From 4bfd864f10b68b71482b35c818559068ef8d5797 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Thomas Voss Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2024 20:54:24 +0100 Subject: doc: Add RFC documents --- doc/rfc/rfc1216.txt | 227 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 227 insertions(+) create mode 100644 doc/rfc/rfc1216.txt (limited to 'doc/rfc/rfc1216.txt') diff --git a/doc/rfc/rfc1216.txt b/doc/rfc/rfc1216.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..30ac831 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/rfc/rfc1216.txt @@ -0,0 +1,227 @@ + + + + + + +Network Working Group Poorer Richard +Request for Comments: 1216 Almanac Institute + Prof. Kynikos + Miskatonic University + 1 April 1991 + + + Gigabit Network Economics and Paradigm Shifts + +Status of this Memo + + This memo proposes a new standard paradigm for the Internet + Activities Board (IAB) standardization track. Distribution of this + memo is unlimited. + +1. Introduction + + The history of computer communication contains many examples of + efforts to align the capabilities of processors to that of + communication media. Packet switching is the classic case of a + careful tradeoff between the costs of memory, processing, and + communications bandwidth. + + With all of the attention and publicity focused on gigabit networks, + not much notice has been given to small and largely unfunded research + efforts which are studying innovative approaches for dealing with + technical issues within the constraints of economic science. This + memo defines one such paradigm. + +2. Contemporary Network Economics + + Recent cost estimates predict a continuing decline in the cost for + processing, memory, and communication. One recent projection put the + decline for $/bit and $/MIP at 99% per decade and put the decline for + $/bps at 90% per decade. Scalable parallel processor designs may + accelerate the cost declines for CPU and memory, but no similar + accelerated decline should be expected in the cost of communications. + Such a decline would imply eventual declines in the cost of 56Kbps + service used for voice, resulting in a negative rate of return for + telecommunications carriers, an unlikely eventuality even if free- + market forces are carried to their logical extreme. + + Increases in processing power create additional demand for + communications bandwidth, but do nothing to pay for it. While we + will sell no paradigm before its time, the 9% difference, + particularly after compounding is taken into account, will bankrupt + the internet community unless a paradigm shift takes place. + + + + +Richard & Kynikos [Page 1] + +RFC 1216 Gigabit Network Economics and Paradigm Shifts April 1991 + + +3. The ULS Paradigm Shift + + The ULS paradigm shift breaks the downward spiral by concentrating on + end-to-end datagrams and virtual circuit services operating in the + .01 uGbps region, namely Ultra Low Speed networking. + + However, + + "The worlds best technological paradigm shifts are useless unless + they (a) are economically viable, (b) have clear applicability, (c) + are technically feasible." + + --Milton John in "Paradigms Lost" + +3.1 Economic Viability + + Cost projections indicate that individual ULS circuits can be + provided at a cost of <$.03/month due to the unusually high + multiplexing that will be possible on Gbit links. The 10 THz + bandwidth of existing optical fibers will be able to support on the + order of 1 TUser, handling population growth, and even internet + growth, for some time. Moreover, if $.03/month is a significant + barrier to entry, substantial discounts appear to be economically + feasible. + +3.2 Clear Applicability + + A fundamental principle of networking is that network speed must + match the application. We have identified a number of critical + applications that are matched to ULS technology. Below we itemize a + few of these, but we provide a brief description for only the first; + the match for the others should be equally obvious. + + - Low priority facsimile: A large percentage of documents and letters + are sent via facsimile not because they need sub-minute delivery, + but because they carry signatures or graphics. In these cases, a + three-hour delivery (comparable to the value reliably achieved on + many of today's packet-based email systems) is sufficient. With + proper compression, this delivery time can be achieved over a + ULSnet. + + - Real time data (e.g., tracking glaciers) + + - US postal service + + - Contracting for research + + To be truly viable, ULS networking must scale, and indeed it does. + + + +Richard & Kynikos [Page 2] + +RFC 1216 Gigabit Network Economics and Paradigm Shifts April 1991 + + + With some effort, we envision extending the technology to the + extremely-low-speed regime. Applications that scale from the ULS + applications above are: + + - Real time data (e.g., gravity wave detectors) + - Italian postal service + - Congressional budget process + +3.3 Technical Feasibility + + The hardware issues are well in hand. The remaining issues are + protocol related. To examine them, we must extrapolate backward from + some well known networking principles. + + "Gigabit networks require new protocols." + + The clear inference here is that ULS will require old protocols, so + as we recede into the future, we should expect the following: + + ULS will require minimal development. Although we may need research + in storage technology to recover the software from old media such as + decayed magnetic dump tapes, paper tape, and partially recycled card + decks, this effort will be more than offset by the savings. + + ULS protocols will be well documented, amenable to verification, and + suitable for MSI implementation in Silicon, or even Germanium or + relays. In particular, the alternating bit protocol [1] is a leading + contender. + + "Bad news travel fast." + + Therefore, ULS gives preferential treatment to good news. While this + will delay the delivery of bills, notices from timeshare + condominiums, and contest announcements, it will also produce + immediate productivity gains on several mailing lists. + +3.4 Problems Requiring Work + + ULS is not without problems. + + Some other well-known protocol suites are well ahead of ULS in + exploring the desired performance operating point. We note our + concern about the dearth of domestic (U.S.-based) research and + development in this important area. This is particularly disturbing + in light of the level of work now underway in other countries. + + Efficiency is a problem: + + + + +Richard & Kynikos [Page 3] + +RFC 1216 Gigabit Network Economics and Paradigm Shifts April 1991 + + + - All ULS protocols incorporate slow-start. + + - Lower data rates mean fewer errors. + + - Whereas modern protocols use 32 bit sequence numbers, + acknowledgment fields, etc., ULS headers can be quite small (1 bit + sequence numbers for the alternating-bit protocol). Thus the + header/data ratio shrinks. + + The net result is "creeping efficiency" which tends to push us away + from the proper ULS operating point. While we have no definitive + solution, there are several promising palliatives: + + - Forward Error Insertion (FEI) + + - Negative window scaling factors + + - New protocol layers + + - Multiple presentation layers + +4. Conclusions + + The road to Ultra Low Speed (ULS) technology is long, slow, and easy. + +REFERENCES and BIBLIOGRAPHY + + [1] Lynch, W. "Reliable full-duplex file transmission over half- + duplex telephone lines", CACM, pp. 407-410, June 1968. + +Security Considerations + + Security issues are not discussed in this memo. + +Authors' Addresses + + Dr. Poorer Richard + Almanac Institute + Center against Misoneoism + Campo Imperatore, Italy + EMail: none + + + Prof. Kynikos + Miskatonic University + Arkham, MA. + Email: Kynikos@Cthulu.Miskatonic.EDU + + + + +Richard & Kynikos [Page 4] + \ No newline at end of file -- cgit v1.2.3