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RFC 53 UNKNOWN PROCESS · ARPANET

Official protocol mechanism

Steve Crocker sets out a six-step process for proposing, reviewing and approving the official Host-Host protocol.

On rfc-editor.org ↗
PUBLISHED
June 1970
AUTHORS
S.D. Crocker
STREAM
Legacy
DECISIONS
6
PLACE
Spring Joint Computer Conference, Atlantic City
DOI
10.17487/RFC0053

RFC text

Original text · RFC Editor View on rfc-editor.org ↗ 
Network Working Group                                         S. Crocker
Request for Comments #53                                      UCLA
                                                              9 June 70


                     An Official Protocol Mechanism


During the Spring Joint Computer Conference in Atlantic City, Larry
Roberts, Barry Wessler, Cordell Green, Jon Postel and I discussed rules
for establishing and modifying an official Host-Host protocol.

The following decisions were made:

      1.  A new set of documents will be created.  This set of
          documents will specify the official Host-Host protocol.  When
          it becomes appropriate, these documents will be maintained at
          the Network Information Center on SRI's computer.

      2.  I will distribute proposals for the initial version of the
          official protocol and all subsequent changes as NWG/RFC's.
          These proposals will be formulated from suggestions made by
          any interested parties.

      3.  After a proposal for a change in the official protocol
          has been issued as an NWG/RFC, networkers are requested to
          respond with approval, criticism, etc.  A cutoff date will be
          included with each protocol.

      4.  After the cutoff date, one of two situations will prevail.
          Either the proposal will have been substantially accepted by
          the network community, or substantial criticism will have been
          generated.  In the latter case, the process stops and no
          change occurs to the official protocol.

      5.  If the proposal has been substantially accepted, the
          proposal, together with its minor revisions will be forwarded
          to the ARPA office.  Barry Wessler or his successor will then
          either approve or disapprove the whole proposal.  His decision
          will be returned to me by letter.

      6.  After the ARPA office approves the proposal, I will send
          out the new protocol (as mentioned in item 1 above).

The first version of an official protocol will be proferred this month.

       [ This RFC was put into machine readable form for entry ]
[ into the online RFC archives by Kathy de Graaf 2/98 ]

AI ELI5

On this page
PROBLEMThe network community needed agreed rules for establishing and changing an official Host-Host protocol.
MECHANISMProposals are issued as NWG/RFCs, the community comments before a cutoff date, and the ARPA office approves or rejects the whole proposal.
WHAT WAS DECIDEDThe note records decisions made by five people at the Spring Joint Computer Conference and promises the first official protocol that month.

§1Where the Rules Came From

RFC 53, written by S. Crocker of UCLA and dated 9 June 70, reports a discussion held during the Spring Joint Computer Conference in Atlantic City. Larry Roberts, Barry Wessler, Cordell Green, Jon Postel and Crocker talked about rules for establishing and modifying an official Host-Host protocol.

The note lists six decisions. It describes a process, not a protocol.

Some grown-ups met and agreed on how the group would make official rules.

§2The Six Decisions

First, a new set of documents will specify the official Host-Host protocol, and when appropriate these will be kept at the Network Information Center on SRI's computer. Crocker will distribute proposals for the first version and every later change as NWG/RFCs, formed from suggestions by any interested parties.

After a proposal is issued, networkers are asked to respond with approval, criticism and so on, and each protocol carries a cutoff date.

  • If substantial criticism arrives by the cutoff, the process stops and the official protocol does not change.
  • If the proposal is substantially accepted, it goes with its minor revisions to the ARPA office, where Barry Wessler or his successor approves or disapproves the whole proposal by letter to Crocker.
  • After approval, Crocker sends out the new protocol.

Someone writes an idea, everyone has until a deadline to say what they think, and then one person decides yes or no for the whole idea.

THE PROPOSAL PATH (ILLUSTRATIVE SUMMARY OF RFC 53)
CrockerNetworkersARPA office
  1. Proposal as NWG/RFCIncludes a cutoff date.
  2. Approval, criticism
  3. Accepted proposalOnly if substantially accepted.
  4. Decision by letter

§3What Came Next

The note ends by saying that the first version of an official protocol will be proferred that month. It does not name that protocol or say what it contains.

The note says the first official rulebook is coming soon.