Northbound interface

'''Northbound''' and southbound '''interfaces''' relate to [[server (computing)|computer servers]].

==Definitions==

A '''northbound interface''' is an [[interface (computer science)|interface]] that conceptualizes [[low level|lower level]] details. It interfaces to [[high level|higher level]] [[abstraction layer|layers]] and is normally drawn at the top of an [[Computer architecture|architectural]] overview.

A '''southbound interface''' decomposes concepts in the technical details, mostly specific to a single [[software component|component]] of the architecture. Southbound interfaces are drawn at the bottom of an architectural overview.

Northbound interfaces normally talk to southbound interfaces of higher level components and vice versa.

==Typical use==

These terms are generic in the sense that they are uniformly used over all layers of a [[computer application]], i.e. independent of the fact that the [[computer system]] is about [[hardware]], [[GUI]], [[middleware]] etc.

A northbound interface is typically an [[output]]-only interface (as opposed to one that accepts user input) found in [[Carrier Grade Open Framework|carrier-grade network]] and [[telecommunications network]] elements. The [[programming language|languages]] or [[protocol (computing)|protocols]] commonly used include [[Simple Network Management Protocol|SNMP]] and [[TL1]]. For example, a device that is capable of sending out [[syslog]] messages but is not configurable by the user is said to implement a northbound interface. Other examples include [[SMASH]], [[IPMI]], [[WSMAN]] etc.

[[Category:Network architecture| ]]

[[Category:Telecommunications]]