCTP, PLDM, and SPDM for secure in-band and communications in modern systems. These specifications promote across heterogeneous environments, reducing costs and complexity for vendors and users alike, and are implemented in products from major providers. The organization operates as a 501(c)(6) entity, governed by a board comprising representatives from leading companies such as Inc., , , , Corporation, , Positivo Tecnologia S.A., and Verizon. With membership open to vendors, entities, and end users—totaling over 200 organizations worldwide—DMTF fosters collaborative working groups and alliances to drive ongoing innovation in areas like implementations and cloud-native management. As of 2025, DMTF continues to advance standards for , participating in global events like the SC25 conference to address hybrid IT and challenges.

Organization and Governance

Mission and Structure

The Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit industry standards organization dedicated to developing open manageability standards that simplify systems management across diverse IT infrastructures, including enterprise environments, cloud computing, virtualization, networks, and emerging technologies. This legal status enables DMTF to operate as a not-for-profit entity focused on advancing industry collaboration without profit motives, ensuring that its efforts prioritize collective benefits for systems management interoperability. At its core, DMTF's mission is to foster in IT management by collaboratively creating standards that are recognized both nationally by the (ANSI) and internationally by the (ISO). These standards aim to enable integrated and cost-effective management solutions, supporting the simultaneous advancement of open-source implementations and open standards to address the complexities of modern IT ecosystems. Through this approach, DMTF promotes a unified framework that reduces fragmentation in manageability tools and protocols, benefiting developers, vendors, and end-users alike. DMTF's organizational structure is designed to support efficient standards development and strategic oversight, headquartered at 1050 SW 6th Avenue, Suite 1100, in , with global operations facilitated through contributions from its international membership base. A provides high-level strategic direction and , ensuring alignment with industry needs and long-term objectives. Complementing this, technical committees oversee the development of specifications, leveraging collaborative tools to streamline the creation and refinement of manageability standards. Additionally, dedicated forums, such as the CIM Forum, focus on implementation programs that guide practical adoption and conformance, bridging the gap between standard creation and real-world application. This multi-tiered framework enables DMTF to maintain agility in responding to evolving technologies while upholding rigorous, consensus-driven processes.

Membership and Leadership

The Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) operates through a tiered membership structure designed to foster collaboration across the IT industry. Board membership, the highest level, is reserved for elected organizations that pay annual dues of $32,000 and hold voting rights on strategic decisions, including the approval of budgets, project releases, and bylaws. Leadership membership, at $14,000 annually (with a 50% discount for government and end-user organizations), grants voting privileges in committees and s, the ability to chair such bodies, and the right to propose new initiatives. Participation membership, costing $8,000 per year (also discounted for government/end-users), allows members to vote within s, join forums and incubators, and gain early access to specifications and tools. Complementing these are non-dues-paying categories: Alliance Partners, such as the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) and the (OCP), which enable non-voting participation in s by invitation to support joint standards initiatives; and Academic Alliance, which provides free access to member resources and non-voting involvement in one for educational institutions. DMTF's membership encompasses nearly 200 companies and organizations worldwide, spanning hardware vendors, software developers, and entities to promote broad adoption of manageability standards. The organization's leadership is guided by a board comprising representatives from eight key companies: Broadcom Inc., , , (HPE), Corporation, , Positivo Tecnologia S.A., and Verizon. As of 2025, the executive officers include Chair of the Board Mike Raineri from , Vice-Chair Gene Bagwell from Verizon, and President Jeff Hilland from HPE, alongside vice presidents overseeing alliances (Richelle Ahlvers, Corporation), finance (Bill Scherer, HPE), technology (Hemal Shah, Broadcom Inc.), membership (Fernando Tavares, Positivo Tecnologia S.A.), and marketing (Patrick Caporale, ). The and corporate secretary role is held by Kes Wold of Wold Consulting. Membership at higher levels, particularly Board and Leadership, offers significant benefits, including direct influence on the direction of standards development through voting and committee leadership, access to and programs, and active participation in technical working groups to shape interoperable solutions. These privileges enable members to drive industry-wide while gaining early insights into emerging technologies.

History

Founding and Early Development

The Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) was founded in May 1992 as the Desktop Management Task Force by a consortium of leading technology companies seeking to standardize PC management amid growing fragmentation in desktop hardware and software ecosystems. Initial efforts centered on creating open specifications to facilitate interoperability, remote monitoring, and configuration of desktop systems, thereby mitigating vendor-specific lock-in that hindered efficient administration in enterprise environments. Founding members included Digital Equipment Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Novell, Sun Microsystems, and SynOptics Communications, whose collaboration addressed the era's challenges of disparate management tools in pre-internet networked desktops. The organization's inaugural standard, the (DMI), was released in April 1994 as version 1.0, providing a foundational object-oriented framework for accessing and exchanging between hardware components and software agents on PCs and servers. DMI enabled basic inventory, fault detection, and configuration capabilities through a client-server model, independent of specific operating systems or hardware vendors, which was crucial for reducing administrative overhead in fragmented IT infrastructures. Early adoption faced hurdles such as inconsistent implementation across vendors and the limitations of local-only access in a time before widespread web-based protocols, prompting iterative refinements to enhance reliability and extensibility. By the late 1990s, the DMTF had expanded its scope beyond desktops, leading to a name change to Distributed Management Task Force in 1999 to reflect broader enterprise and ambitions.

Evolution and Key Milestones

In 1999, the organization changed its name from the Desktop Management Task Force to the Distributed Management Task Force to better reflect its expanding focus on enterprise-wide management beyond individual desktops. This rebranding marked a pivotal shift toward addressing distributed systems in networked environments. Key milestones in this evolution included the 1997 release of Directory Enabled Networking (DEN), which introduced policy-based management for integrating directory services with network resources. In 1998, the Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) initiative established web-enabled standards for interoperable management across platforms. Subsequent developments built on this foundation: the 2001 Alert Standard Format (ASF) enabled remote platform alerting and control, the 2005 Common Desktop Management (CDM) extended manageability to mobile and low-power devices, and the 2008 standardized packaging for portability. The 2009 formation of the Open Cloud Standards Incubator further propelled DMTF's adaptation to , focusing on for . Over more than three decades since its inception, DMTF has continually evolved to support hybrid IT infrastructures, incorporating advancements in , data centers, and converged systems.

Standards and Technologies

Core Modeling Standards

The Common Information Model (CIM) is an object-oriented metamodel developed by the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) to provide a standardized framework for describing and managing elements across IT environments, including hardware, software, networks, and applications. It represents managed elements through a that utilizes classes to define entities, associations to link related objects, and properties to specify attributes, enabling a unified view of system resources. The latest version of the CIM metamodel is defined in DSP0004 version 3.0.1, which outlines the rules for constructing conformant models and ensures consistency in management information representation. CIM's structure is organized as a hierarchical schema comprising core models that establish foundational concepts applicable to all managed systems, common models that address broadly shared functionalities such as device dependencies and service relationships, and domain-specific models tailored to particular technologies like servers, storage, or networking equipment. This layered approach allows for extensibility while maintaining a vendor-neutral representation, permitting organizations to model complex environments without proprietary silos. For instance, the core model includes classes like CIM_ManagedElement as the base for all managed objects, while domain models extend these for specialized uses such as storage provisioning. Complementing CIM, the System BIOS (SMBIOS) standard facilitates the conveyance of information from to the operating system, primarily through structured tables that inventory hardware components such as processors, memory modules, and BIOS configurations. SMBIOS defines a set of structure types and data formats embedded in the system's , allowing software to query static hardware details without vendor-specific interfaces. The current version, 3.9.0, expands support for modern hardware features while preserving for legacy systems. CIM plays a pivotal role in promoting by serving as the semantic foundation for DMTF protocols, including its use in Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) to ensure consistent across multi-vendor environments and prevent fragmented management silos. This vendor-neutral modeling approach underpins the exchange of management information, fostering seamless integration in enterprise systems.

Management Protocols and Interfaces

The Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) develops management protocols and interfaces that enable the discovery, access, control, and exchange of management data across heterogeneous systems, building on the Common Information Model (CIM) for data representation. These protocols standardize interactions between management clients and servers, supporting operations such as querying resources, subscribing to events, and executing methods securely. Key examples include Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM), (WS-Man), and the (MCTP), each tailored to different scopes of system management. WBEM is a foundational suite of DMTF specifications that leverages CIM over HTTP, XML, and to facilitate the discovery, access, and control of managed in enterprise environments. It employs CIM-XML for encoding CIM objects in XML format, allowing clients to traverse and manipulate models via standard web transports. Core features include support for queries using the WBEM (WQL), which enables SQL-like filtering and selection of CIM instances, and event subscriptions for asynchronous notifications on changes. is provided through TLS for transport-layer protection and integration with authentication mechanisms. WS-Management (WS-Man) is a SOAP-based protocol standardized by DMTF for secure and interoperable management of devices, servers, and applications, particularly within the Systems Management Architecture for Server Hardware (SMASH) framework. It supports operations like creating, deleting, getting, putting, and enumerating resources, as well as executing management methods with typed parameters and subscribing to events for real-time monitoring. WS-Man decouples the protocol from specific transports, allowing use over HTTP or other channels, and incorporates WS-Security for message-level integrity, confidentiality, and authentication. This enables cross-platform interoperability in distributed systems management scenarios. The (MCTP) serves as a low-level, media-independent protocol for in-chassis communication among management controllers, , and intelligent devices within a single platform. It facilitates efficient, byte-oriented messaging for monitoring and control functions across various physical media, such as SMBus/ or PCIe, through specific transport bindings. MCTP uses endpoint identifiers for routing messages between components and supports control messages alongside vendor-defined extensions, promoting standardized intra-system management without relying on higher-level web protocols. As part of DMTF's Platform Management Components Intercommunication (PMCI) efforts, it ensures reliable, low-overhead interactions in resource-constrained environments.

Emerging and Specialized Standards

The Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) has developed several emerging and specialized standards to address contemporary challenges in , particularly in scalable , platform-level monitoring, , , and out-of-band alerting. These standards build on foundational technologies while introducing innovations suited to hybrid cloud environments, , and . They emphasize across diverse hardware and software ecosystems, enabling efficient management without reliance on legacy protocols. Redfish represents a pivotal emerging standard, providing a RESTful interface for the management of resources using JSON-based payloads and the OData protocol for query and navigation capabilities. It defines comprehensive s for servers, storage, networking, and related components, facilitating scalable, vendor-neutral automation in software-defined data centers. Released initially in 2015 as a modern successor to the (IPMI), Redfish supports secure, HTTP-based operations over standard networks, allowing for real-time monitoring, configuration, and control without proprietary extensions. The standard continues to evolve, with Release 2025.3 incorporating a new CertificateEnrollment , 41 schema updates including support for splitting and storage controllers, and enhancements to registries for environmental, power, and privilege features. The Platform Level Data Model (PLDM) addresses low-level platform management needs by standardizing the representation and transport of sensors, , and state data over the (MCTP). It enables efficient access to hardware inventory, monitoring, and control functions within servers and other devices, promoting in disaggregated computing architectures. PLDM supports integration with higher-level standards like through device enablement specifications, allowing seamless translation of platform data into RESTful APIs for broader ecosystem compatibility. First specified in 2020, the latest base specification (version 1.2.0) emphasizes lightweight, message-based exchanges to minimize overhead in resource-constrained environments. The Security Protocol and Data Model (SPDM) offers a robust framework for , , and attestation in both and runtime scenarios, mitigating risks in device provisioning and operation. It defines message exchanges for capabilities negotiation, certificate validation, and measurement reporting, using lightweight suitable for constrained devices like those in IoT and edge deployments. SPDM enables end-to-end security from manufacturing to deployment, including runtime integrity checks against tampering. Introduced in 2021, version 1.4.0 (released May 2025), along with a separate SPDM to Storage Binding Specification (version 1.0, released 2025) that extends applicability to storage domains and enhances support for . Among specialized standards, the (OVF) standardizes the packaging and deployment of virtual machines and appliances, encapsulating virtual hardware configurations, software, and metadata in a portable, extensible XML-based format. It facilitates across platforms by including descriptors for resources, networks, and deployment parameters, reducing in cloud and hybrid environments. OVF supports secure distribution and installation, with provisions for digital signatures and extensibility. The specification, first published in 2009 and updated to version 2.0.1 in 2013, remains relevant for containerized and virtualized workloads. The Alert Standard Format (ASF) provides a specialized mechanism for alerts and in operating system-absent environments, using RMCP (Remote Media Control Protocol) over UDP for asynchronous notifications. It defines event types such as hardware failures, security intrusions, and policy violations, along with commands for and polling, ensuring manageability during or failure states. ASF operates independently of the host OS, integrating with baseboard management controllers for pre-OS diagnostics. Specified in version 2.0 in 2003, it laid groundwork for subsequent remote management protocols.

Activities and Impact

Working Groups and Committees

The Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) organizes its standards development through a network of committees and working groups, primarily overseen by the Technical Committee, which manages the creation and evolution of specifications and initiatives. This committee is open to all DMTF members and coordinates the efforts of subordinate bodies to ensure alignment with organizational goals. Key working groups address specialized areas of management technology. The Redfish Forum drives advancements in scalable platform management APIs, comprising task forces for targeted enhancements such as updates. The Platform Management Communications Infrastructure (PMCI) focuses on intra-platform communication interfaces, enabling standardized interactions among management components within systems. The Security Protocols and Data Models (SPDM) develops protocols and models to enhance security in management ecosystems. DMTF bodies operate through member-driven processes outlined in official guidelines. Proposals for new standards or updates are initiated by at least three Leadership Members and submitted to the parent body chair, requiring Board approval and a detailed specifying goals and deliverables. Development involves an editing body that drafts documents, resolves issues, and approves them via internal votes, followed by review from the parent committee for alignment with the charter. Normative documents undergo Technical Committee approval, including a 30-day solicitation period, and are finalized through electronic balloting requiring a simple majority or two-thirds , with ballots open for at least 152 hours. Forums support these efforts by managing compliance and modeling aspects. The CIM Forum oversees the Common Information Model (CIM), including sub-groups like the CIM Schema for schema maintenance, and implements programs to verify implementation compliance. Additionally, the fosters collaborations with external organizations, such as the (OCP) and the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA), to align on joint specifications and host events like the annual Alliance Partner Technical Symposium.

Interoperability and Certifications

The Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) promotes interoperability among its standards through the , which oversees forums focused on vendor conformance, multi-vendor compatibility testing, and initiatives. This facilitates activities such as plugfests and test tool development to validate implementations across diverse hardware and software environments. For example, the annual Interop Plugfest brings together vendors to test multi-vendor systems in hands-on labs, ensuring seamless integration of -based management solutions. The Interoperability Lab, launched in 2020, allowed members like , (HPE), and to submit equipment for collaborative testing, accelerating industry-wide compatibility. DMTF's certification programs emphasize conformance testing to verify compliance with key standards, administered through specialized forums. The CIM Forum manages programs for Common Information Model (CIM) and Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM), including self-certification for Desktop and Mobile Architecture for System Hardware (), which uses WBEM protocols for consistent client management. For Systems Management Architecture for Server Hardware (SMASH), the CIM Forum is developing verification processes for command-line protocols in heterogeneous server environments, including conformance suites for hardware and software validation. Redfish certifications focus on open-source tools like the Redfish Protocol Validator, Service Validator, and Interoperability Validator, which test services against specification requirements, including JSON schema conformance and RESTful behavior. These tools enable vendors to submit test results for official validation, supporting profiles that define mandatory features for interoperability. Adoption of DMTF-certified standards demonstrates significant industry impact, with major vendors integrating them into products for scalable management. For instance, and HPE servers widely use for secure, RESTful data center management, as evidenced by their listings in the DMTF Adopters Registry alongside certifications for CIM, , and SMASH. Over 10 years since 's inception, its conformance has driven widespread implementation in hybrid IT infrastructures, reducing and enhancing . In October 2025, DMTF celebrated the 10th anniversary of , noting its widespread adoption, alongside the release of Redfish 2025.3 with enhancements for security and schemas. DMTF standards have also achieved international recognition, with several, including Network Controller Sideband Interface (), ratified by ANSI and ISO, ensuring global benchmarks. These efforts enable cost-effective management in diverse IT environments by providing resources like conformance schemas, test suites, and validation tools that foster reliable, multi-vendor ecosystems. By prioritizing post-development validation, DMTF ensures standards translate into practical, interoperable solutions for , , and .

References

  1. https://www.dmtf.org/about
  2. https://www.dmtf.org/about/faq
  3. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0003.pdf
  4. https://www.dmtf.org/standards
  5. https://www.dmtf.org/standards/redfish
  6. https://www.dmtf.org/content/redfish-release-20253-now-available
  7. https://docs.oracle.com/en/servers/management/ilom/5.1.x/user-guide/distributed-management-task-force-dmtf.html
  8. https://www.dmtf.org/
  9. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/93-1120631
  10. https://www.dmtf.org/join/levels
  11. https://www.dmtf.org/about/registers
  12. https://redfish.dmtf.org/alliancepartners
  13. https://www.snia.org/about/alliances/dmtf
  14. https://www.dmtf.org/about/list
  15. https://www.dmtf.org/about/officers
  16. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/DMTF_Benefits_of_Membership.pdf
  17. https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19683-01/816-1322/usingdmi-32446/index.html
  18. https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/dmtf
  19. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0005.pdf
  20. https://www.nextgov.com/digital-government/1999/07/tools-you-can-count-on/195408/
  21. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/DMTF_Overview_August_2021_widescreen.pdf
  22. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0004_3.0.1.pdf
  23. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0004V2.3_final.pdf
  24. https://www.dmtf.org/about/faq/cim_faq
  25. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0134_3.9.0.pdf
  26. https://www.dmtf.org/standards/cim
  27. https://www.dmtf.org/standards/wbem
  28. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0201_2.4.0.pdf
  29. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0202_1.0.0.pdf
  30. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0200_1.4.0.pdf
  31. https://www.dmtf.org/standards/ws-man
  32. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0226_1.2.0.pdf
  33. http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=61138
  34. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP2016.pdf
  35. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0236_1.3.3.pdf
  36. https://www.dmtf.org/documents/pmci/management-component-transport-protocol-mctp-base-specification-131
  37. https://www.dmtf.org/standards/spdm
  38. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0266_1.20.2.pdf
  39. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0240_1.2.0.pdf
  40. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0248_1.3.0.pdf
  41. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0218_1.1.pdf
  42. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0274_1.4.0.pdf
  43. https://www.dmtf.org/content/now-available-%25E2%2580%2593-spdm-storage-binding-specification
  44. https://www.dmtf.org/standards/ovf
  45. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0243_2.0.1.pdf
  46. https://www.dmtf.org/standards/asf
  47. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0136.pdf
  48. https://www.dmtf.org/about/working-groups
  49. https://www.dmtf.org/standards/pmci
  50. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP4014.pdf
  51. https://www.dmtf.org/join/smf
  52. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP4002_2.4.0.pdf
  53. http://72.47.221.139/join/interop-forums
  54. https://www.snia.org/educational-library/swordfish-and-dmtf-redfish-april-2024-plugfest-2024
  55. https://www.dmtf.org/content/dmtf-announces-redfish-interoperability-lab-drive-industry-collaboration
  56. https://www.dmtf.org/conformance
  57. https://www.dmtf.org/standards/smash
  58. https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP2068_1.0.0_0.pdf
  59. https://www.dmtf.org/adopters
  60. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251014610680/en/DMTF-Celebrates-10-Years-of-Redfish---Marking-a-Decade-of-Innovation-in-Modern-IT-Management
  61. https://www.dmtf.org/content/dmtf-announces-adoption-nc-si-iso-and-iec
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