RFC 1692 (rfc1692) - Page 1 of 12
Transport Multiplexing Protocol (TMux)
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group P. Cameron
Request for Comments: 1692 Xylogics, International Ltd.
Category: Standards Track D. Crocker
Silicon Graphics, Inc.
D. Cohen
Myricom
J. Postel
ISI
August 1994
Transport Multiplexing Protocol (TMux)
Status of this Memo
This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Abstract
One of the problems with the use of terminal servers is the large
number of small packets they can generate. Frequently, most of these
packets are destined for only one or two hosts. TMux is a protocol
which allows multiple short transport segments, independent of
application type, to be combined between a server and host pair.
Acknowledgments
This specification is the result of the merger of two documents: the
original TMux proposal which was the result of several discussions
and related initiatives through IETF working groups; and IEN 90 [1]
originally proposed by Danny Cohen and Jon Postel in May 1979.
Applicability Statement
The TMux protocol is intended to optimize the transmission of large
numbers of small data packets that are generated in situations where
many interactive Telnet and Rlogin sessions are connected to a few
hosts on the network. In these situations, TMux can improve both
network and host performance. TMux is not intended for multiplexing
long streams composed of large blocks of data that are typically
transmitted by such applications as FTP.
The TMux protocol may be applicable to other situations where small
packets are generated, but this was not considered in the design.
Cameron, Crocker, Cohen & Postel