Terminology for Policy-Based Management
RFC 3198

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Network Working Group                                      A. Westerinen
Request for Comments: 3198                                 J. Schnizlein
Category: Informational                                    Cisco Systems
                                                            J. Strassner
                                                  Intelliden Corporation
                                                            M. Scherling
                                                                   xCert
                                                                B. Quinn
                                                          Celox Networks
                                                               S. Herzog
                                                        PolicyConsulting
                                                                A. Huynh
                                                     Lucent Technologies
                                                              M. Carlson
                                                        Sun Microsystems
                                                                J. Perry
                                                       Network Appliance
                                                           S. Waldbusser
                                                           November 2001

                Terminology for Policy-Based Management

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 (2001).  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

   This document is a glossary of policy-related terms.  It provides
   abbreviations, explanations, and recommendations for use of these
   terms.  The document takes the approach and format of RFC 2828, which
   defines an Internet Security Glossary. The intent is to improve the
   comprehensibility and consistency of writing that deals with network
   policy, particularly Internet Standards documents (ISDs).

Westerinen, et al.           Informational                      [Page 1]
RFC 3198        Terminology for Policy-Based Management    November 2001

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction...................................................  2
   2. Explanation of Paragraph Markings..............................  3
   3. Terms..........................................................  3
   4. Intellectual Property.......................................... 16
   5. Acknowledgements............................................... 17
   6. Security Considerations........................................ 17
   7. References..................................................... 17
   8. Authors' Addresses............................................. 19
   9. Full Copyright Statement....................................... 21

1. Introduction

   This document provides abbreviations, definitions, and explanations
   of terms related to network policy.  All definitions are provided in
   Section 3, with the terms listed in alphabetical order.

   The intent is to improve the comprehensibility and consistency of
   Internet Standards documents (ISDs) -- i.e., RFCs, Internet-Drafts,
   and other material produced as part of the Internet Standards Process
   [RFC2026].  Benefits across the ISDs are well-stated in the
   Introduction to RFC 2828 [RFC2828]:

   o  "Clear, Concise, and Easily Understood Documentation" - Requires
      that the set of terms and definitions be consistent, self-
      supporting and uniform across all ISDs.

   o  Technical Excellence - Where all ISDs use terminology accurately,
      precisely, and unambiguously.

   o  Prior Implementation and Testing - Requires that terms are used in
      their plainest form, that private and "made-up" terms are avoided
      in ISDs, and that new definitions are not created that conflict
      with established ones.

   o  "Openness, Fairness, and Timeliness" - Where ISDs avoid terms that
      are proprietary or otherwise favor a particular vendor, or that
      create a bias toward a particular technology or mechanism.

   Common and/or controversial policy terms are defined.  These terms
   are directly related and specific to network policy.

   Wherever possible, this document takes definitions from existing
   ISDs.  It should be noted that:

   o  Expired Internet-Drafts are not referenced, nor are their
      terminology and definitions used in this document.

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RFC 3198        Terminology for Policy-Based Management    November 2001

   o  Multiple definitions may exist across the ISDs.  Each definition
      is listed, with its source.

2. Explanation of Paragraph Markings

   Section 3 marks terms and definitions as follows:

   o  Capitalization: Only terms that are proper nouns are capitalized.