This object is an 'alias' name for the interface as specified by a network manager, and provides a non-volatile 'handle' for the interface. On the first instantiation of an interface, the value of tmnxPortAlias associated with that interface is the zero-length string. As and when a value is written into an instance of tmnxPortAlias through a network management set operation, then the agent must retain the supplied value in the tmnxPortAlias instance associated with the same interface for as long as that interface remains instantiated, including across all re- initializations/reboots of the network management system.