RFC 1043 (rfc1043) - Page 1 of 26

Telnet Data Entry Terminal option: DODIIS implementation

Alternative Format: Original Text Document
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Network Working Group                                          A. Yasuda
Request for Comments: 1043                                   T. Thompson
                                             Defense Intelligence Agency
Updates: RFC 732                                           February 1988


                   TELNET Data Entry Terminal Option
                         DODIIS Implementation

Status of this Memo

   This RFC suggests a proposed protocol on the TELNET Data Entry
   Terminal (DET) Option - DODIIS Implementation for the Internet
   community.  It is intended that this specification be compatible with
   the specification of DET Option in RFC-732.  Discussion and
   suggestions for improvements are encouraged.  Distribution of this
   memo is unlimited.

Introduction

   In the early 1980s, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) undertook
   the tasks of developing a TELNET capability to access full screen
   applications across a packet switching network.  This effort was
   successful by implementing Data Entry Terminal (DET) options within
   the TELNET protocol based on RFC 732.  These DET options have been
   implemented on IAS, MVS, OS86 and UNIX operating systems.  DET
   options are being developed for VM and VMS operating systems.

   The Department of Defense Intelligence Information System (DODIIS) is
   a confederation of heterogeneous computer systems and remote
   terminals utilizing the Defense Data Network (DDN) as the
   communications backbone (namely the SCINET/DSNET-3).

   Although the reason for implementing a DET option specification was
   based upon data base application interfaces, the use of a full screen
   TELNET provides a method to achieve higher efficiency on the network.
   Most terminal to host applications on the ARPANET are character echo
   TELNETs.  This is both costly in time and network utilization, since
   one character pressed on the keyboard generates a datagram composed
   of TCP/IP headers plus the character sent to the host and the host
   echoes back a similar datagram.  In the DODIIS community, programmers
   are highly encouraged to implement full screen applications; line at
   a time is acceptable; and character remote echo mode is discouraged.

   This RFC in its final form will be implemented on SCINET.  During the
   interim period, the "DODIIS TELNET Network Virtual Data Entry
   Terminal (NVDET) Option Specification", DIA, April 1983, will be
   implemented.



Yasuda & Thompson
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