RFC 151 (rfc151) - Page 1 of 2

Comments on a proffered official ICP: RFCs 123, 127

NWG/RFC # 151                                                 A. Shoshani
                                                              SDC
NIC #6755                                                     May 10, 1971




                   COMMENTS ON A PROFERRED OFFICIAL ICP
                             (RFCs 123, 127)





Bob Long at SDC noticed that the order in which messages go out to the
network depend on the local NCP. In particular commands may be given
priority over data and therefore in the sequence specified for server in
RFC 123 (top of Page 3), the last two INIT commands may go out before the
data = S on socket = L is sent.  (This is the case in the current
implementation of SDC's NCP.) The implication is that the user's NCP should
be prepared to keep the INIT's it received from the server until the user
process gets the data = S and issues two INITs in response.

This case is brought up now so that people will think about it before the
Atlantic City meeting and comment whether their NCP can tolerate it. It may
be necessary to make it explicit in the ICP that the two INITs sent by the
server should go out only after the data = S is sent, or even after the
user process acknowledges its receipt.

I have a more general remark about the ICP. This is a third level protocol
and therefore should not alter or ignore procedures of the second level
protocol (Host-Host protocol). In particular three remarks seem
appropriate:


















Kreznar