RFC 2614 (rfc2614) - Page 1 of 91

An API for Service Location

Network Working Group                                          J. Kempf
Request for Comments: 2614                                   E. Guttman
Category: Informational                                Sun Microsystems
                                                              June 1999


                      An API for Service Location

Status of This Memo

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

Abstract

   The Service Location Protocol (SLP) provides a new way for clients to
   dynamically discovery network services.  With SLP, it is simple to
   offer highly available services that require no user configuration or
   assistance from network administrators prior to use.  This document
   describes standardized APIs for SLP in C and Java.  The APIs are
   modular and are designed to allow implementations to offer just the
   feature set needed.  In addition, standardized file formats for
   configuration and serialized registrations are defined, allowing SLP
   agents to set network and other parameters in a portable way.  The
   serialized file format allows legacy services to be registered with
   SLP directory agents in cases where modifying the legacy service
   program code is difficult or impossible, and to portably exchange a
   registration database.

Table of Contents

    1. Introduction                                                    4
        1.1. Goals  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    4
        1.2. Terminology  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    4
    2. File Formats                                                    7
        2.1. Configuration File Format  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8
              2.1.1. DA configuration   . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9
              2.1.2. Static Scope Configuration . . . . . . . . . .    9
              2.1.3. Tracing and Logging  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   11
              2.1.4. Serialized Proxy Registrations . . . . . . . .   11
              2.1.5. Network Configuration Properties . . . . . . .   12
              2.1.6. SA Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   14
              2.1.7. UA Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   14
              2.1.8. Security   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   15
        2.2. Multihomed Machines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   16
        2.3. Serialized Registration File . . . . . . . . . . . . .   16




Kempf & Guttman              Informational