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author | Thomas Voss <mail@thomasvoss.com> | 2024-11-27 20:54:24 +0100 |
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committer | Thomas Voss <mail@thomasvoss.com> | 2024-11-27 20:54:24 +0100 |
commit | 4bfd864f10b68b71482b35c818559068ef8d5797 (patch) | |
tree | e3989f47a7994642eb325063d46e8f08ffa681dc /doc/rfc/rfc1396.txt | |
parent | ea76e11061bda059ae9f9ad130a9895cc85607db (diff) |
doc: Add RFC documents
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diff --git a/doc/rfc/rfc1396.txt b/doc/rfc/rfc1396.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..85a2237 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/rfc/rfc1396.txt @@ -0,0 +1,563 @@ + + + + + + +Network Working Group S. Crocker +Request for Comments: 1396 Trusted Information Systems, Inc. + January 1993 + + + The Process for Organization of Internet Standards + Working Group (POISED) + Steve Crocker, Chair + +Status of this Memo + + This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does + not specify an Internet standard. Distribution of this memo is + unlimited. + +Abstract + + This report provides a summary of the POISED Working Group (WG), + starting from the events leading to the formation of the WG to the + end of 1992. Necessarily, this synopsis represents my own + perception, particularly for the "prehistory" period. Quite a few + people hold strong views about both the overall sequence and specific + events. My intent here is to convey as neutral a point of view as + possible. + +Background and Formation of POISED Working Group + + The POISED WG resulted from two sequences of activity, both + intimately related to the growth of the Internet. During 1991, there + was great concern that the IP address space was being depleted and + that the routing tables were growing too large. Some change in the + IP addressing and routing mechanisms seemed inevitable, and it became + urgent to explore and choose what those changes should be. The ROAD + Working Group was formed to study the issues and recommend changes. + The ROAD group returned with a specific recommendation for the short + term, but did not reach a conclusion on a long term plan. + + The Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG) then formulated a plan + of action for further exploration of the issues and forwarded these + recommendations to the Internet Architecture Board (IAB). In June + 1992, after the INET '92 meeting in Kobe, Japan, the IAB met and + considered the IESG's recommendations. After considering the IESG's + recommendations, the IAB felt that additional ideas were also + important, particularly some of the addressing ideas in the CLNP + protocol. The IAB communicated its concerns, and there was immediate + controversy along two dimensions. One dimension was technical: What + is the best course for evolving the IP protocol? How important or + useful are the ideas in the OSI protocol stack? The other dimension + + + +Crocker [Page 1] + +RFC 1396 Poised Report January 1993 + + + was political: Who makes decisions within the Internet community? + Who chooses who makes these decisions? + + As often happens during periods of conflict, communication suffered + among the several parties. The June communication from the IAB was + understood by many an IAB decision or, equivalently, a sense of the + decisions the IAB would make in the future. In contrast, many if not + all on the IAB felt that they were trying to open up the discussion + and their memos were intended as advice and not decisions. From my + perspective, this form of miscommunication was partly due to the + extended size of the Internet technical community. When the + community was much smaller, the IAB was in close contact with the day + to day workings of the technical groups. With the creation of the + IESG and area directorates, there are now two or three layers between + a working group and the IAB. + + These matters came to a head during the Internet Engineering Task + Force (IETF) meeting in July in Cambridge, MA. It was made clear + that the consideration of changes to the IP protocol remained open. + Work on that topic has proceeded and is reported in the appropriate + forums. However, it became clear that it was necessary to examine + the decision process and the procedures for populating the IESG and + IAB. With respect to the procedures for selecting IAB and IESG + members, the procedures that were in place derived from the creation + of the Internet Society (ISOC) and the ISOC's sponsorship of the IAB. + These procedures had been developed during the early part of 1992 and + had been adopted by the ISOC during its meeting in Kobe in June. + Hence, as fast as the ISOC was building the framework for supporting + the Internet community, the community was questioning its structure + and processes. + + Following the IETF meeting, Vint Cerf, Internet Society president, + called for the formation of working group to examine the processes + and particularly the selection process (Attachment 1). During + August, the working group was formed, I was asked to chair it, and a + charter for the WG was formulated (Attachment 2). (The acronym is + due to Erik Huizer and originally stood for The Process for + Organization of Internet Standards and Development. It was shortened + to fit into the space available on paper and in the IETF + Secretariat's database.) + +Deliberations: August through mid-November + + The formation of the POISED WG provided a forum for discussion of + process issues. An estimated 20 MB of messages filled up disks all + over the world. Much of this discussion was fragmented or focused on + narrow issues. The salient point that emerged was the need for a + well defined process for selecting leaders with explicit community + + + +Crocker [Page 2] + +RFC 1396 Poised Report January 1993 + + + representation in the selection process. There was also substantial + discussion of the role of the IAB -- to what extent should it make + decisions and to what extent should it provide technical guidance? -- + and the relationship between the IAB and IESG. + + After several weeks of discussion, Carl Malamud and I attempted to + capture the main elements of the discussion by presenting a specific + proposal for the reorganization of the entire structure. The main + elements of the proposal were: + + o Retention of the WG and area structure now in place within the + IETF. + + o Replacement of the IAB and IESG by two boards, one devoted to + technical management and one devoted to oversight of the + process. + + o Well defined terms for members of both boards. + + o Selection by committees with input from the community. + + This proposal was technically radical in the sense that it proposed + new structures to replace existing structures instead of proposing + changes within the existing system. The proposal focused all further + discussion and set the stage for the fall IETF in mid-November in + Washington D.C. + +November IETF meeting + + By virtue of the intensity of interest throughout the community, the + POISED WG was one of the focal points of the IETF meeting. The + schedule included a plenary session Tuesday morning to present the + current state of the POISED WG discussions, a formal POISED WG + session Tuesday afternoon and an open IESG meeting Thursday evening + devoted to the POISED issues. The formal schedule was only the tip + of the iceberg; numerous meetings took place over breakfast, lunch + and dinner, in the halls and off in the corners. The more active + participants probably had a dozen or more separate meetings on this + over the three most active days, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. + + Amidst all this frenetic activity, remarkable progress occurred at + two key points. At the Tuesday afternoon POISED WG meeting, Lyman + Chapin, IAB chair, Phill Gross, IETF chair and IAB member, and other + IAB members proposed changes within the existing IAB/IESG structure + which converged with the process management elements of the Malamud- + Crocker proposal. The key point was that all processing of standards + actions, including the final decision to advance a specification + along the standards track, would be made by the IESG. This change in + + + +Crocker [Page 3] + +RFC 1396 Poised Report January 1993 + + + the process shortens the decision cycle and brings it a step closer + to the working group. Convergence on this key point obviated a + radical proposal and signaled the building of a consensus on how the + standards process should evolve. Over the next two days attention + then turned to the selection process. + + As indicated above, there was a strong feeling in the community that + the IAB and IESG members should be selected with the consensus of the + community. A natural mechanism for doing this is through formal + voting. However, a formal voting process requires formal delineation + of who's enfranchised. One of the strengths of the IETF is there + isn't any formal membership requirement, nor is there a tradition of + decision through votes. Decisions are generally reached by + consensus with mediation by leaders when necessary. + + Various formulas were considered, and the one that emerged was that + IAB and IESG members would be selected by a nomination and recruiting + committee. The committee is to consist of seven members from the + community, with non-voting representatives from the IAB and IESG and + a non-voting chair provided by the ISOC. The seven members are to be + volunteers, with selection by lot if there are more than seven + volunteers. The only requirement for volunteers is they must have + attended two IETF meetings. This requirement is designed to ensure + the nomination committee has some familiarity with the Internet + community and the standards process. + + IAB and IESG members are to serve two years. Half of each body is to + have terms starting in odd years, and half is to have terms starting + in even years. Selections to the IESG have to be ratified by the + IAB, and selections to the IAB had to be ratified by the ISOC. In + the event that the nomination committee is unable to reach a + consensus on a single candidate for each position, it may forward + multiple nominations to the ratifying body, and the ratifying body + will select the candidate. + + In addition to this selection process, a recall mechanism was + outlined using a similar scheme. The ISOC is to supply an ombudsman + who will field complaints after all oversight processes have been + exhausted. If the ombudsman is unable to resolve a complaint after a + cooling off period, a recall committee, selected at random among + volunteering community members, will consider the matter. A two + thirds vote by the committee is necessary to remove someone. + + This proposal was formulated and circulated during Wednesday and + Thursday and presented at the IESG open plenary. In contrast to the + extraordinarily contentious open IESG meeting in Cambridge, this + meeting was characterized by a strenuous effort by numerous people, + representing diverse points of view, to reach consensus on this + + + +Crocker [Page 4] + +RFC 1396 Poised Report January 1993 + + + proposal, and the meeting ended with a distinct decision to proceed + on this basis. Given the strong consensus that emerged at that + meeting, the group decided to implement the selection process by the + next IETF meeting, with the new IESG and IAB members to begin their + terms at the termination of the IETF meeting in March. + + On Friday, the IAB and IESG met jointly to determine what to do next. + Both groups agreed to implement the change in processing standards + actions quickly and cooperatively and to identify the positions which + are open for selection. Within a couple of weeks, the IAB finished + processing the standards actions in its queue, and IESG began to + handle standards actions on its own. + +December ISOC meeting + + The Internet Society Trustees met December 10 and 11 at CNRI in + Reston, VA. The process and organization of the IAB and IETF was one + of their major concerns. A session of the Trustees at 3:00 p.m. EST, + December 10, was broadcast via the Internet. It was not clear how + many people listened, but Geoff Huston, Internet Trustee, was spliced + in separately from Australia. + + At this session, I presented the POISED WG results deliberations and + asked on behalf of the IETF that the Trustees approve the selection + process described above. For the long run, a new charter is needed. + Given the very compressed schedule for these activities, there has + not been time to draft and refine a new charter, so the Trustees were + asked to approve the general direction of the reorganization of the + IAB and IETF and give temporary approval to the selection process in + order to permit the first round of selections to proceed. + + The Trustees expressed strong approval for the work of the POISED WG + and general approval for the direction of the effort. One area of + concern for the Trustees is the legal liability of the Internet + Society regarding decisions the IESG might make in the future. The + Trustees made it quite clear that they are not inclined to + micromanage the IETF process, but they do feel compelled to + understand the legal issues and help construct a charter which is + consistent with their responsibilities as Trustees. + + The session adjourned with agreement to proceed on the current course + and for the IETF, IAB and ISOC Trustees to work together to draft the + appropriate charter. + + + + + + + + +Crocker [Page 5] + +RFC 1396 Poised Report January 1993 + + +Future activities + + Both the IESG and IAB have selected the positions which must be + filled through the new selection process. As I write this, Vint Cerf + has been working to find a chair for the nominations committee, and + the process should move forward during January and February. + Communications on the details of the nomination process will be + published on the IETF mailing list and possibly other forums. As + described above, the selection process should be complete well before + the next IETF meeting, and preferably by the end of February. + + The other open agenda item is the draft of a new charter for the IAB + and IETF and adoption of the charter by the ISOC. This is the next + order of business for the POISED WG. + +ATTACHMENT 1: Message from Vint Cerf to the IETF, et al. + + To: pgross@nis.ans.net + Cc: iab@isi.edu, iesg@NRI.Reston.VA.US, ietf@isi.edu, + internet-society-trustees:;@IETF.NRI.Reston.VA.US, + internet-society-members:;@IETF.NRI.Reston.VA.US, + isoc-interest@relay.sgi.com + Subject: Request for Recommendations + Date: Wed, 12 Aug 92 21:46:48 -0400 + From: vcerf@NRI.Reston.VA.US + Message-Id: <9208122146.aa10744@IETF.NRI.Reston.VA.US> + + + + + To: IETF Chairman + CC: IAB, IETF, IRTF, ISOC Trustees, and ISOC Members + From: President, Internet Society + Subject: Request for Recommendations on IAB/IETF/IRTF/ISOC Procedures + +Introduction + + In June, 1992, The Internet Society Board of Trustees received a + proposed charter for an Internet Architecture Board to be created + within the Internet Society. The new Internet Architecture Board was + envisioned to be made up of the then current members of the Internet + Activities Board. The functions of the IETF and the IRTF would be + brought under the umbrella of the Internet Society as elements of the + newly chartered Internet Architecture Board. The Trustees voted to + accept the proposed charter, which is contained in RFC 1358. + + In the period between June and July, a great deal of discussion + occurred both by email and at the IETF meeting in Boston about the + + + +Crocker [Page 6] + +RFC 1396 Poised Report January 1993 + + + procedures by which the IAB, IETF, and IRTF should work together + under the general umbrella of the Internet Society. Among the many + points raised, three seemed particularly important to consider: + + 1. Procedures for making appointments to the Internet Architecture + Board. + + 2. Procedures for resolving disagreements among the IETF, IESG, + and IAB in matters pertaining to the Internet Standards. + + 3. Methods for ensuring that for any particular Internet Standard, + procedures have been followed satisfactorily by all parties + so that everyone with an interest has had a fair opportunity + to be heard. + + Effective discussion of these issues requires the availability of an + open venue, an opportunity to comment by email, and the possibility + of conducting face-to-face meetings. Recognizing this, the IAB has + recommended that the most effective means available to the Internet + Community for gathering recommendations for refining our existing + procedures is to request that an IETF Working Group be formed. + + I am pleased to make this request of the IETF to create such a WG. + It would be extremely helpful to have recommendations on the three + topics listed above by the first of December, 1992, in time to be + presented at the Internet Society Board of Trustees meeting scheduled + for December 10th. + + With respect to point 1 above, the current procedures for making IAB + appointments are contained in the IAB charter (RFC 1358). RFC 1310 + contains a description of the current process by which Internet + Standards are achieved. Points (2) and (3) could be discussed in the + context of the present procedures described in RFC 1310, which + recognizes a number of open issues in an appendix. + + The Internet Society Trustees hope that members of the IAB, IRTF, + IESG, and IETF, as well as general members of the Internet Society, + will take the time to share their thoughts in the proposed working + group forum. It is vital to the future of the Internet that these key + groups work together well. Certainly, the Internet Society Trustees + are committed to doing everything possible to facilitate effective + procedures and to preserve and enhance the special spirit of the + Internet Community which has created and maintains the health and + growth of the global Internet. + + Vint Cerf + President + Internet Society + + + +Crocker [Page 7] + +RFC 1396 Poised Report January 1993 + + +Process for Organization of Internet Standards (poised) + + Charter + + Chair(s): + Steve Crocker <crocker@tis.com> + + Mailing lists: + General Discussion:poised@nri.reston.va.us + To Subscribe: poised-request@nri.reston.va.us + Archive: nri.reston.va.us:~/poised/current + + Description of Working Group: + + The goal of this working group is to examine the Internet + standards process and the responsibilities of the IAB, with + attention to the relationship between the IAB and IETF/IESG. + + The need for this working group was suggested during + discussions at the July 1992 IETF. This led to a request + from the Internet Society president to form such a working + group. + + The WG will consider the following matters: + + 1. Procedures for making appointments to the Internet + Architecture Board. + + 2. Procedures for resolving disagreements among IETF, IESG + and IAB in matters pertaining to the Internet Standards. + + 3. Methods for assuring that for any particular Internet + Standard, procedures have been followed satisfactorily by + all parties so that everyone with an interest has had a + fair opportunity to be heard. + + + The WG will begin with a review of the procedures for making + IAB appointments as documented in RFC 1358 and a review of + the standards-making process documented in RFC 1310. + + The WG has a goal of issuing a final report in time for IESG + consideration and publication as an RFC before the + ISOC Board of Trustee's meeting in December 1992. Given the + compressed timescale, the WG will conduct most of its + deliberations by electronic mail on the POISED WG mailing + list. There will also be a preliminary report and + discussions at the November 1992 IETF meeting in + + + +Crocker [Page 8] + +RFC 1396 Poised Report January 1993 + + + Washington, DC. + + This will be a normal IETF WG, i.e. the mailing list and all + discussions will be completely open. + + Goals and Milestones: + + Sep 92 Gather initial set of issues and write a preliminary + report. + + Oct 92 Post as an Internet Draft the initial recommendations to + the ISOC Board. + + Nov 92 Open discussion and presentation of the work of the POISED + Working Group at Washington D.C. IETF meeting. + + Dec 92 Submit the recommendations document to the IESG for posting + as an Informational RFC. This document will be + subsequently transmitted to the ISOC Board. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Crocker [Page 9] + +RFC 1396 Poised Report January 1993 + + +Security Considerations + + Security issues are not discussed in this memo. + +Author's Address + + Stephen D. Crocker + Trusted Information Systems, Inc. + 3060 Washington Road + Glenwood, MD 21738 + + Phone: (301) 854-6889 + + Email: crocker@TIS.COM + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Crocker [Page 10] +
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