RFC 2246 (rfc2246) - Page 1 of 80


The TLS Protocol Version 1



Alternative Format: Original Text Document



Network Working Group                                         T. Dierks
Request for Comments: 2246                                     Certicom
Category: Standards Track                                      C. Allen
                                                               Certicom
                                                           January 1999


                            The TLS Protocol
                              Version 1.0

Status of this Memo

   This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
   Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
   Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
   and status of this protocol.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1999).  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

   This document specifies Version 1.0 of the Transport Layer Security
   (TLS) protocol. The TLS protocol provides communications privacy over
   the Internet. The protocol allows client/server applications to
   communicate in a way that is designed to prevent eavesdropping,
   tampering, or message forgery.

Table of Contents

   1.       Introduction                                              3
   2.       Goals                                                     4
   3.       Goals of this document                                    5
   4.       Presentation language                                     5
   4.1.     Basic block size                                          6
   4.2.     Miscellaneous                                             6
   4.3.     Vectors                                                   6
   4.4.     Numbers                                                   7
   4.5.     Enumerateds                                               7
   4.6.     Constructed types                                         8
   4.6.1.   Variants                                                  9
   4.7.     Cryptographic attributes                                 10
   4.8.     Constants                                                11
   5.       HMAC and the pseudorandom function                       11
   6.       The TLS Record Protocol                                  13
   6.1.     Connection states                                        14



Dierks & Allen              Standards Track