RFC 998 (rfc998) - Page 1 of 21

NETBLT: A bulk data transfer protocol

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Network Working Group                                     David D. Clark
Request for Comments:  998                               Mark L. Lambert
Obsoletes:  RFC 969                                          Lixia Zhang
                                                                     MIT
                                                              March 1987


                 NETBLT: A Bulk Data Transfer Protocol


1. Status

   This document is a description of, and a specification for, the
   NETBLT protocol.  It is a revision of the specification published in
   NIC RFC-969.  The protocol has been revised after extensive research
   into NETBLT's performance over long-delay, high-bandwidth satellite
   channels.  Most of the changes in the protocol specification have to
   do with the computation and use of data timers in a multiple
   buffering data transfer model.

   This document is published for discussion and comment, and does not
   constitute a standard.  The proposal may change and certain parts of
   the protocol have not yet been specified; implementation of this
   document is therefore not advised.

2. Introduction

   NETBLT (NETwork BLock Transfer) is a transport level protocol
   intended for the rapid transfer of a large quantity of data between
   computers.  It provides a transfer that is reliable and flow
   controlled, and is designed to provide maximum throughput over a wide
   variety of networks.  Although NETBLT currently runs on top of the
   Internet Protocol (IP), it should be able to operate on top of any
   datagram protocol similar in function to IP.

   NETBLT's motivation is to achieve higher throughput than other
   protocols might offer.  The protocol achieves this goal by trying to
   minimize the effect of several network-related problems: network
   congestion, delays over satellite links, and packet loss.

   Its transmission rate-control algorithms deal well with network
   congestion; its multiple-buffering capability allows high throughput
   over long-delay satellite channels, and its various
   timeout/retransmit algorithms minimize the effect of packet loss
   during a transfer.  Most importantly, NETBLT's features give it good
   performance over long-delay channels without impairing performance
   over high-speed LANs.







Clark, Lambert, & Zhang
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