IAB official protocol standards
RFC 1083
Document | Type |
RFC - Historic
(December 1988; No errata)
Obsoleted by RFC 1100
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Authors | |||
Last updated | 2013-03-02 | ||
Stream | Legacy stream | ||
Formats | plain text html pdf htmlized (tools) htmlized bibtex | ||
Stream | Legacy state | (None) | |
Consensus Boilerplate | Unknown | ||
RFC Editor Note | (None) | ||
IESG | IESG state | RFC 1083 (Historic) | |
Telechat date | |||
Responsible AD | (None) | ||
Send notices to | (None) |
Network Working Group Internet Activities Board Request for Comments: 1083 December 1988 IAB OFFICIAL PROTOCOL STANDARDS Status of this Memo This memo describes the state of standardization of protocols used in the Internet as determined by the Internet Activities Board (IAB). An overview of the standards procedures is presented first, followed by discussions of the standardization process and the RFC document series, then the explanation of the terms is presented, the lists of protocols in each stage of standardization follows, and finally pointers to references and contacts for further information. This memo is issued quarterly, please be sure the copy you are reading is dated within the last three months. Current copies may be obtained from the Network Information Center or from the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (see the contact information at the end of this memo). Do not use this memo after 31-March-89. Distribution of this memo is unlimited. 1. Overview of Standards Procedures The Internet Activities Board maintains a list of documents that define standards for the Internet protocol suite. It provides these standards with the goal of co-ordinating the evolution of the Internet protocols; this co-ordination has become quite important as the Internet protocols are increasingly in general commercial use. Protocol standards may be proposed by anyone in the Internet community, by writing and submitting an RFC. In general, any proposed protocol will be reviewed or developed in the context of some Task Force of the IAB, or some working group within that Task Force. The IAB will assign a proposed protocol to a working group if official delegation is necessary. The recommendation of the working group or task force is given major consideration in the decision by the IAB to assign a state and status to the protocol. The general policy is not to designate a protocol as an official standard until there is implementation experience with it. In cases where there is uncertainty as to the proper decision concerning a protocol, the IAB may convene a special review committee Internet Activities Board [Page 1] RFC 1083 IAB Standards December 1988 consisting of interested parties from the working group and members of the IAB itself, with the purpose of recommending some explicit action to the IAB. It is possible to proceed with widespread implementation of a standard without the approval of the IAB. For example, some vendor standards have become very important to the Internet community even though they have not been proposed or reviewed by the IAB. However, the IAB strongly recommends that the IAB standards process be used in the evolution of the protocol suite to maximize interoperability (and to prevent incompatible protocol requirements from arising). The IAB reserves the use of the term "standard" in any RFC to only those protocols which the IAB has approved. 2. The Standardization Process Anyone can invent a protocol, document it, implement it, test it, and so on. The IAB believes that it is very useful to document a protocol at an early stage to promote suggestions from others interested in the functionality the of protocol and from those interested in protocol design. Once a protocol is implemented and tested it is useful to report the results. The RFC document series is the preferred place for publishing these protocol documents and testing results. The IAB encourages the documenting of every protocol developed in the Internet (that is, the publication of the protocol specification as an RFC), even if it is never intended that the protocol become an Internet standard. A protocol that is not intended to become a standard is called "experimental". Protocols that are intended to become standards are first designated as "proposed" protocols. It is expected that while in this state the protocol will be implemented and tested by several groups. It is likely that an improved version of the protocol will result from this activity. Once a proposed protocol has become stable and has a sponsor (an individual willing to speak for the protocol to the IAB) it may advance to the "draft standard" state. In this state, it should be reviewed by the entire Internet community. This draft standard state is essentially a warning to the community that unless an objection is raised or a flaw is found this protocol will become a "standard". Once a protocol has been a draft standard for a sufficient time (usually 6 months) without serious objections the IAB may act to declare the protocol an official Internet standard. Internet Activities Board [Page 2]Show full document text