RFC 1301 (rfc1301) - Page 1 of 38

Multicast Transport Protocol

Network Working Group                                       S. Armstrong
Request for Comments: 1301                                         Xerox
                                                               A. Freier
                                                                   Apple
                                                             K. Marzullo
                                                                 Cornell
                                                           February 1992


                      Multicast Transport Protocol

Status of this Memo

   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  It does
   not specify an Internet standard.  Distribution of this memo is
   unlimited.

Summary

   This memo describes a protocol for reliable transport that utilizes
   the multicast capability of applicable lower layer networking
   architectures.  The transport definition permits an arbitrary number
   of transport providers to perform realtime collaborations without
   requiring networking clients (aka, applications) to possess detailed
   knowledge of the population or geographical dispersion of the
   participating members.  It is not network architectural specific, but
   does implicitly require some form of multicasting (or broadcasting)
   at the data link level, as well as some means of communicating that
   capability up through the layers to the transport.

   Keywords: reliable transport, multicast, broadcast, collaboration,
   networking.

Table of Contents

           1. Introduction                                     2
           2. Protocol description                             3
           2.1 Definition of terms                             3
           2.2 Packet format                                   6
           2.2.1. Protocol version                             7
           2.2.2. Packet type and modifier                     7
           2.2.3. Subchannel                                   9
           2.2.4. Source connection identifier                 9
           2.2.5. Destination connection identifier           10
           2.2.6. Message acceptance                          10
           2.2.7. Heartbeat                                   12
           2.2.8. Window                                      12
           2.2.9. Retention                                   12



Armstrong, Freier & Marzullo