RFC 818 (rfc818) - Page 1 of 2

Remote User Telnet service

Network Working Group                                          J. Postel
Request for Comments: 818                                            ISI
                                                           November 1982

   



                     The Remote User Telnet Service




This RFC is the specification of an application protocol.  Any host that
implements this application level service must follow this protocol.

This RFC was suggested by Mike Mulligan some months ago when he was at
BBN.

In the ARPANET Host-to-Host Network Control Protocol (NCP) and in the
Internet Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) well known sockets or ports
are used to identify services.  The general notion is that there are a
few types of services that are distinct and useful enough to use the NCP
or TCP demultiplexing mechanism directly.

The most common of these is the Server Telnet which generally speaking
defines the network terminal access procedure for a system executive.
That is, making a connection to the server Telnet port actually puts the
caller in contact with the system executive, for example, the TOPS20
EXEC or the Unix Shell.

On some small hosts there may be very limited functionality and no
executive.  In such cases it may be useful to designate specific well
known ports for specific applications.

This memo specifies that the specific service of User Telnet may be
accessed (on hosts that choose to provide it) by opening a connection to
port 107 (153 octal).  The Telnet Protocol is to be used on the
connection from the originating user to the server.

EXAMPLE: REMOTE TELNET SERVICE ON THE BBN TC68K

The TC68K is a Terminal Concentrator based on the Motorola MC68000
microprocessor.  It is used at Bolt Beranek & Newman to provide access
by terminals to the FiberNet, a local area network.

The custom hardware provides one network connection, sixteen RS232
terminal connections, and a programmable timer.

The software is based on the Micro-Operating System (MOS) using the IP,
ICMP, TCP, and Telnet protocols.  A user TC-Telnet application provides
an interface to allow the user to use the network to connect to a host,


Postel