Netnews Architecture and Protocols
RFC 5537

• Status
• IESG evaluation record
• IESG writeups
• Email expansions
• History

• Versions
• 14

Network Working Group                                    R. Allbery, Ed.
Request for Comments: 5537                           Stanford University
Obsoletes: 1036                                               C. Lindsey
Category: Standards Track                                  November 2009

                   Netnews Architecture and Protocols

Abstract

   This document defines the architecture of Netnews systems and
   specifies the correct manipulation and interpretation of Netnews
   articles by software that originates, distributes, stores, and
   displays them.  It also specifies the requirements that must be met
   by any protocol used to transport and serve Netnews articles.

Status of This Memo

   This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
   Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
   Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
   and status of this protocol.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2009 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
   document authors.  All rights reserved.

   This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
   Provisions Relating to IETF Documents
   (http://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) in effect on the date of
   publication of this document.  Please review these documents
   carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect
   to this document.  Code Components extracted from this document must
   include Simplified BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of
   the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as
   described in the BSD License.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................3
      1.1. Basic Concepts .............................................3
      1.2. Scope ......................................................3
      1.3. Requirements Notation ......................................3
      1.4. Syntax Notation ............................................3
      1.5. Definitions ................................................4
   2. Transport .......................................................5

Allbery & Lindsey           Standards Track                     [Page 1]
RFC 5537           Netnews Architecture and Protocols      November 2009

   3. Duties of Agents ................................................6
      3.1. General Principles .........................................6
      3.2. The Path Header Field ......................................7
           3.2.1. Constructing the Path Header Field ..................8
           3.2.2. Path Header Field Example ...........................9
      3.3. Article History and Duplicate Suppression .................10
      3.4. Duties of a Posting Agent .................................11
           3.4.1. Proto-Articles .....................................12
           3.4.2. Multiple Injection of Articles .....................13
           3.4.3. Followups ..........................................14
           3.4.4. Construction of the References Header Field ........15
      3.5. Duties of an Injecting Agent ..............................15
           3.5.1. Forwarding Messages to a Moderator .................18
      3.6. Duties of a Relaying Agent ................................19
      3.7. Duties of a Serving Agent .................................21
      3.8. Duties of a Reading Agent .................................22
      3.9. Duties of a Moderator .....................................22
      3.10. Duties of a Gateway ......................................24
           3.10.1. Duties of an Outgoing Gateway .....................25
           3.10.2. Duties of an Incoming Gateway .....................25
           3.10.3. Original-Sender Header Field ......................27
           3.10.4. Gateway Example ...................................28
   4. Media Types ....................................................29
      4.1. application/news-transmission .............................30
      4.2. application/news-groupinfo ................................31
      4.3. application/news-checkgroups ..............................33
   5. Control Messages ...............................................35
      5.1. Authentication and Authorization ..........................35
      5.2. Group Control Messages ....................................36
           5.2.1. The newgroup Control Message .......................36
                  5.2.1.1. newgroup Control Message Example ..........37
           5.2.2. The rmgroup Control Message ........................38
           5.2.3. The checkgroups Control Message ....................38
      5.3. The cancel Control Message ................................40
      5.4. The Supersedes Header Field ...............................40
      5.5. The ihave and sendme Control Messages .....................41