RFC 1276 (rfc1276) - Page 2 of 17

Replication and Distributed Operations extensions to provide an Internet Directory using X

RFC 1276         Internet Directory Replication          November 1991


1  Approach

There are a number of non-negotiable requirements which must be met
before a directory can be deployed on the Internet [HK91b].  These
problems are being tackled in the standards arena, but there is
currently no stable solution.  One approach would be to attempt to
intercept the standard.  Difficulties with this would be:


 o  Defining a coherent intercept would be awkward, and the effort
    would probably be better devoted to working on the standard.  It
    is not even clear that such an intercept could be defined.

 o  The target is moving, and it is always tempting to track it, thus
    causing more delay.

 o  There would be a delay involved with this approach.  It would be
    too late to be useful for a rapid start, and sufficiently close to
    the timing of the final standard that many would choose not to
    implement it.

Therefore, we choose to take a simple approach.  This is a good deal
simpler than the full X.500 approach, and is based on operational
experience.  The advantages of this approach are:


 o  It is proven in operation.  This RFCis simply documenting what is
    being done already.

 o  There will be a minimum of delay in starting to use the approach.

 o  The approach is simpler, and so the cost of implementation is much
    less.  It will therefore be much more attractive to add into an
    implementation, as it is less effort, and can be further ahead of
    the standard.

These procedures are an INTERIM approach.  There are known
deficiencies, both in terms of manageability and scalability.
Transition to standard approaches are planned when appropriate
standards are available.  This RFCwill be obsoleted at this point.





Hardcastle-Kille