RFC 801 (rfc801) - Page 1 of 21
NCP/TCP transition plan
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group J. Postel
Request for Comments: 801 ISI
November 1981
NCP/TCP TRANSITION PLAN
Introduction
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ARPA sponsored research on computer networks led to the development
of the ARPANET. The installation of the ARPANET began in September
1969, and regular operational use was underway by 1971. The ARPANET
has been an operational service for at least 10 years. Even while it
has provided a reliable service in support of a variety of computer
research activities, it has itself been a subject of continuing
research, and has evolved significantly during that time.
In the past several years ARPA has sponsored additional research on
computer networks, principally networks based on different underlying
communication techniques, in particular, digital packet broadcast
radio and satellite networks. Also, in the ARPA community there has
been significant work on local networks.
It was clear from the start of this research on other networks that
the base host-to-host protocol used in the ARPANET was inadequate for
use in these networks. In 1973 work was initiated on a host-to-host
protocol for use across all these networks. The result of this long
effort is the Internet Protocol (IP) and the Transmission Control
Protocol (TCP).
These protocols allow all hosts in the interconnected set of these
networks to share a common interprocess communication environment.
The collection of interconnected networks is called the ARPA Internet
(sometimes called the "Catenet").
The Department of Defense has recently adopted the internet concept
and the IP and TCP protocols in particular as DoD wide standards for
all DoD packet networks, and will be transitioning to this
architecture over the next several years. All new DoD packet
networks will be using these protocols exclusively.
The time has come to put these protocols into use in the operational
ARPANET, and extend the logical connectivity of the ARPANET hosts to
include hosts in other networks participating in the ARPA Internet.
As with all new systems, there will be some aspects which are not as
robust and efficient as we would like (just as with the initial
ARPANET). But with your help, these problems can be solved and we
Postel