30 Years of RFCs
RFC 2555
Document | Type |
RFC - Informational
(April 1999; No errata)
Updated by RFC 8700
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Authors | |||
Last updated | 2013-03-02 | ||
Stream | Legacy | ||
Formats | plain text html pdf htmlized bibtex | ||
Stream | Legacy state | (None) | |
Consensus Boilerplate | Unknown | ||
RFC Editor Note | (None) | ||
IESG | IESG state | RFC 2555 (Informational) | |
Telechat date | |||
Responsible AD | (None) | ||
Send notices to | (None) |
Network Working Group RFC Editor, et al. Request for Comments: 2555 USC/ISI Category: Informational 7 April 1999 30 Years of RFCs Status of this Memo This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of this memo is unlimited. Copyright Notice Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1999). All Rights Reserved. Table of Contents 1. Introduction.................................................. 2 2. Reflections................................................... 2 3. The First Pebble: Publication of RFC 1........................ 3 4. RFCs - The Great Conversation................................. 5 5. Reflecting on 30 years of RFCs................................ 9 6. Favorite RFCs -- The First 30 Years...........................14 7. Security Considerations.......................................15 8. Acknowledgments...............................................15 9. Authors' Addresses............................................15 10. APPENDIX - RFC 1..............................................17 11. Full Copyright Statement......................................18 RFC Editor, et al. Informational [Page 1] RFC 2555 30 Years of RFCs 7 April 1999 1. Introduction - Robert Braden Thirty years ago today, the first Request for Comments document, RFC 1, was published at UCLA (ftp://ftp.isi.edu/in-notes/rfc1.txt). This was the first of a series that currently contains more than 2500 documents on computer networking, collected, archived, and edited by Jon Postel for 28 years. Jon has left us, but this 30th anniversary tribute to the RFC series is assembled in grateful admiration for his massive contribution. The rest of this document contains a brief recollection from the present RFC Editor Joyce K. Reynolds, followed by recollections from three pioneers: Steve Crocker who wrote RFC 1, Vint Cerf whose long- range vision continues to guide us, and Jake Feinler who played a key role in the middle years of the RFC series. 2. Reflections - Joyce K. Reynolds A very long time ago when I was dabbling in IP network number and protocol parameter assignments with Jon Postel, gateways were still "dumb", the Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP) was in its infancy and TOPS-20 was in its heyday. I was aware of the Request for Comments (RFCs) document series, with Jon as the RFC Editor. I really didn't know much of the innerworkings of what the task entailed. It was Jon's job and he quietly went about publishing documents for the ARPANET community. Meanwhile, Jon and I would have meetings in his office to go over our specific tasks of the day. One day, I began to notice that a pile of folders sitting to one side of his desk seemed to be growing. A few weeks later the pile had turned into two stacks of folders. I asked him what they were. Apparently, they contained documents for RFC publication. Jon was trying to keep up with the increasing quantity of submissions for RFC publication. I mentioned to him one day that he should learn to let go of some of his work load and task it on to other people. He listened intently, but didn't comment. The very next day, Jon wheeled a computer stand into my office which was stacked with those documents from his desk intended for RFC publication. He had a big Cheshire cat grin on his face and stated, "I'm letting go!", and walked away. At the top of the stack was a big red three ring notebook. Inside contained the "NLS Textbook", which was prepared at ISI by Jon, Lynne Sims and Linda Sato for use on ISI's TENEX and TOPS-20 systems. Upon reading its contents, I learned that the NLS system was designed to help people work with information on a computer. It included a wide range of tools, from a simple set of commands for writing, reading RFC Editor, et al. Informational [Page 2] RFC 2555 30 Years of RFCs 7 April 1999 and printing documents to sophisticated methods for retrieving and communication information. NLS was the system Jon used to write, edit and create the RFCs. Thus began my indoctrination to the RFC publication series. Operating systems and computers have changed over the years, but Jon's perseverance about the consistency of the RFC style and quality of the documents remained true. Unfortunately, Jon did not live to see the 30th Anniversary of this series that he unfailingly nurtured. Yet, the spirit of the RFC publication series continues as we approach the new millennium. Jon would be proud.Show full document text