Internet Info 1994 March/Internet Info CD-ROM (Walnut Creek) (March 1994).iso/inet/ietf/shr/shr-minutes-90july.txt

Text File | 1993-02-17 | 5KB | 155 lines

CURRENT_MEETING_REPORT_


Reported by Bob Stewart/Xyplex

SHR Minutes

Agenda


   o Is this trip really necessary?
   o Principles of operation?
      -  Architectural purity.
      -  Interoperability.
      -  Cost/benefit.
   o Definition of Special-purpose Host?

      -  By overall function?
          * Terminal server.
          * File server.
          * Toaster.
      -  By subfunctions?
          * Network self load.
          * Programming interface.
          * Terminals (character devices).
          * Files (FTP, NFS, etc.).
          * Network management client.
          * Network management agent (e.g., bridge, router).

   o RFC Format and organization?
   o Specific issues?
      -  IP fragment reassembly from < 576 byte fragments.
      -  TCP efficiency (e.g., Jacobson retransmission in a ROM).
      -  Source routing.
   o Contributors?
      -  Analyses from vendors of example systems.
      -  RFC section authors.


The Agenda's first question was ``Is this trip really necessary?''  The
consensus was affirmative.  We need some clarifications, the contention
was over how far they should go and what form they should take.

On the question ``Principles of operation?'', we generally agreed that
interoperability is the primary goal.  George Conant of Xyplex suggested
that our first concern should be maintaining the strength of
requirements whose intention is to protect the network from misbehaving
hosts.  Bound by this principle, we can then apply some cost/benefit
analysis to ``musts'' required for architectural purity or use by
wizards under unusual conditions.

Considerable discussion and disagreement did not result in an answer to
``Definition of Special-purpose Host?''  Although subject to debate, the

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majority seemed to think along the lines of recognizing optional
functional areas, such as an open programming interface, limited
application protocols (such as just Telnet), and so on.  This points to
the consideration that ``special-purpose host'' simply means a host that
isn't general purpose.

The question of ``RFC Format and organization?''  should have included
``Degree of Specificity?''.  Stev Knowles of FTP Software led the charge
for stating principles and omitting specifics.  He was not alone (as if
that matters), but the majority believed we must be more specific.
David Jordan of Emulex spoke for organization by system type (for
example, terminal server, file server).  The strongest consensus was to
organize around the RFC 1022/1023 ``musts'', examining each in the light
of hosts with useful application subsets.

On ``Specific issues?'', the consensus on IP reassembly was ``Shut up
and do it.''  Source routing was less clear.  The idea of keeping the
requirements to forward and to respond on the reverse path but weaken
the requirement to originate a source route had noticeable support.
Issues such as TCP efficiency appear subject to the rule of not hurting
the network while allowing space for knowing exactly how your limited
TCP user (such as a ROM) will use TCP.

The answer to ``Contributors?''  was:


   o Stev Knowles will supply a statement of principle.  We will then
     judge whether we are done.
   o Bill Westfield of cisco and Robert Elz of the University of
     Melbourne will each supply an analysis of the ``musts'' which might
     be subject to weakening in special cases.
   o David Jordan will propose an all-inclusive list of special host
     types.


Discussion was lively and varied, with many valued participants other
than the few mentioned above.  Discussion will continue on the mailing
list.  According to the (unchanged by the way) charter, the next
milestone is a draft document by the end of October, for review at the
December IETF meeting.  The above contributions will provide the text of
that document.

Attendees


Philip Almquist          [e-mail]
Larry Brandt             [e-mail]
Asheem Chandna           [e-mail]
Anthony Chung            [e-mail]
Paul Ciarfella           [e-mail]
George Conant            [e-mail]
Robert Elz               [e-mail]

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Richard Fox              sytek![e-mail]
Karen Frisa              [e-mail]
Martin Gross             [e-mail]
Peter Hayden             [e-mail]
Ruei-Hsin Hsiao          nac::hsiao
Ole Jacobsen             [e-mail]
David Jordan             [e-mail]
Ajay Kachrani            [e-mail]
Michael Karels           [e-mail]
Frank Kastenholz         [e-mail]
Stev Knowles             [e-mail]
Sam Lam
Paul Langille            quiver::[e-mail]
John LoVerso             [e-mail]
Yoni Malachi             [e-mail]
Keith McCloghrie         [e-mail]
David Miller             [e-mail]
Craig Partridge          [e-mail]
Stephanie Price          cmcvax![e-mail]
Michael Reilly           [e-mail]
Craig Smelser
Bob Stewart
 [e-mail]
Bill Townsend            [e-mail]
Justin Walker            [e-mail]
Jonathan Wenocur         [e-mail]
Bill Westfield           [e-mail]



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