RFC 1169 (rfc1169) - Page 2 of 15
Explaining the role of GOSIP
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
RFC 1169 Explaining the Role of GOSIP August 1990 12.3 GOSIP Users' Guide.......................................... 13 12.4 Addresses/Telephone Numbers................................. 14 13. Security Considerations...................................... 15 14. Authors' Addresses........................................... 15 2. Abstract The Federal Networking Council (FNC), the Internet Activities Board (IAB), and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) have a firm commitment to responsible integration of OSI based upon sound network planning. This implies that OSI will be added to the Internet without sacrificing services now available to existing Internet users, and that a multi-protocol environment will exist in the Internet for a prolonged period. Planning is underway within the Internet community to enable integration of OSI, coexistence of OSI with TCP/IP, and interoperability between OSI and TCP/IP. The U.S. Government OSI Profile (GOSIP) is a necessary tool for planning OSI integration. However, as the August 1990 requirement date for GOSIP compliance approaches, concern remains as to how GOSIP should be applied to near-term network planning. The intent of this statement is to help explain the role and applicability of the GOSIP document, as well as to emphasize the government's commitment to an integrated interoperable OSI environment based on responsible planning. 3. Introduction The Federal Agencies, represented in the Federal Networking Council (FNC), as well as the Internet community represented by the Internet Activities Board (IAB), and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) are fully committed to integrating OSI into the Internet, as it is recognized that OSI is an international standard networking protocol suite. The FNC, IAB, and IETF are taking sound technical steps to integrate OSI in a fashion and on a schedule that assures current levels of service to users of the existing operational networks that are a part of the Internet. The large existing installed base of TCP/IP protocol users, the limited deployment of commercial OSI products, and the incomplete development of OSI standards for routing, network management, and directory services combine to make an immediate, total transition to a pure OSI environment in the Internet unrealistic. In what follows, we present a brief overview of GOSIP and we address some of the often confusing points about the intent, applicability, and implementation of GOSIP. We also describe the role of the IETF regarding the integration of OSI into the Internet. Further, we Cerf & Mills
