TCP Implementation BOF

Wednesday, December 11 at 1530-1730
===================================

DESCRIPTION:

The objective of this meeting is to decide how to best address known
problems in existing implementations of the current TCP standard(s).  The
overall goal is to improve conditions in the existing Internet by enhancing
the quality of current TCP/IP implementations.  It is hoped that both 
performance and correctness issues can be resolved by making implementors
aware of the problems and their solutions.  In the long term, it is felt
that this will provide a reduction in unnecessary traffic on the network,
the rate of connection failures due to protocol errors, and load on network
servers due to time spent processing both unsuccessful connections and
retransmitted data.

The BOF is intended to give an overview of the current list of known
problems and to consider approaches a Working Group could take to improve
TCP implementations.
   
There will also be discussion on the proposal to create a working group to
document the issues.  The charter and other issues surrounding working group
creation will be discussed in an effort to reach consensus on the best way
to proceed.

Attendees should come prepared to discuss both TCP technical issues and
IETF process issues regarding working group formation, document creation,
etc.


AGENDA:

o Motivation for the BOF
        - Experience has shown a number of current implementation problems with
	  existing TCP/IP stacks
		+ correctness
		+ performance
        - We would like to catalog and document these, so that implementors
	  are aware of them and address them
        - Long-term goal is to improve the overall quality of the Internet by
	  improving TCP implementations

o Presentation(s)
	- Observed Behavior of TCP in the Internet - Vern Paxson (25 min)
	- Short descriptions of known TCP implementation problems - various

o Possible Solutions
	- Discussion of possible ways to solve the problems, including:
		+ Documents (Recommendations, BCP, Other)
		+ Tests?
		+ Other Approaches?

o Working Group Discussion
        - Outline WG proposal
        - Proposed Charter
        - Discussion
 
o WG Administration
        - Chair(s)
        - Mailing list