Internet standard
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... This memo documents the process currently used by the Internet
community for the standardization of protocols and procedures. The
Internet Standards process is an activity of the Internet Society
that is organized and managed on behalf of the Internet community ...
... Internet Standards ...
... host-to-host
communication through voluntary adherence to open protocols and
procedures defined by Internet Standards. There are also many
isolated internets, i.e., sets of interconnected networks, which
...
... networks, which
are not connected to the Internet but use the Internet Standards.
Internet Standards ...
... Internet Standards.
Internet Standards were once limited to those protocols composing
what has been commonly known as the "TCP/IP protocol suite".
...
... multiple protocol suites, especially the Open Systems
Interconnection (OSI) suite. The Internet Standards process
described in this document is concerned with all protocols,
procedures, and conventions that are used in or by the Internet ...
... case of protocols developed and/or standardized by non-Internet
organizations, however, the Internet Standards process may apply
only to the application of the protocol or procedure in the
Internet ...
... context, not to the specification of the protocol itself.
In general, an Internet Standard is a specification that is stable
and well-understood, is technically competent, has multiple,
...
... o These procedures are intended to provide a fair, open, and
objective basis for developing, evaluating, and adopting
Internet Standards. They provide ample opportunity for
participation and comment by all interested parties. At each
stage of the standardization process, a specification is
...
... interoperability by multiple independent parties and
utilized in increasingly demanding environments, before it
can be adopted as an Internet Standard.
o These procedures provide a great deal of flexibility to adapt
...
... fairness.
In summary, the goals for the Internet standards process are:
* technical excellence;
...
... timeliness.
In outline, the process of creating an Internet Standard is
straightforward: a specification undergoes a period of development
and several iterations of review by the Internet community ...
... Internet standardization. Section 2
presents the nomenclature for different kinds and levels of
Internet standard technical specifications and their
applicability. Section 3 describes the process and rules for
...
... intellectual property rights
and to assure unrestricted ability for all interested parties to
practice Internet Standards.
...
...
The following organizations are involved in the Internet standards
process.
* IETF ...
... principal body
engaged in the development of new Internet Standard
specifications, although it is not itself a part of the
Internet Society ...
... for technical management of IETF activities and the Internet
Standards process. As part of the Internet Society, it
administers the Internet Standards process ...
... Internet
Standards process. As part of the Internet Society, it
administers the Internet Standards process according to the
rules and procedures given in this document, which have been
accepted and ratified by the Internet Society ...
... movement along the "standards track", as
described in section 3 of this document, including final
approval of specifications as Internet Standards. The IESG
is composed of the IETF ...
... Internet and its protocols, and to serve
in the context of the Internet Standards process as a body to
which the decisions of the IESG may be appealed (as described
...
... archival series is the official publication channel for
Internet standards documents and other publications of the
IESG, IAB ...
... service specification. See Section 3.1.3 below.
Some RFCs document Internet standards. These RFCs form the
'STD' subseries of the RFC series [4 ...
... STD' subseries of the RFC series [4]. When a specification
has been adopted as an Internet Standard, it is given the
additional label "STDxxxx", but it keeps its RFC number and its
place in the RFC series.
...
... services for the
Internet should or will become Internet Standards. Such non-
standards track specifications are not subject to the rules for
...
... * are standards track documents, and that not all *
* standards track documents reach the level of *
* Internet Standard. *
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...
...
Each category of assigned numbers typically arises from some
protocol that is on the standards track or is an Internet
Standard. For example, TCP port numbers are assigned because TCP
...
... The Internet Standards Track ...
...
Specifications that are destined to become Internet Standards
evolve through a set of maturity levels known as the "standards
track". These maturity levels -- "Proposed Standard ...
... Section 3.2.
Even after a specification has been adopted as an Internet
Standard, further evolution often occurs based on experience and
the recognition of new requirements. The nomenclature and
...
... procedures of Internet standardization provide for the replacement
of old Internet Standards with new ones, and the assignment of
descriptive labels to indicate the status of "retired" Internet
Standards. A set of maturity levels is defined in Section 3.3 to
...
... of old Internet Standards with new ones, and the assignment of
descriptive labels to indicate the status of "retired" Internet
Standards. A set of maturity levels is defined in Section 3.3 to
cover these and other "off-track" specifications.
...
... be completely self-contained, or it may incorporate material
from other specifications by reference to other documents
(which may or may not be Internet Standards).
A TS ...
... Internet capability. An AS may specify uses for TSs
that are not Internet Standards, as discussed in Section 4.
An AS ...
...
ASs and TSs go through stages of development, testing, and
acceptance. Within the Internet standards process, these stages
are formally labeled "maturity levels".
...
... Internet Standard ...
... A specification for which significant implementation and
successful operational experience has been obtained may be
elevated to the Internet Standard level. An Internet Standard
(which may simply be referred to as a Standard) is
...
... successful operational experience has been obtained may be
elevated to the Internet Standard level. An Internet Standard
(which may simply be referred to as a Standard) is
characterized by a high degree of technical maturity and by a
...
... AS is on the standards track. A TS may not be
intended to be an Internet Standard, or it may be intended for
eventual standardization but not yet ready to enter the standards
track. A TS ...
... TS or AS may have been superseded by more recent
Internet Standards, or have otherwise fallen into disuse or
disfavor.
...
... "Informational", and "Historic". There are no time limits
associated with these non-standard track labels, and the documents
bearing these labels are not Internet standards in any sense. As
the Internet grows, there is a growing amount of credible
...
... Internet community and are not incorporated into the
Internet standards process by any of the provisions of
Section 4 may be published as Informational RFCs, with the
permission of the owner.
...
... THE INTERNET STANDARDS PROCESS ...
... shall appear in each issue of the Internet Society Newsletter.
This shall constitute the "journal of record" for Internet
standards actions. In addition, the IESG shall publish a
monthly summary of standards actions completed and pending in
...
...
A specification that is potentially an Internet Standard may
originate from:
...
...
When a standards-track specification has not reached the Internet
Standard level but has remained at the same status level for
twenty-four (24) months, and every twelve (12) months thereafter
until the status is changed, the IESG ...
...
A new version of an established Internet Standard must progress
through the full Internet standardization process as if it were a
...
... which will move to Historic status. However, in some cases both
versions may remain as Internet Standards to honor the
requirements of an installed base. In this situation, the
...
... As the technology changes and matures, it is possible for a new
Standard specification to be so clearly superior technically that
one or more existing Internet Standards for the same function
should be retired. In this case, the IESG ...
... desirable to reach common agreements on their usage -- i.e., to
establish Internet Standards relating to these external
specifications.
...
... (a) Incorporation of an Open Standard
An Internet Standard TS or AS may incorporate an open external
...
... organization that is responsible for the specification.
For example, many Internet Standards incorporate by reference
the ANSI standard character set ...
... For a vendor-proprietary specification to be incorporated within
the Internet standards process, the proprietor must meet the
requirements of section 5 below, and in general the
...
...
o "Standards track documents" are specifications and other
documents that have been elevated to the Internet standards
track in accordance with the Internet Standards Process.
...
... documents that have been elevated to the Internet standards
track in accordance with the Internet Standards Process.
o "Copyrights" are purportedly valid ...
... o "Standards work" is work involved in the creation, testing,
development, revision, adoption, or maintenance of an
Internet standard that is carried out under the auspices of
ISOC.
...
... Internet, either directly or indirectly, and users of
any other networks which implement and use Internet
Standards.
...
... applications, or other rights in the contribution. The procedures
set forth in this section apply to contributions submitted after 1
April 1994. For Internet standards documents published before
this date (the RFC series has been published continuously since
April 1969), information on rights and permissions must be sought
...
... ISOC will not propose, adopt, or continue to maintain any
standards, including but not limited to standards labelled
Proposed, Draft or Internet Standards, which can only be
practiced using technology or works that are subject to
...
... technology or works in its standards work;
2. upon adoption and during maintenance of an Internet
Standard, any party will be able to obtain the right
to implement and use the technology or works under
specified, reasonable, non-discriminatory terms; and
...
... any copyrights, patents, patent applications, or other rights
pertaining to Internet Standards. For this purpose, each
standards document will include the following invitation:
...
... Internet community and other
persons that any standards, whether or not elevated to
the Internet Standard level of maturity, or any
standards-related documentation made available under the
auspices of ISOC ...
... Internet and users of any other networks which implement and
use Internet Standards (hereinafter together with ISOC called
"Internet community ...
... The Rights Holder further agrees to review the Rights listed in
Schedule A from time to time, and, in particular, immediately
prior to the elevation of the Standards to the Internet Standard
level of maturity in accordance with the Internet Standards
Process, and to inform the Executive Director ...
... prior to the elevation of the Standards to the Internet Standard
level of maturity in accordance with the Internet Standards
Process, and to inform the Executive Director of the Internet
Engineering Task Force Secretariat promptly upon learning of any
...
... o Policy Recommendations and Operational Guidelines
Internet standards have generally been concerned with the technical
specifications for hardware and software required for computer
...