Network and infrastructure user requirements for transatlantic research collaboration: Brussels, July 16-18, and Washington July 24-25, 1990
RFC 1210

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Network Working Group                                            V. Cerf
Request for Comments: 1210                                          CNRI
                                                             P. Kirstein
                                                                     UCL
                                                              B. Randell
                                                       Newcastle on Tyne
                                                                 Editors
                                                              March 1991

            Network and Infrastructure User Requirements for
                  Transatlantic Research Collaboration
         Brussels, July 16-18, and Washington July 24-25, 1990

Status of this Memo

   This report complements a shorter printed version which appeared in a
   summary report of all the committees which met in Brussels and
   Washington last July, 1990.  This memo provides information for the
   Internet community.  It does not specify an Internet standard.
   Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Abstract

   This report summarises user requirements for networking and related
   infrastructure facilities needed to enable effective cooperation
   between US and European research teams participating in the planned
   ESPRIT-DARPA/NSF programme of collaborative research in Information
   Science and Technology.  It analyses the problems and disparities of
   the current facilities, and suggests appropriate one and three year
   targets for improvements.  It proposes a number of initial actions
   aimed at achieving these targets.  Finally, the workshop has
   identified a non-exhaustive set of important issues upon which
   support of future research will depend.  These issues could be
   studied in the short term, with the aim of initiating a programme of
   joint research in collaboration technology within the next year.

SUMMARY OF PRINCIPAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND TARGETS

   EMAIL (6.1) Initiate an intercontinental email operations forum
   involving email service providers in the US and Europe to define and
   implement operational procedures leading to high reliability.  The
   forum should be tasked with analysing interoperability problems in
   the existing email systems, and with developing functional and
   performance specifications for email gateways (relays).  In addition
   an international email user support group should be organized.  The
   target would be to achieve, within one year, routine expectation of
   proper and timely (less than one hour campus to campus) delivery of

Cerf, Kirstein, & Randell                                       [Page 1]
RFC 1210      Network and Infrastructure User Requirements    March 1991

   messages.  The three year target would be to provide global directory
   services, a return/receipt facility, and support for privacy and
   authenticity.

   COMPOUND DOCUMENTS (6.2) Hold a workshop to review the ongoing
   compound document research and development programmes in the two
   regions.  One aim would be to recommend services, based on
   proprietary compound document email for groups using specific
   conforming products, for deployment within the first year.  Another
   would be to propose work items in the NSF/DARPA and ESPRIT programmes
   to ensure a timely collaborative programme could start in mid-1991,
   with a three year target of supporting open system compound document
   email.

   DIRECTORY SERVICES (6.3) Initiate a formal collaboration between
   ongoing US and European efforts to implement and maintain the
   relevant directory databases.  Within the first year provide
   effective access to existing directory services, and coverage of
   relevant NSF/DARPA and ESPRIT communities.  Within three years
   provide database maintenance tools, knowledge-based navigation
   software, and authentication and capability-based access control
   facilities.

   INTERACTIVE LOGIN (6.4) Identify for which protocol suites
   interactive login will be supported including the provision of
   protocol translation facilities.  Within one year identify and
   install the best available interactive software at all interested
   sites.  Develop a cooperative effort on authentication and privacy
   support, to provide such facilities within three years, together with
   support for "type of service", and remote X-windows even through
   different protocol suites.

   FILE SERVICES (6.5) Identify and deploy within one year the best
   available products for double-hop (staged) multi-megabyte file
   transfer.  Within three years define and obtain or develop multi-
   protocol facilities with automated staging, security and management
   facilities; develop access control models, policies and mechanisms to
   support collaborative file access by ad hoc groups.

   GROUP COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES (6.6) Form a support/working group on
   the use of tools, standards and facilities for group communication