RFC 3818 (rfc3818) - Page 1 of 4
IANA Considerations for the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group V. Schryver
Request for Comments: 3818 Rhyolite Software
BCP: 88 June 2004
Category: Best Current Practice
IANA Considerations for the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)
Status of this Memo
This document specifies an Internet Best Current Practices for the
Internet Community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2004).
Abstract
The charter of the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) Extensions working
group (pppext) includes the responsibility to "actively advance PPP's
most useful extensions to full standard, while defending against
further enhancements of questionable value." In support of that
charter, the allocation of PPP protocol and other assigned numbers
will no longer be "first come first served."
Introduction
The Point-to-Point protocol (PPP, RFC 1661 [1]) is a mature protocol
with a large number of subprotocols, encapsulations and other
extensions. The main protocol as well as its extensions involve many
name spaces in which values must be assigned.
http://www.iana.org/assignments/ppp-numbers contains a list of the
address spaces and their current assignments.
Historically, initial values in new name spaces have often been
chosen in the RFCs creating the name spaces. The IANA made
subsequent assignments with a "First Come First Served" policy. This
memo changes that policy for some PPP address spaces.
Most of the PPP names spaces are quiescent, but some continue to
attract proposed extensions. Extensions of PPP have been defined in
RFCs that are "Informational" and so are not subject to review.
These extensions usually require values assigned in one or more of
the PPP name spaces. Making these allocations require "IETF
Consensus" will ensure that proposals are reviewed.
Schryver Best Current Practice