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-
- Special Host Requirements (shr)
- -------------------------------
-
- Charter
- Last Modified: 27-Jul-97
-
- Current Status: Concluded Working Group
-
- Chair(s):
- Bob Stewart <bstewart@cisco.com>
-
- Internet Area Director(s):
- Jeffrey Burgan <burgan@home.net>
- Thomas Narten <narten@raleigh.ibm.com>
-
- Internet Area Advisor:
- Thomas Narten <narten@raleigh.ibm.com>
-
- Mailing Lists:
- General Discussion:ietf-hosts@nnsc.nsf.net
- To Subscribe: ietf-hosts-request@nnsc.nsf.net
- Archive:
-
- Description of Working Group:
-
-
- The Special-purpose Host Requirements Working Group is
- chartered to clarify application of the Host Requirements RFCs (1122
- and 1123) to systems that are technically hosts but are not intended
- to support general network applications. These special-purpose hosts
- include, for example, terminal servers (a ``Telnet host''), or file
- servers (an ``FTP host'' or an ``NFS host'').
-
- The Host Requirements RFCs address the typical,
- general-purpose system with a variety of applications and an open
- development environment, and give only passing consideration to
- special-purpose hosts. As a result, suppliers of special-purpose
- hosts must bend the truth or make excuses when users evaluate their
- products against the Requirements RFCs. Users must then decide
- whether such a product is in fact deficient or the requirements truly
- do not apply. This process creates work and confusion, and undermines
- the value of the RFCs. The commercial success of the Internet
- protocols and their use in increasingly unsophisticated environments
- exacerbates the problem.
-
- The Working Group must define principles and examples for
- proper functional subsets of the general-purpose host and specifically
- state how such subsets affect the requirements. The Working Group
- must determine the balance between an exhaustive list of specific
- special-purpose hosts and philosphy that remains subject to debate.
- For the most part, it should be possible to base decisions on existing
- experience and implementations. The special-purpose requirements will
- be stated as differences from the existing RFCs, not replacements, and
- will refer rather than stand alone.
-
- Since they define strict subsets of the Host Requirements
- RFCs, the Special-purpose Host Requirements appear to be an easier job
- and can be developed and stabilized within 8-12 months. Most of the
- Group's business can be conducted over the Internet through email.
-
-
- Goals and Milestones:
-
- Aug 90 Revised document.
-
- Aug 90 Third IETF Meeting: make document an Internet Draft. Continue
- revisions based on comments received at meeting and over
- e-mail.
-
- Done Mailing list discussion of Charter and collection of concerns.
-
- Done First IETF Meeting: discussion and final approval of Charter;
- discussion and agreement on approach, including models, format,
- level and type of detail. Make writing assignments.
-
- Oct 90 First draft document.
-
- Nov 90 Second IETF Meeting: review first draft document, determine
- necessary revisions. Follow up discussion on mailing list.
-
- Apr 91 Final draft document.
-
- May 91 Fourth IETF meeting: review final draft and if OK, give to
- IESG for publication as RFC.
-
-
- Internet-Drafts:
-
- No Current Internet-Drafts.
-
- Request For Comments:
-
- None to date.
-