RFC 2165 (rfc2165) - Page 1 of 72

Service Location Protocol

Alternative Format: Original Text Document
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Network Working Group                                       J. Veizades
Request for Comments: 2165                                @Home Network
Category: Standards Track                                    E. Guttman
                                                             C. Perkins
                                                       Sun Microsystems
                                                              S. Kaplan
                                                              June 1997

                       Service Location Protocol

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

   The Service Location Protocol provides a scalable framework for the
   discovery and selection of network services.  Using this protocol,
   computers using the Internet no longer need so much static
   configuration of network services for network based applications.
   This is especially important as computers become more portable, and
   users less tolerant or able to fulfill the demands of network system
   administration.

Table of Contents

 1. Introduction                                                       3
 2. Terminology                                                        3
     2.1. Notation Conventions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    5
     2.2. Service Information and Predicate Representation  . . . .    5
     2.3. Specification Language  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    6
 3. Protocol Overview                                                  6
     3.1. Protocol Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7
     3.2. Schemes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8
           3.2.1. The "service:" URL scheme . . . . . . . . . . . .    9
     3.3. Standard Attribute Definitions  . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9
     3.4. Naming Authority  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10
     3.5. Interpretation of Service Location Replies  . . . . . . .   10
     3.6. Use of TCP, UDP and Multicast in Service Location . . . .   10
           3.6.1. Multicast vs.  Broadcast  . . . . . . . . . . . .   11
           3.6.2. Service-Specific Multicast Address  . . . . . . .   11
     3.7. Service Location Scaling, and Multicast Operating Modes .   12





Veizades, et. al.           Standards Track
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