y the Object Management Group (OMG), are commonly used for OSS package integration, although CORBA has not been named an official standard for OSS integration. Furthermore, simple network management protocol (SNMP) is a common protocol for communicating with and managing data communications equipment. Most data-related OSS applications can work with SNMP, but the standard protocol is very basic. Vendors just implement extensions to the protocol, straying away from the SNMP standard, of which there are several versions. In other words, SNMP is a common protocol - technically it's a standard - but like many standards, it's open to interpretation and amendment and is rarely standard when implemented. THE INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPLY CHAIN: BASIC COMPONENTS Understanding the challenges IICs face in automating the supply chain, we can look at its primary elements and how they interact. Understanding their interactions provides some clues to their developing OSS and eBusiness requirements. The Internet. The Internet itself plays multiple roles at various levels of the supply chain. It's often the first point of customer contact and the vehicle a customer uses to evaluate a company. Web sites are used to display billing data, service or product packages and options, usage analyses and other information. More and more, the Internet is being used for ordering and even configuring services, especially in wholesale partner relationships. Web interfaces are often built to support trouble ticketing, work force scheduling and order entry and tracking. The Internet also can take many forms as a service, supporting applications such as Web hosting, e-mail, and various information services. The businesses to which IICs provide Internet services Chapter 3 - Automating the Internet Infrastructure Supply Chain in turn use the Internet to link to their own industries' supply chains, information centers and customers. Finally, from a network perspective, the Internet relies on IICs to keep it healthy, growing and up-to-date. In othe