Mid-Level Networks Potential Technical Services (RFC1291)

Network Working Group                                        V. Aggarwal

Request for Comments: 1291                      JvNCnet Computer Network

                                                           December 1991

                           Mid-Level Networks

                      Potential Technical Services

Status of this Memo

   This RFC provides information for the Internet community. It does not

   specify an Internet standard. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Abstract

   This document proposes a set of technical services that each Internet

   mid-level network can offer within the mid-level network itself and

   and to its peer networks. The term "mid-level" is used as a generic

   term to represent all regional and similar networks, which, due to

   continuous evolutions and transitions, can no longer be termed

   "regional" [MAN]. It discusses the pros and cons of offering these

   services, as well as areas in which mid-level networks can work

   together.

   A large portion of the ideas stem from discussions at the IETF

   Operational Statistics (OPstat), User Connectivity Problems (UCP) and

   Network Joint Management (NJM) working groups.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction..................................................   2

   2. The Generic Model.............................................   2

   3. Technical Services............................................   3

   3.1  Domain Name Service.........................................   3

   3.2  Public Domain Software......................................   4

   3.3  Network Time................................................   5

   3.4  Network News................................................   5

   3.5  Mailing Lists...............................................   6

   4. Experimental Testbeds.........................................   6

   5. Network Information Services..................................   7

   6. Network Operations............................................   7

   7. References....................................................   8

   8. Security Considerations.......................................   9

   9. Author's Address..............................................   9

   Appendix A Mailing Lists.........................................  10

   Appendix B DNS Architecture Strategy.............................  10

Aggarwal                                                        [Page 1]

RFC 1291             Potential Technical Services          December 1991

1. Introduction

   Over the past few years, the Internet has grown to be a very large

   entity and its dependability is critical to its users. Furthermore,

   due to the size and nature of the network, the trend has been to

   decentralize as many network functions (such as domain name-service,

   whois, etc.) as possible. Efforts are being made in resource

   discovery [SHHH90] so that the work of researchers is not lost in the

   volumes of data that is available on the Internet.

   A side result of this growth has been the logical structure imposed

   in the Internet of networks classified by function. Tangible examples

   in the present state are the NSFnet national backbone, the mid-

   level/regional networks and campus networks. Each of these can be

   viewed as hierarchies within an organization, each serving a slightly

   different function than the other (campus LA...