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— Appendix E — 
RFCs

Most of the information about the TCP/IP protocol family is published as Requests For Comments (RFCs). RFCs define the various aspects of the protocol, its use, and management as a set of loosely coordinated notes.

The RFCs contain a lot of useless information (mostly because it is system-specific or considerably outdated), but they also contain a wealth of detail for those who want to take TCP/IP to its limits. Unexpectedly, there is quite a bit of interesting and humorous reading in the RFCs, including several classic works such as "'Twas the Night Before Start-up" (RFC 968), "ARPAWOCKY" (RFC 527), and "Telnet Randomly—Lose Option" (RFC 748).

This appendix lists the important (or, as just mentioned, interesting or humorous) RFCs that readers might want to refer to. Instructions for accessing the RFCs are also included. This list is not complete. Where possible, old and outdated RFCs have been dropped from the list. However, thinning the list of RFCs is a time-consuming process, involving reading each of the documents in turn. Because there are almost 1,500 RFCs, I have relied on other users' comments, notes from the NIC, and other reference works for a suitable pruning.

Accessing RFCs

RFCs can be obtained in several ways, the easiest of which is electronically. Paper copies are available upon request. Electronic copies are usually in ASCII format, although some are in PostScript format and require a PostScript interpreter to print them. Most RFCs obtained electronically do not have diagrams, figures, or pictures.

Accessing RFCs Through FTP

RFCs can be obtained using FTP through the Internet Network Information Center (NIC). Use FTP to access the NIC archive NIC.DDN.MIL. Use the user name guest and the password anonymous. RFCs can then be retrieved by using the FTP get command with the following format:
<RFC>RFC527.txt
Replace the RFC527 portion with the number of the RFC required. You can FTP into the NIC archive only if you have access to a machine with Internet access.

Accessing RFCs Through E-Mail

RFCs can be requested through electronic mail. Both the NIC and the NFSNET Network Service Center provide automated responses, returning the requested RFC. Both services read incoming electronic mail for keywords that indicate which RFC is required as well as the sender's e-mail address, then send back the RFC requested.

To obtain an RFC from the NIC, send a message with the subject field set to the RFC you want. Mail it to service@nic.ddn.mil. If you want more information on obtaining information through the NIC e-mail system, send mail with the word help as the subject.

To obtain RFCs from the NFSNET Network Service Center, send a message with the first two lines like this:

REQUEST: RFC

TOPIC: 527
The first line specifies that you want an RFC, and the second line gives the RFC number. Send the mail to info-server@sh.cs.net. For more information, set the topic to help.

Accessing Printed Copies of RFCs

If you do not have access to electronic communications, you can request a preprinted copy of an RFC. To obtain a printed copy of any RFC, call the Network Information Center at 1-800-235-3155.

It is considered bad manners to make the NIC staff wait while you find which RFCs you want. Make a list of them first, so your telephone conversation is short and succinct. They must answer many calls a day and are usually quite busy.

Useful RFCs Sorted by Category

Following are categorized lists of available RFCs.

General Information

RFC1360  "IAB Official Protocol Standards," Postel, J.B.; 1992 
RFC1340  "Assigned Numbers," Reynolds, J.K.; Postel, J.B.; 1992 
RFC1208  "Glossary of Networking Terms," Jacobsen, O.J.; Lynch, D.C.; 1991 
RFC1180  "TCP/IP Tutorial," Socolofsky, T.J.; Kale, C.J.; 1991 
RFC1178  "Choosing a Name for Your Computer," Libes, D.; 1990 
RFC1175  "FYI on Where to Start: A Bibliography of Inter-networking Information," Bowers, K.L.; LaQuey, T.L.; Reynolds, J.K.; Reubicek, K.; Stahl, M.K.; Yuan, A.; 1990 
RFC1173  "Responsibilities of Host and Network Managers: A Summary of the Oral Tradition of the Internet," vanBokkelen, J.; 1990 
RFC1166  "Internet Numbers," Kirkpatrick, S.; Stahl, M.K.; Recker, M.; 1990 
RFC1127  "Perspective on the Host Requirements RFCs," Braden, R.T.; 1989 
RFC1123  "Requirements for Internet Hosts—Application and Support," Braden, R.T., ed; 1989 
RFC1122  "Requirements for Internet Hosts—Communication Layers," Braden, R.T., ed; 1989 
RFC1118  "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Internet," Krol, E., 1989 
RFC1011  "Official Internet Protocol," Reynolds, J.R.; Postel, J.B.; 1987 
RFC1009  "Requirements for Internet Gateways," Braden, R.T.; Postel, J.B.; 1987 
RFC980  "Protocol Document Order Information," Jacobsen, O.J.; Postel, J.B.; 1986 
 

TCP and UDP

RFC1072  "TCP Extensions for Long-Delay Paths," Jacobson, V.; Braden, R.T.; 1988 
RFC896  "Congestion Control in IP/TCP Internetworks," Nagle, J.; 1984 
RFC879  "TCP Maximum Segment Size and Related Topics," Postel, J.B.; 1983 
RFC813  "Window and Acknowledgment Strategy in TCP," Clark, D.D.; 1982 
RFC793  "Transmission Control Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1981 
RFC768  "User Datagram Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1980 
 

IP and ICMP

RFC1219  "On the Assignment of Subnet Numbers," Tsuchiya, P.F.; 1991 
RFC1112  "Host Extensions for IP Multicasting," Deering, S.E.; 1989 
RFC1088  "Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams over NetBIOS Networks," McLaughlin, L.J.; 1989 
RFC950  "Internet Standard Subnetting Procedure," Mogul, J.C.; Postel, J.B.; 1985 
RFC932  "Subnetwork Addressing Schema," Clark, D.D.; 1985 
RFC922  "Broadcasting Internet Datagrams in the Presence of Subnets," Mogul, J.C.; 1984 
RFC9l9  "Broadcasting Internet Datagrams," Mogul, J.C.; 1984 
RFC886  "Proposed Standard for Message Header Munging," Rose, M.T.; 1983 
RFC815  "IP Datagram Reassembly Algorithms," Clark, D.D.; 1982 
RFC814  "Names, Addresses, Ports, and Routes," Clark, D.D.; 1982 
RFC792  "Internet Control Message Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1981 
RFC791  "Internet Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1981 
RFC781  "Specification of the Internet Protocol (IP) Timestamp Option," Su, Z.; 1981 
 

Lower Layers

RFC1236  "IP to X.121 Address Mapping for DDN," Morales, L.F. Jr.; 1991 
RFC1220  "Point-to-Point Protocol Extensions for Bridging," Baker, F., ed.; 1991 
RFC1209  "Transmission of IP Datagrams over the SMDS Service," Piscitello, D.M.; Lawrence, J.; 1991 
RFC1201  "Transmitting IP Traffic over ARCNET Networks," Provan, D.; 1991 
RFC1188  "Proposed Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams over FDDI Networks," Katz, D.; 1990 
RFC1172  "Point-to-Point Protocol Initial Configuration Options," Perkins, D.; Hobby, R.; 1990 
RFC1171  "Point-to-Point Protocol for the Transmission of Multiprotocol Datagrams over Point-to-Point Links," Perkins, D.; 1990 
RFC1149  "Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams on Avian Carriers," Waitzman, D.; 1990 
RFC1055  "Nonstandard for Transmission of IP Datagrams over Serial Lines: SLIP," Romkey, J.L.; 1988 
RFC1044  "Internet Protocol on Network System's HYPERchannel: Protocol Specification," Hardwick, K.; Lekashman, J.; 1988 
RFC1042  "Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams over IEEE 802 Networks," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1988 
RFC1027  "Using ARP to Implement Transparent Subnet Gateways," Carl-Mitchell, S.; Quarterman, J.S.; 1987 
RFC903  "Reverse Address Resolution Protocol," Finlayson, R.; Mann, T.; Mogul, J.C.; Theimer, M.; 1984 
RFC895  "Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams over Experimental Ethernet Networks," Postel, J.B.; 1984 
RFC894  "Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams over Ethernet Networks," Hornig, C.; 1984 
RFC893  "Trailer Encapsulations," Leffler, S.; Karels, M.J.; 1984 
RFC877  "Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams over Public Data Networks," Korb, J.T.; 1983 
 

Bootstrapping

RFC1084  "BOOTP Vendor Information Extensions," Reynolds, J.K.; 1988 
RFC951  "Bootstrap Protocol," Croft, W.J.; Gilmore, J.; 1985 
RFC906  "Bootstrap Loading Using TFTP," Finlayson, R.; 1984 
 

Domain Name System

RFC1101  "DNS Encoding of Network Names and Other Types," Mockapetris, P.V.; 1989 
RFC1035  "Domain Names—Implementation and Specification," Mockapetris, P.V.; 1987 
RFC1034  "Domain Names—Concepts and Facilities," Mockapetris, P.V.; 1987 
RFC1033  "Domain Administrators Operations Guide," Lottor, M.; 1987 
RFC1032  "Domain Administrators Guide," Stahl, M.K.; 1987 
RFC974  "Mail Routing and the Domain System," Partridge, C.; 1986 
RFC920  "Domain Requirements," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1984 
RFC799  "Internet Name Domains," Mills, D.L.; 1981 
 

File Transfer and File Access

RFC1094  "NFS: Network File System Protocol Specification," Sun Microsystems, Inc.; 1989 
RFC1068  "Background File Transfer Program (BFTP)," DeSchon, A.L.; Braden, R. T.; 1988 
RFC959  "File Transfer Protocol," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1985 
RFC949  "FTP Unique-Named Store Command," Padlipsky, M.A.; 1985 
RFC783  "TFTP Protocol (Revision 2)," Sollins, K.R.; 1981 
RFC775  "Directory Oriented FTP Commands," Mankins, D.; Franklin, D.; Owen, A.D.; 1980 
 

Mail

RFC1341  "MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) Mechanisms for Specifying and Describing the Format of Internet Message Bodies," Borenstein, N.; Freed, N.; 1992 
RFC1143  "Q Method of Implementing Telnet Option Negotiation," Bernstein, D.J.; 1990 
RFC1090  "SMTP on X.25," Ullmann, R.; 1989 
RFC1056  "PCMAIL: A Distributed Mail System for Personal Computers," Lambert, M.L.; 1988 
RFC974  "Mail Routing and the Domain System," Partridge, C.; 1986 
RFC822  "Standard for the Format of ARPA Internet Text Messages," Crocker, D.; 1982 
RFC821  "Simple Mail Transfer Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1982 
 

Routing Protocols

RFC1267  "A Border Gateway Protocol 3 (BGP-3)," Lougheed, K.; Rekhter, Y.; 1991 
RFC1247  "OSPF version 2," Moy, J.; 1991 
RFC1222  "Advancing the NSFNET Routing Architecture," Braun, H.W.; Rekhter, Y.; 1991 
RFC1195  "Use of OSI IS-IS for Routing in TCP/IP and Dual Environments," Callon, R.W.; 1990 
RFC1164  "Application of the Border Gateway Protocol in the Internet," Honig, J.C.; Katz, D.; Mathis, M.; Rekhter, Y.; Yu, J.Y.; 1990 
RFC1163  "Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)," Lougheed, K.; Rekhter, Y.; 1990 
RFC1136  "Administrative Domains and Routing Domains: A Model for Routing in the Internet," Hares, S.; Katz, D.; 1989 
RFC1074  "NSFNET Backbone SPF-Based Interior Gateway Protocol," Rekhter, J.; 1988 
RFC1058  "Routing Information Protocol," Hedrick, C.L.; 1988 
RFC911  "EGP Gateway under Berkeley UNIX 4.2," Kirton, P.; 1984 
RFC904  "Exterior Gateway Protocol Formal Specification," Mills, D.L.; 1984 
RFC888  "STUB Exterior Gateway Protocol," Seamonson, L.; Rosen, E.C.; 1984 
RFC827  "Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP)," Rosen, E.C.; 1982 
RFC823  "DARPA Internet Gateway," Hinden, R.M.; Sheltzer, A.; 1982 
 

Routing Performance and Policy

RFC1254  "Gateway Congestion Control Survey," Mankin, A.; Ramakrishnan, K.K, eds.; 1991 
RFC1246  "Experience with the OSPF Protocol," Moy, J., ed.; 1991 
RFC1245  "OSPF Protocol Analysis," Moy, J., ed; 1991 
RFC1125  "Policy Requirements for Inter-Administrative Domain Routing," Estrin, D.; 1989 
RFC1124  "Policy Issues in Interconnecting Networks," Leiner, B.M.; 1989 
RFC1104  "Models of Policy-Based Routing," Braun, H.W.; 1989 
RFC1102  "Policy Routing in Internet Protocols," Clark, D.D.; 1989 
 

Terminal Access

RFC1205  "Telnet 5250 Interface," Chmielewski, P.; 1991 
RFC1198  "FYI on the X Window System," Scheifler, R.W.; 1991 
RFC1184  "Telnet Linemode Option," Borman, D.A., ed.; 1990 
RFC1091  "Telnet Terminal-Type Option," VanBokkelen, J.; 1989 
RFC1080  "Telnet Remote Flow Control Option," Hedrick, C.L.; 1988 
RFC1079  "Telnet Terminal Speed Option," Hedrick, C.L.; 1988 
RFC1073  "Telnet Window Size Option," Waitzman, D.; 1988 
RFC1053  "Telnet X.3 PAD Option," Levy, S.; Jacobson, T.; 1988 
RFC1043  "Telnet Data Entry Terminal Option: DODIIS Implementation," Yasuda, A.; Thompson, T.; 1988 
RFC1041  "Telnet 3270 Regime Option," Rekhter, Y.; 1988 
RFC1013  "X Window System Protocol, version 11: Alpha Update," Scheifler, R.W.; 1987 
RFC946  "Telnet Terminal Location Number Option," Nedved, R.; 1985 
RFC933  "Output Marking Telnet Option," Silverman, S.; 1985 
RFC885  "Telnet End of Record Option," Postel, J.B.; 1983 
RFC861  "Telnet Extended Options: List Option," Postel, J.B; Reynolds, J.K.; 1983 
RFC860  "Telnet Timing Mark Option," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1983 
RFC859  "Telnet Status Option," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1983 
RFC858  "Telnet Suppress Go Ahead Option," Postel, J.B,; Reynolds, J.K.; 1983 
RFC857  "Telnet Echo Option," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1983 
RFC856  "Telnet Binary Transmission," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1983 
RFC855  "Telnet Option Specifications," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1983 
RFC854  "Telnet Protocol Specification," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1983 
RFC779  "Telnet Send-Location Option," Killian, E.; 1981 
RFC749  "Telnet SUPDUP-Output Option," Greenberg, B.; 1978 
RFC736  "Telnet SUPDUP Option," Crispin, M.R; 1977 
RFC732  "Telnet Data Entry Terminal Option," Day, J.D.; 1977 
RFC727  "Telnet Logout Option," Crispin, M.R.; 1977 
RFC726  "Remote Controlled Transmission and Echoing Telnet Option," Postel, J.B.; Crocker, D.; 1977 
RFC698  "Telnet Extended ASCII Option," Mock, T.; 1975 
 

Other Applications

RFC1196  "Finger User Information Protocol," Zimmerman. D.P.; 1990 
RFC1179  "Line Printer Daemon Protocol," McLaughlin, L.; 1990 
RFC1129  "Internet Time Synchronization: The Network Time Protocol," Mills, D.L.; 1989 
RFC1119  "Network Time Protocol (version 2) Specification and Implementation," Mills, D.L.; 1989 
RFC1057  "RPC: Remote Procedure Call Protocol Specification: Version 2," Sun Microsystems, Inc.; 1988 
RFC1014  "XDR: External Data Representation Standard," Sun Microsystems, Inc.; 1987 
RFC954  "NICNAME/WHOIS," Harrenstien, K.; Stahl, M.K.; Feinler, E.J.; 1985 
RFC868  "Time Protocol," Postel, J.B.; Harrenstien, K.; 1983 
RFC867  "Daytime Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1983 
RFC866  "Active Users," Postel, J.B.; 1983 
RFC8G5  "Quote of the Day Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1983 
RFC8G4  "Character Generator Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1983 
RFC863  "Discard Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1983 
RFC862  "Echo Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1983 
 

Network Management

RFC1271  "Remote Network Monitoring Management Information Base," Waldbusser, S.; 1991 
RFC1253  "OSPE version 2: Management Information Base," Baker, P.; Coltun, R.; 1991 
RFC1243  "Appletalk Management Information Base," 1991 
RFC1239  "Reassignment of Experimental MIBs to Standard MIBs," Reynolds, J.K.; 1991 
RFC1238  "CLNS MIB for Use with Connectionless Network Protocol (ISO 8473) and End System to Intermediate System (ISO 9542)," Satz, G.; 1991 
RFC1233  "Definitions of Managed Objects for the DS3 Interface Type," Cox, T.A.; Tesink, K., eds.; 1991 
RFC1232  "Definitions of Managed Objects for the DS1 Interface Type," Baker, F.; Kolb, C.P., eds.; 1991 
RFC1231  "IEEE 802.5 Token Ring MIB," McCloghrie, K.; Fox, R.; Decker, E.; 1991 
RFC1230  "IEEE 802.4 Token Bus MIB," McCloghrie, K.; Fox R.; 1991 
RFC1229  "Extensions to the Generic-Interface MIB," McCloghrie, K., ed.; 1991 
RFC1228  "SNMP-DPI: Simple Network Management Protocol Distributed Program Interface," Carpenter, G.; Wijnen, B.; 1991 
RFC1227  "SNMP MUX protocol and MIB," Rose, M.T.; 1991 
RFC1224  "Techniques for Managing Asynchronously Generated Alerts," Steinberg, L.; 1991 
RFC1215  "Convention for Defining Traps for Use with the SNMP," Rose, M.T., ed.; 1991 
RFC1214  "OSI Internet Management: Management Information Base," LaBarre, L., ed.; 1991 
RFC1213  "Management Information Base for Network Management of TCP/IP-based Internets: MiB-II," McCloghrie, K.; Rose, M.T., eds.; 1991 
RFC1212  "Concise MIB Definitions," Rose, M.T.; McCloghrie, K., eds.; 1991 
RFC1187  "Bulk Table Retrieval with the SNMP," Rose, M.T.; McCloghrie, K.; Davin, J.R.; 1990 
RFC1157  "Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)," Case, J.D.; Fedor, M.; Schoffstall, M.L.; Davin, C.; 1990 
RFC1156  "Management Information Base for Network Management of TCP/IP-based Internets," McCloghrie, K.; Rose, M.T.; 1990 
RFC1155  "Structure and Identification of Management Information for TCP/IP-Based Internets," Rose, M.T.; McCloghrie, K.; 1990 
RFC1147  "FYI on a Network Management Tool Catalog: Tools for Monitoring and Debugging TCP/IP Internets and Interconnected Devices," Stine, R.H., ed.; 1990 
RFC1089  "SNMP over Ethernet," Schoffstall, M.L.; Davin, C.; Fedor, M.; Case, J.D.; 1989 
 

Tunneling

RFC1241  "Scheme for an Internet Encapsulation Protocol: Version 1," 1991 
RFC1234  "Tunneling IPX Traffic through IP Networks," Provan, D.; 1991 
RFC1088  "Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams over NetBIOS Networks," McLaughlin, L.J.; 1989 
RFC1002  "Protocol Standard for a NetBIOS Service on a TCP/UDP Transport: Detailed Specifications," NetBIOS Working Group; 1987 
RFC1001  "Protocol Standard for a NetBIOS Service on a TCP/UDP Transport: Concepts and Methods," NetBIOS Working Group; 1987 
 

OSI

RFC1240  "OSI Connectionless Transport Services on Top of UDP: Version 1," Shue, C.; Haggerty, W.; Dobbins, K.; 1991 
RFC1237  "Guidelines for OSI NSAP Allocation in the Internet," Gollela, R.; Gardner, E.P.; Callon, R.W.; 1991 
RFC1169  "Explaining the Role of GOSIP," Cerf, V.G.; Mills, K.L.; 1990 
 

Security

RFC1244  "Site Security Handbook" 
RFC1115  "Privacy Enhancement for Internet Electronic Mail: Part III—Algorithms, Modes, and Identifiers [Draft]," Linn, J.; 1989 
RFC1114  "Privacy Enhancement for Internet Electronic Mail: Part II—Certificate-Based Key Management [Draft]," Kent, S.T.; Linn, J.; 1989 
RFC1113  "Privacy Enhancement for Internet Electronic Mail: Part I—Message Encipherment and Authentication Procedures [Draft]," Linn, J.; 1989 
RFC1108  "Security Options for the Internet Protocol," 1991 
 

Miscellaneous

RFC1251  "Who's Who in the Internet: Biographies of IAB, IESG, and IRSG Members," Malkin, G.S.; 1991 
RFC1207  "FYI on Questions and Answers: Answers to Commonly Asked 'Experienced Internet User' Questions," Malkin, G.S.; Marine, A.N.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1991 
RFC1206  "FYI on Questions and Answers: Answers to Commonly Asked 'New Internet User' Questions," Malkin, G.S.; Marine, A.N.; 1991 
 
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