Which organization publishes and manages the request for Comments rfc documents
Request For Comments (RFC) is a series of organizational and technical documents containing specification and policies pertaining to the different aspects of the Internet such as computer networking, protocols, procedures, programs, and concepts, meeting notes, and opinions (and even humor) from the authors. RFC's are prepared by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), Internet Architecture Board (IAB) and the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF).[1] Show HistoryThe Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO) funded research on advance computers and network technologies during the 1960s, which led to the development of ARPANET, the first wide area packet switching network, or in simple words, the first Internet.[2] It was in 1968, when the ARPANET research was in full progress wherein researchers and computer scientists met regularly to discuss the progress of their work, technical standards, Internet design and architecture, and many other aspects of computing and networking. The Group called themselves as the Network Working Group. It was in February of 1969 during a meeting in Utah with the BBN when the Network Working Group realized that they needed to start writing down their discussions. The term "Request For Comments" was first used by Steve Crocker when he volunteered to organize the notes written by the Network Working Group to give emphasis to their basic ground rule that "anyone can say anything and nothing was official" Crocker wrote the first RFC entitled "Host Software" on April 7, 1969.[3] Crocker was part of the UCLA Team along with Vinton Cerf, Jon Postel, Bill Naylor, and Mike Wingfield responsible for creating the protocols of the ARPANET, which became the foundation of today's Internet.[4] The RFC became a very convenient and useful method for recording all the details and technical information carried out by the Network Working Group in their research. It became the official document of the Network Working Group. RFC CategoriesThe RFCs has different categories, which include:[5]
RFC Series EditorThe RFC Series Editor is responsible for editing, cataloging, and publishing the RFC series of documents regarding computer communications. Jon Postel, was the original Editor of RFC Series. He was the RFC editor for 28 years. Joyce Reynolds succeeded as RFC Editor in 1998 due to the sudden death of Postel. Reynolds had been working with Postel in editing the RFC's and managing IANA since 1983.[6] The sudden death of Postel prompted USC-ISI to make necessary changes in the process of publishing the RFC Series to ensure the continuity of the quality and accessibility of the documents. USC-ISI developed the Procedures Manual for the RFC Editor.[7] The operations of the RFC Editor were originally funded by the Defense Advanced research Project Agency, which lasted until 1988. The Internet Society (ISOC) took over the funding for the RFC Editor in 1988. The RFC Editor was a part of the University of Southern California – Information Sciences Institute from 1977 to 2009. The Association Management Solutions, LLC (AMS). is the current entity that handles the RFC Editor project.[8] Functions of the RFC Series EditorThe responsibilities of the RFC Series Editor as define by the by RFC 2026 (The Internet Standards Process - Revision 3),[9] RFC 4844 (The RFC Series and RFC Editor),[10] RFC 4846 (Independent Submissions to the RFC Editor)[11] and RFC 5620 (RFC Editor Model Version 1).[12] include:
Important Groups to the RFC SeriesThe two important groups that plays a significant role to the RFC Series include:[13]
References
What organization is responsible for publishing Request For Comments?In the computer network engineering and design realm, a Request for Comments (RFC) is a memorandum published by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) describing methods, behaviors, research, or innovations applicable to the working of the Internet, along with Internet-connected systems.
Why is it called RFC?RFCs started as informal technical notes and the name originally stood for “Request For Comments” but now they are simply known as RFCs. The collaborative process used to develop early RFCs remains an important part of the IETF spirit. Today, there are more than 9000 individually numbered documents in the series.
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