RFC 855 (rfc855) - Page 1 of 3

Telnet Option Specifications

Alternative Format: Original Text Document
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Network Working Group                                          J. Postel
Request for Comments: 855                                    J. Reynolds
                                                                     ISI
Obsoletes: NIC 18640                                            May 1983

                      TELNET OPTION SPECIFICATIONS


This RFC specifies a standard for the ARPA Internet community.  Hosts on
the ARPA Internet are expected to adopt and implement this standard.

The intent of providing for options in the TELNET Protocol is to permit
hosts to obtain more elegant solutions to the problems of communication
between dissimilar devices than is possible within the framework
provided by the Network Virtual Terminal (NVT).  It should be possible
for hosts to invent, test, or discard options at will.  Nevertheless, it
is envisioned that options which prove to be generally useful will
eventually be supported by many hosts; therefore it is desirable that
options should be carefully documented and well publicized.  In
addition, it is necessary to insure that a single option code is not
used for several different options.

This document specifies a method of option code assignment and standards
for documentation of options.  The individual responsible for assignment
of option codes may waive the requirement for complete documentation for
some cases of experimentation, but in general documentation will be
required prior to code assignment.  Options will be publicized by
publishing their documentation as RFCs; inventors of options may, of
course, publicize them in other ways as well.

   Option codes will be assigned by:

      Jonathan B. Postel
      University of Southern California
      Information Sciences Institute (USC-ISI)
      4676 Admiralty Way
      Marina Del Rey, California 90291
      (213) 822-1511

      Mailbox = POSTEL@USC-ISIF

Documentation of options should contain at least the following sections:

   Section 1 - Command Name and Option Code

   Section 2 - Command Meanings

      The meaning of each possible TELNET command relevant to this
      option should be described.  Note that for complex options, where




Postel & Reynolds
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