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diff --git a/doc/rfc/rfc1302.txt b/doc/rfc/rfc1302.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ae494a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/rfc/rfc1302.txt @@ -0,0 +1,731 @@ + + + + + + +Network Working Group D. Sitzler +Request For Comments: 1302 Merit +FYI: 12 P. Smith + Merit + A. Marine + SRI + February 1992 + + + Building a Network Information Services Infrastructure + +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 FYI RFC document is intended for existing Internet Network + Information Center (NIC) personnel, people interested in establishing + a new NIC, Internet Network Operations Centers (NOCs), and funding + agencies interested in contributing to user support facilities. The + document strives to: + + - Define a basic set of essential services that Network + Information Centers (NICs) will provide to Internet users, + including new mechanisms that will facilitate the timely + dissemination of information to the Internet community and + encourage cooperation among NICs. + + - Describe existing NIC services as an aid to Internet users + and as a model for organizations establishing new NICs. + +Acknowledgments + + This document reflects the work of the Network Information Services + Infrastructure (NISI) working group in the User Services area of the + IETF. Because the working group participants represent a cross- + section of existing Internet NICs, the opinions expressed herein are + representative of groups currently providing information services + within the Internet community. + + + + + + + + + +Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 1] + +RFC 1302 NISI February 1992 + + +Table of Contents + + 1. PURPOSE........................................................ 2 + 2. DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES......................................... 3 + 3. DEFINITION OF A NIC AND A NOC.................................. 3 + 4. HISTORY........................................................ 3 + 5. ESSENTIAL NIC FUNCTIONS........................................ 5 + 5.1 Provide Information Resources................................. 5 + 5.2 Support End-Users............................................. 6 + 5.3 Collect and Maintain NIC Referral Information................. 7 + 5.4 Support the NIC Infrastructure................................ 7 + 6. EXAMPLES OF PRESENT NIC SERVICES............................... 8 + 6.1 Direct User Support........................................... 8 + 6.1.1 Referrals................................................... 8 + 6.1.2 User-to-User Communication.................................. 8 + 6.1.3 Application Support......................................... 9 + 6.1.4 Technical Support........................................... 9 + 6.1.5 Emergency Services.......................................... 9 + 6.2 User Training Services........................................ 9 + 6.3 Marketing and Public Relations Services....................... 9 + 6.3.1 Newsletters................................................. 9 + 6.3.2 Other Publications.......................................... 9 + 6.3.3 PR Activities............................................... 9 + 6.4 Information Repository Services............................... 9 + 6.5 Administrative Services....................................... 10 + 7. EXAMPLES OF PRESENT INFORMATION DELIVERY MECHANISMS............ 10 + 8. DATABASE ACCURACY ISSUES....................................... 11 + 9. SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS........................................ 12 + 10. AUTHORS' ADDRESSES............................................ 13 + +1. PURPOSE + + The purpose of this document is to define the role of NICs in the + Internet and establish guidelines for new and existing NICs regarding + the user services they provide. This document is also a move toward + standardizing NIC services, which will aid in the development of an + overall information infrastructure that will allow NICs to easily and + routinely cooperate in assisting users. + + NICs for networks that are part of the Internet may be called upon to + serve users of the greater Internet as well as those of their own + networks. This responsibility brings with it the added challenge of + coordinating services with other NICs to better serve the general + Internet community. Toward that end, this document also proposes + some easily implemented changes to facilitate the exchange of + information and services between NICs. + + + + + +Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 2] + +RFC 1302 NISI February 1992 + + +2. DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES + + The NISI working group observed several guidelines when developing + this FYI RFC. + + 1. While recognizing that the new infrastructure should be built + on existing services, programs, and technology, the working group + did not want to limit its thinking to the present, preferring to + consider new approaches and to think toward the future. The goal + is to move in the direction of an information services + infrastructure for the National Research and Education Network + (NREN). + + 2. The working group recognizes that a user support system must + accommodate a diverse user population, from novice to network + sophisticate. + + 3. The working group recognizes that not all NICs are interested + in providing service at the Internet level nor in providing service + directly to end users. Some NICs have special areas of interest + and serve a more limited community. Many campus NICs, for example, + restrict the scope of their efforts to campus computing activities. + Therefore, an Internet NIC must have policies, procedures, and + delivery mechanisms in place to serve not only end-users, but to + aid other information providers and user support agencies. + +3. DEFINITION OF A NIC AND OF A NOC + + A Network Information Center is an organization whose goal is to + provide informational, administrative, and procedural support, + primarily to users of its network and, secondarily, to users of the + greater Internet and to other service agencies. + + A Network Operations Center (NOC) is an organization whose goal is to + oversee and maintain the daily operations of a network. Although + sometimes one organization may fulfill the duties of both a NIC and a + NOC, this document assumes NIC functions to be separate from NOC + functions and addresses NIC functions only. Obviously, however, a + NIC must work closely with its NOC to ensure users get the best + service possible. + +4. HISTORY + + When the original Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) + was formed, SRI was assigned the essential administrative task of + registering every host on the network and maintaining the Official + Host Table. This host table was needed to interconnect the hosts + into a network. SRI also became the repository for the RFCs, most of + + + +Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 3] + +RFC 1302 NISI February 1992 + + + which were only available in paper copies because a file transfer + protocol had yet to be specified. Because of its role as a central + information repository in these ways, SRI became the natural place + for users to call with questions, and the first NIC was born. + + In 1984, the original network split into two networks: the ARPANET + and the MILNET. The ARPANET was laid to rest in 1990, and the + original NIC became the Defense Data Network NIC (DDN-NIC). This NIC + was sometimes referred to as the "SRI-NIC" or sometimes simply as + "the NIC". Today this NIC is maintained by Government Systems, Inc., + and provides information services to the MILNET portion of the DDN, + as well as performing several administrative duties that serve the + entire Internet community. SRI continues to provide general Internet + information services and maintains an FTP repository. + + The days of having just one or two networks are long gone. Today, + the Internet is an international collection of thousands of networks + interconnected with the TCP/IP protocols. Users of any one of these + networks can use the network services provided by TCP/IP to reach any + of the other networks. + + There are other major wide area networks, such as BITNET and DECnet + networks, that are not based on the TCP/IP protocols and are thus not + considered part of the Internet itself. However, users can + communicate between these networks and the Internet via electronic + mail, so Internet NICs often answer questions regarding these + networks. + + NICs exist for many of the networks that make up today's Internet. + For example, in addition to the MILNET, in the United States there + are the National Science Foundation Network (NSFNET), the Energy + Science Network (ESnet), and the NASA Science Internet (NSI). All of + these networks provide NICs. + + BITNET is a non-TCP/IP network that is accessible to the Internet via + electronic mail. Its administrative organization, the Corporation + for Research and Educational Networking (CREN), supports NIC services + for BITNET users. + + Many networks in countries other than the United States also provide + NIC services. For example, such services exist for NORDUnet, which + connects national networks in the Nordic countries, and JANet, the + Joint Academic Network in the United Kingdom. The BITNET + counterparts in Europe and Canada are the European Academic and + Research Network (EARN) and NetNorth, respectively. + + + + + + +Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 4] + +RFC 1302 NISI February 1992 + + +5. ESSENTIAL NIC FUNCTIONS + + Network Information Centers exist to provide services that make using + the network easier and more attractive to users. + + To help meet this goal, four essential NIC functions have been + identified as those that every Internet NIC should perform. These + are the basic functions that define the minimum level of Internet + information service. Each Internet NIC should: + + - Provide information resources. + - Support end-users through direct contact. + - Collect and maintain NIC referral information. + - Support the NIC infrastructure. + + The level of each service and the exact mechanisms for providing + these services depend on the needs of the particular network user + community. Funding, staffing, and implementation issues related to + these functions are left up to individual NIC organizations. + + Presently, only the first two functions, providing information + resources and directly supporting end-users, are routinely performed + by Internet NICs. The variety of ways in which these services are + provided is described more fully in the section on, "Examples of + Present NIC Services". + + The last two functions, collecting information about other NICs and + supporting the NIC infrastructure, are new roles that have evolved as + the Internet community and the number of NICs have grown. + + Each of these four essential functions is discussed in some depth in + this section. + +5.1 Provide Information Resources + + Information resources refers to both online and hard-copy resources, + such as online files, marketing information, and newsletters. NICs + help users gain access to relevant information in several ways. + + - Obtain information online from other sites and store + it at the local NIC where users may access it. + + - Refer users to information stored at other locations + around the Internet. This option requires that each + NIC maintain up-to-date information regarding such + + + + + + +Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 5] + +RFC 1302 NISI February 1992 + + + Internet resources. + + - Create information, such as newsletters, marketing + information, tutorial files or documents, and make + it available to users. In this case, the "creating + NIC" is solely responsible for the content and + accuracy of the information provided. + + In all of the cases above, users need a way to verify the + authenticity and currentness of the information. Accordingly, each + NIC should provide the following information for everything it makes + available to its users and the Internet community: 1) a time stamp, + 2) a revision number, and 3) the name of the NIC that produced the + document. The NIC should also maintain contact information regarding + the source of a file, but does not necessarily have to include such a + contact in the online file. + +5.2 Support End-Users + + A NIC serves as the principle source of network information for its + end users. NICs field a variety of user inquiries, such as requests + for how to get connected to the Internet, how to locate and access a + particular application on the network, how to determine an e-mail + address, and how to solve operational problems. Each NIC must take a + best effort approach to responding to these inquiries and take + responsibility for a user inquiry until it is resolved in some way. + Resolution may be answering the question, referring the user to the + appropriate information source, or coordinating with a NOC to resolve + a user connectivity problem. + + To facilitate this role of information provider, the following + delivery mechanisms are used: + + - Telephone "hotline" support. All NICs need to be + available to answer phone inquiries during the + business day. + + - Electronic mail. An electronic mail address acts as + an electronic help desk. For consistency, the + electronic mail address should be of the form + NIC@domain (e.g., NIC@DDN.MIL). Such a common + addressing convention will move toward + standardization of these "electronic help desks" and + will increase the chance that users will know where + to ask for help. In addition, a user inquiry to a + NIC e-mail address should either produce a human + response or an up-to-date machine response that + performs a triage function by advising the user + + + +Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 6] + +RFC 1302 NISI February 1992 + + + where to go for particular categories of problems. + For example, a message to NIC@NSF.NET could return a + message alerting the user to the NNSC@NNSC.NSF.NET + and the NSFNET-INFO@MERIT.EDU mailboxes, both of + which provide information for NSFNET. + + - Electronic information transfer. NICs should + provide information in electronic form, and make it + available across the Internet through mechanisms + such as anonymous file transfer, electronic mail, + and remote databases. + +5.3 Collect and Maintain NIC Referral Information + + With the recent dramatic increase in the number of networks, users, + and applications accessible via the Internet, it is impossible for + any one NIC to maintain comprehensive, up-to-date information of all + the services and information available. Because such information is + distributed among many NICs, it is essential for each NIC to be aware + of other NICs and their areas of expertise. Such shared information + among NICs ensures that Internet users will be referred promptly to + the correct information resource. + + In an effort to gather data about NICs and their resources, + information will be solicited from each NIC and placed in a database + called "nic-profiles". This database will be available to all NICs. + Such shared information among NICs ensures that Internet users will + be referred promptly to the correct information resource. For + information regarding joining or using the nic-profiles database, + send a message to nic-forum-request@merit.edu. + +5.4 Support the NIC Infrastructure + + It is essential that each NIC take an active part in supporting the + NIC/Internet infrastructure. Two means of providing such support are + suggested here. + + - Attend the IETF User Services Working Group (USWG). + NICs are encouraged to participate in the USWG, an + ongoing working group of the IETF, which is + chartered to identify, discuss, and recommend + solutions to user service issues. The group meets + regularly at the IETF meetings. (Information about + IETF meeting schedules, etc., is available for + anonymous FTP from nnsc.nsf.net. The directory is + ietf.) The USWG has spawned a variety of working + groups dealing with specific user service topics. + To join the USWG mailing list send an e-mail request + + + +Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 7] + +RFC 1302 NISI February 1992 + + + to uswg-request@nnsc.nsf.net. + + - Participate in nic-forum. An electronic mailing + list, "nic-forum", will provide NIC personnel with a + means of soliciting information from other NICs, + offering solutions to common problems, and posting + information of general interest. A NIC can register + in the nic-forum, as well as provide information for + the nic-profiles database, by sending a message to + nic-forum-request@nsf.net. + +6. EXAMPLES OF PRESENT NIC SERVICES + + There are a variety of ways through which existing NICs fulfill the + basic requirements previously indicated under "Essential NIC + Functions". + + Today's Internet NICs provide network users with a wide array of + value-added services. The types and levels of services vary for any + particular NIC depending on a number of issues such as funding, + audience served, available resources, and mission of the network + organization. + + An overview of some of the services offered today by Internet NICs is + listed below. This overview provides examples of the essential + services recommended earlier, and also gives a flavor of the many + avenues through which value-added user services are provided. This + section provides examples, not recommendations. + +6.1 Direct User Support + + The main objective of a Network Information Center is to provide + support for network users. Most NICs provide both telephone and + electronic mail hotlines for convenient user access. Existing NICs + also often serve as intermediaries between users and the technical + experts who provide specific information. Because NICs interact + directly with end-users, they can frequently evaluate their services, + and modify them to accommodate changing user needs. + +6.1.1 Referrals. Today's NICs are aware of other Internet resources + and keep such referral information as up-to-date as possible. + +6.1.2 User-to-User Communication. NICs can facilitate interactions + between network users. Often this is done through conferencing + or electronic mail. For example, a NIC can set up a computer + conference dealing with a specific discipline or perhaps a + specific topic so that users can share ideas and information + with each other. Some NICs establish special interest groups and + + + +Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 8] + +RFC 1302 NISI February 1992 + + + hold in-person meetings to promote the exchange of information + between their users. + +6.1.3 Application Support. NICs often provide user support for + specific host applications in addition to providing information + and support about the network to which the host is attached. + +6.1.4 Technical Support. Technical experts are available at NIC + locations or elsewhere to trouble shoot user problems. The range + and variety of technical expertise varies with the organization. + +6.1.5 Emergency Services. Most NICs provide immediate notification to + users of impending events that may affect their network usage. + This is often done through electronic mail bulletins which state + the particular event, its impact, and its duration. + +6.2 User Training Services + + NICs sponsor seminars, classes, and training workshops intended to + assist users in understanding the network environment. These + training events range from general "what is the Internet" to + workshops on specific topics such as how to use a super-computer + application. + +6.3 Marketing and Public Relations Services + +6.3.1 Newsletters. Some Internet NICs publish newsletters which are + used to inform subscribers about network developments and tools, + and as marketing documents to try to get more organizations to + attach to the network. + +6.3.2 Other Publications. Many NICs also produce a variety of + general purpose brochures and "how-to" documents which are + distributed to potential network users. + +6.3.3 PR Activities. NICs may be involved in a variety of public + relations activities from writing and distributing press releases + about new network developments to holding press conferences to + announce significant technological events. + +6.4 Information Repository Services + + An important activity of NICs is producing and/or collecting + information of interest to their users. Most NICs provide + hardware to store such information online and distribute the + information to their users both electronically and in hard-copy + form. + + + + +Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 9] + +RFC 1302 NISI February 1992 + + +6.5 Administrative Services + + Many NICs perform registration services, such as registering user + information in a white pages database, keeping a record of hosts on + their networks, or keeping a record of contacts for hosts, networks, + or domains. + +7. EXAMPLES OF PRESENT INFORMATION DELIVERY MECHANISMS + + Information is delivered to network users via a wide variety of + mechanisms. The most common methods are electronic mail and file + transfer protocol (FTP); however, information is also relayed via the + telephone, FAX machines, U.S. mail, and in-person seminars, as well + as via electronic bulletin boards and remote database access. NICs + are always looking for ways of making information broadly accessible + so that the maximum number of network users can use it effectively. + + The following table lists the various information delivery methods + used in the Internet today, and notes the kind of information + distributed using each method. + + +______________________________________________________________________ + + + Table 1: AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND DELIVERY MECHANISMS + + + Delivery Mechanism Type of Information Available + ------------------------------------------------------------------ + + FTP Network maps, functional specs, + draft RFCs, newsletters, + protocols, any information in + a file: ASCII, binary, etc. + + electronic mail General information, newsletters, + announcements, security alerts, + network status information + + bulletin board General information, announcements, + source code + + hard copy Newsletters, user guides, resource + guides, press releases, promotional + information + + + + + +Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 10] + +RFC 1302 NISI February 1992 + + + presentations/seminars Network applications, technology + trends, technical overviews, + general information about Internet + environment, TCP/IP overviews + + Telnet Remote systems, applications + + person-to-person Answers to specific questions, + contact information, referrals + + electronic conference Other users, discipline-specific + information + + information services General information, promotional + information, local interest + information + + directory services Phone book information (white + pages, and eventually yellow pages) + + library services Bibliographies, full text, + references + + phone Specific requests, contacts, + referrals, connecting assistance + + U.S. mail Newsletters, user guides + + FAX Variety of printed material + + Finger, whois User data + + + ______________________________________________________________________ + +8. DATABASE ACCURACY ISSUES + + As has been mentioned elsewhere in this paper, NICs often are the + sites of databases of various types of information, which are + maintained for various reasons. It is recommended that NICs + emphasize the importance of keeping such data as accurate as + possible. In addition, it is important to allow people some control + over personal information about them that may reside in a NIC + database, especially if the information will be available publicly. + + It is recommended that, as part of the process of collecting + information for a database, a NIC should disclose the following + information to those supplying data: + + + +Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 11] + +RFC 1302 NISI February 1992 + + + - Why the information is being collected and how it will be used. + - What the consequences are of not providing the asked for data or + of revoking data in a database. + - Which information asked for is mandatory and which is optional. + - Which information will be made public. + - How the data can be updated and who may provide updates. + - How and how often the NIC will solicit for data updates. + + A NIC should actively seek updates to its data at least once a year. + The date publicly available data was last updated should be part of + the public information available about that data. In general, users + should know when personal information about them is available in a + public database, and have the opportunity to change it or revoke it. + +9. SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS + + Because NICs interact directly with network users, they will have to + deal with network and host security issues at times. NICs should be + aware of those agencies and groups on the Internet that have the + responsibility of handling security incidents so that users can be + properly referred when necessary, and so the NICs themselves have + resources to call on should a major incident occur. NICs should be + aware of security issues and security information resources, such as + network mailing lists and the Site Security Handbook (FYI 8, RFC + 1244), and advocate the importance of security considerations to + their users. NICs should have explicit procedures in place to follow + in the event of a security incident. Such procedures will probably + include the means of interacting with both response centers and NOCs, + as well as with users. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 12] + +RFC 1302 NISI February 1992 + + +10. AUTHORS' ADDRESSES + + Dana D. Sitzler + Merit Network, Inc + 1075 Beal Avenue + Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2112 + + Phone: (313) 936-2648 + EMail: dds@merit.edu + + + Patricia G. Smith + Merit Network, Inc + 1075 Beal Avenue + Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2112 + + Phone: (313) 936-3000 + EMail: psmith@merit.edu + + + April N. Marine + SRI International + Network Information Systems Center + 333 Ravenswood Avenue, EJ294 + Menlo Park, CA 94025-3493 + + Phone: (415) 859-5318 + EMail: april@nisc.sri.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 13] +
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