RFC 991 (rfc991) - Page 1 of 46
Official ARPA-Internet protocols
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group J. Reynolds
Request for Comments: 991 J. Postel
ISI
Obsoletes: RFCs 961, 943, 924, 901, 880, 840 November 1986
OFFICIAL ARPA-INTERNET PROTOCOLS
STATUS OF THIS MEMO
This memo is an official status report on the protocols used in the
ARPA-Internet community. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
INTRODUCTION
This RFC identifies the documents specifying the official protocols
used in the Internet. Comments indicate any revisions or changes
planned.
To first order, the official protocols are those specified in the
"DDN Protocol Handbook" (DPH), dated December 1985 (this is a three
volume set with a total thickness of about 5 inches).
Older collections that include many of these specifications are the
"Internet Protocol Transition Workbook" (IPTW), dated March 1982; the
"Internet Mail Protocols", dated November 1982; and the "Internet
Telnet Protocols and Options", dated June 1983. There is also a
volume of protocol related information called the "Internet Protocol
Implementers Guide" (IPIG) dated August 1982. An even older
collection is the "ARPANET Protocol Handbook" (APH) dated
January 1978. Nearly all the relevant material from these
collections has been reproduced in the current DPH.
This document is organized as a sketchy outline. The entries are
protocols (e.g., Transmission Control Protocol). In each entry there
are notes on status, specification, comments, other references,
dependencies, and contact.
The STATUS is one of: required, recommended, elective,
experimental, or none.
The SPECIFICATION identifies the protocol defining documents.
The COMMENTS describe any differences from the specification or
problems with the protocol.
The OTHER REFERENCES identify documents that comment on or expand
on the protocol.
Reynolds & Postel
