RFC 1301 (rfc1301) - Page 1 of 38
Multicast Transport Protocol
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group S. Armstrong
Request for Comments: 1301 Xerox
A. Freier
Apple
K. Marzullo
Cornell
February 1992
Multicast Transport Protocol
Status of this Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does
not specify an Internet standard. Distribution of this memo is
unlimited.
Summary
This memo describes a protocol for reliable transport that utilizes
the multicast capability of applicable lower layer networking
architectures. The transport definition permits an arbitrary number
of transport providers to perform realtime collaborations without
requiring networking clients (aka, applications) to possess detailed
knowledge of the population or geographical dispersion of the
participating members. It is not network architectural specific, but
does implicitly require some form of multicasting (or broadcasting)
at the data link level, as well as some means of communicating that
capability up through the layers to the transport.
Keywords: reliable transport, multicast, broadcast, collaboration,
networking.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction 2
2. Protocol description 3
2.1 Definition of terms 3
2.2 Packet format 6
2.2.1. Protocol version 7
2.2.2. Packet type and modifier 7
2.2.3. Subchannel 9
2.2.4. Source connection identifier 9
2.2.5. Destination connection identifier 10
2.2.6. Message acceptance 10
2.2.7. Heartbeat 12
2.2.8. Window 12
2.2.9. Retention 12
Armstrong, Freier & Marzullo