RFC 1042 (rfc1042) - Page 1 of 15
Standard for the transmission of IP datagrams over IEEE 802 networks
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group J. Postel
Request for Comments: 1042 J. Reynolds
ISI
Obsoletes: RFC-948 February 1988
A Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams over IEEE 802 Networks
Status of this Memo
This RFC specifies a standard method of encapsulating the Internet
Protocol (IP) [1] datagrams and Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) [2]
requests and replies on IEEE 802 Networks. This RFC specifies a
protocol standard for the Internet community. Distribution of this
memo is unlimited.
Acknowledgment
This memo would not exist with out the very significant contributions
of Drew Perkins of Carnegie Mellon University, Jacob Rekhter of the
T.J. Watson Research Center, IBM Corporation, and Joseph Cimmino of
the University of Maryland.
Introduction
The goal of this specification is to allow compatible and
interoperable implementations for transmitting IP datagrams and ARP
requests and replies. To achieve this it may be necessary in a few
cases to limit the use that IP and ARP make of the capabilities of a
particular IEEE 802 standard.
The IEEE 802 specifications define a family of standards for Local
Area Networks (LANs) that deal with the Physical and Data Link Layers
as defined by the ISO Open System Interconnection Reference Model
(ISO/OSI). Several Physical Layer standards (802.3, 802.4, and
802.5) [3,4,5] and one Data Link Layer Standard (802.2) [6] have been
defined. The IEEE Physical Layer standards specify the ISO/OSI
Physical Layer and the Media Access Control Sublayer of the ISO/OSI
Data Link Layer. The 802.2 Data Link Layer standard specifies the
Logical Link Control Sublayer of the ISO/OSI Data Link Layer.
This memo describes the use of IP and ARP on the three types of
networks. At this time, it is not necessary that the use of IP and
ARP be consistent across all three types of networks, only that it be
consistent within each type. This may change in the future as new
IEEE 802 standards are defined and the existing standards are revised
Postel & Reynolds