As per Relevance of the word services, we have this rfc below:
Network Working Group D.
Request For Comments: 1302
FYI: 12 P.
A.
February 1992
Building a Network Information Services
Status of This
This memo provides information for the Internet community. It
not specify an Internet standard. Distribution of this memo
unlimited
This FYI RFC document is intended for existing Internet
Information Center (NIC) personnel, people interested in
a new NIC, Internet Network Operations Centers (NOCs), and
agencies interested in contributing to user support facilities.
document strives to
- Define a basic set of essential services that
Information Centers (NICs) will provide to Internet users
including new mechanisms that will facilitate the
dissemination of information to the Internet community
encourage cooperation among NICs
- Describe existing NIC services as an aid to Internet
and as a model for organizations establishing new NICs
This document reflects the work of the Network Information
Infrastructure (NISI) working group in the User Services area of
IETF. Because the working group participants represent a cross
section of existing Internet NICs, the opinions expressed herein
representative of groups currently providing information
within the Internet community
Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 1]
RFC 1302 NISI February 1992
Table of
1. PURPOSE........................................................ 2
2. DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES......................................... 3
3. DEFINITION OF A NIC AND A NOC.................................. 3
4. HISTORY........................................................ 3
5. ESSENTIAL NIC FUNCTIONS........................................ 5
5.1 Provide Information Resources................................. 5
5.2 Support End-Users............................................. 6
5.3 Collect and Maintain NIC Referral Information................. 7
5.4 Support the NIC Infrastructure................................ 7
6. EXAMPLES OF PRESENT NIC SERVICES............................... 8
6.1 Direct User Support........................................... 8
6.1.1 Referrals................................................... 8
6.1.2 User-to-User Communication.................................. 8
6.1.3 Application Support......................................... 9
6.1.4 Technical Support........................................... 9
6.1.5 Emergency Services.......................................... 9
6.2 User Training Services........................................ 9
6.3 Marketing and Public Relations Services....................... 9
6.3.1 Newsletters................................................. 9
6.3.2 Other Publications.......................................... 9
6.3.3 PR Activities............................................... 9
6.4 Information Repository Services............................... 9
6.5 Administrative Services....................................... 10
7. EXAMPLES OF PRESENT INFORMATION DELIVERY MECHANISMS............ 10
8. DATABASE ACCURACY ISSUES....................................... 11
9. SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS........................................ 12
10. AUTHORS' ADDRESSES............................................ 13
1.
The purpose of this document is to define the role of NICs in
Internet and establish guidelines for new and existing NICs
the user services they provide. This document is also a move
standardizing NIC services, which will aid in the development of
overall information infrastructure that will allow NICs to easily
routinely cooperate in assisting users
NICs for networks that are part of the Internet may be called upon
serve users of the greater Internet as well as those of their
networks. This responsibility brings with it the added challenge
coordinating services with other NICs to better serve the
Internet community. Toward that end, this document also
some easily implemented changes to facilitate the exchange
information and services between NICs
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RFC 1302 NISI February 1992
2. DEVELOPMENT
The NISI working group observed several guidelines when
this FYI RFC
1. While recognizing that the new infrastructure should be
on existing services, programs, and technology, the working
did not want to limit its thinking to the present, preferring
consider new approaches and to think toward the future. The
is to move in the direction of an information
infrastructure for the National Research and Education
(NREN).
2. The working group recognizes that a user support system
accommodate a diverse user population, from novice to
sophisticate
3. The working group recognizes that not all NICs are
in providing service at the Internet level nor in providing
directly to end users. Some NICs have special areas of
and serve a more limited community. Many campus NICs, for example
restrict the scope of their efforts to campus computing activities
Therefore, an Internet NIC must have policies, procedures,
delivery mechanisms in place to serve not only end-users, but
aid other information providers and user support agencies
3. DEFINITION OF A NIC AND OF A
A Network Information Center is an organization whose goal is
provide informational, administrative, and procedural support
primarily to users of its network and, secondarily, to users of
greater Internet and to other service agencies
A Network Operations Center (NOC) is an organization whose goal is
oversee and maintain the daily operations of a network.
sometimes one organization may fulfill the duties of both a NIC and
NOC, this document assumes NIC functions to be separate from
functions and addresses NIC functions only. Obviously, however,
NIC must work closely with its NOC to ensure users get the
service possible
4.
When the original Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET
was formed, SRI was assigned the essential administrative task
registering every host on the network and maintaining the
Host Table. This host table was needed to interconnect the
into a network. SRI also became the repository for the RFCs, most
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RFC 1302 NISI February 1992
which were only available in paper copies because a file
protocol had yet to be specified. Because of its role as a
information repository in these ways, SRI became the natural
for users to call with questions, and the first NIC was born
In 1984, the original network split into two networks: the
and the MILNET. The ARPANET was laid to rest in 1990, and
original NIC became the Defense Data Network NIC (DDN-NIC). This
was sometimes referred to as the "SRI-NIC" or sometimes simply
"the NIC". Today this NIC is maintained by Government Systems, Inc.,
and provides information services to the MILNET portion of the DDN
as well as performing several administrative duties that serve
entire Internet community. SRI continues to provide general
information services and maintains an FTP repository
The days of having just one or two networks are long gone. Today
the Internet is an international collection of thousands of
interconnected with the TCP/IP protocols. Users of any one of
networks can use the network services provided by TCP/IP to reach
of the other networks
There are other major wide area networks, such as BITNET and
networks, that are not based on the TCP/IP protocols and are thus
considered part of the Internet itself. However, users
communicate between these networks and the Internet via
mail, so Internet NICs often answer questions regarding
networks
NICs exist for many of the networks that make up today's Internet
For example, in addition to the MILNET, in the United States
are the National Science Foundation Network (NSFNET), the
Science Network (ESnet), and the NASA Science Internet (NSI). All
these networks provide NICs
BITNET is a non-TCP/IP network that is accessible to the Internet
electronic mail. Its administrative organization, the
for Research and Educational Networking (CREN), supports NIC
for BITNET users
Many networks in countries other than the United States also
NIC services. For example, such services exist for NORDUnet,
connects national networks in the Nordic countries, and JANet,
Joint Academic Network in the United Kingdom. The
counterparts in Europe and Canada are the European Academic
Research Network (EARN) and NetNorth, respectively
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RFC 1302 NISI February 1992
5. ESSENTIAL NIC
Network Information Centers exist to provide services that make
the network easier and more attractive to users
To help meet this goal, four essential NIC functions have
identified as those that every Internet NIC should perform.
are the basic functions that define the minimum level of
information service. Each Internet NIC should
- Provide information resources
- Support end-users through direct contact
- Collect and maintain NIC referral information
- Support the NIC infrastructure
The level of each service and the exact mechanisms for
these services depend on the needs of the particular network
community. Funding, staffing, and implementation issues related
these functions are left up to individual NIC organizations
Presently, only the first two functions, providing
resources and directly supporting end-users, are routinely
by Internet NICs. The variety of ways in which these services
provided is described more fully in the section on, "Examples
Present NIC Services".
The last two functions, collecting information about other NICs
supporting the NIC infrastructure, are new roles that have evolved
the Internet community and the number of NICs have grown
Each of these four essential functions is discussed in some depth
this section
5.1 Provide Information
Information resources refers to both online and hard-copy resources
such as online files, marketing information, and newsletters.
help users gain access to relevant information in several ways
- Obtain information online from other sites and
it at the local NIC where users may access it
- Refer users to information stored at other
around the Internet. This option requires that
NIC maintain up-to-date information regarding
Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 5]
RFC 1302 NISI February 1992
Internet resources
- Create information, such as newsletters,
information, tutorial files or documents, and
it available to users. In this case, the "
NIC" is solely responsible for the content
accuracy of the information provided
In all of the cases above, users need a way to verify
authenticity and currentness of the information. Accordingly,
NIC should provide the following information for everything it
available to its users and the Internet community: 1) a time stamp
2) a revision number, and 3) the name of the NIC that produced
document. The NIC should also maintain contact information
the source of a file, but does not necessarily have to include such
contact in the online file
5.2 Support End-
A NIC serves as the principle source of network information for
end users. NICs field a variety of user inquiries, such as
for how to get connected to the Internet, how to locate and access
particular application on the network, how to determine an e-
address, and how to solve operational problems. Each NIC must take
best effort approach to responding to these inquiries and
responsibility for a user inquiry until it is resolved in some way
Resolution may be answering the question, referring the user to
appropriate information source, or coordinating with a NOC to
a user connectivity problem
To facilitate this role of information provider, the
delivery mechanisms are used
- Telephone "hotline" support. All NICs need to
available to answer phone inquiries during
business day
- Electronic mail. An electronic mail address acts
an electronic help desk. For consistency,
electronic mail address should be of the
NIC@domain (e.g., NIC@DDN.MIL). Such a
addressing convention will move
standardization of these "electronic help desks"
will increase the chance that users will know
to ask for help. In addition, a user inquiry to
NIC e-mail address should either produce a
response or an up-to-date machine response
performs a triage function by advising the
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RFC 1302 NISI February 1992
where to go for particular categories of problems
For example, a message to NIC@NSF.NET could return
message alerting the user to the NNSC@NNSC.NSF.
and the NSFNET-INFO@MERIT.EDU mailboxes, both
which provide information for NSFNET
- Electronic information transfer. NICs
provide information in electronic form, and make
available across the Internet through
such as anonymous file transfer, electronic mail
and remote databases
5.3 Collect and Maintain NIC Referral
With the recent dramatic increase in the number of networks, users
and applications accessible via the Internet, it is impossible
any one NIC to maintain comprehensive, up-to-date information of
the services and information available. Because such information
distributed among many NICs, it is essential for each NIC to be
of other NICs and their areas of expertise. Such shared
among NICs ensures that Internet users will be referred promptly
the correct information resource
In an effort to gather data about NICs and their resources
information will be solicited from each NIC and placed in a
called "nic-profiles". This database will be available to all NICs
Such shared information among NICs ensures that Internet users
be referred promptly to the correct information resource.
information regarding joining or using the nic-profiles database
send a message to nic-forum-request@merit.edu
5.4 Support the NIC
It is essential that each NIC take an active part in supporting
NIC/Internet infrastructure. Two means of providing such support
suggested here
- Attend the IETF User Services Working Group (USWG).
NICs are encouraged to participate in the USWG,
ongoing working group of the IETF, which
chartered to identify, discuss, and
solutions to user service issues. The group
regularly at the IETF meetings. (Information
IETF meeting schedules, etc., is available
anonymous FTP from nnsc.nsf.net. The directory
ietf.) The USWG has spawned a variety of
groups dealing with specific user service topics
To join the USWG mailing list send an e-mail
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RFC 1302 NISI February 1992
to uswg-request@nnsc.nsf.net
- Participate in nic-forum. An electronic
list, "nic-forum", will provide NIC personnel with
means of soliciting information from other NICs
offering solutions to common problems, and
information of general interest. A NIC can
in the nic-forum, as well as provide information
the nic-profiles database, by sending a message
nic-forum-request@nsf.net
6. EXAMPLES OF PRESENT NIC
There are a variety of ways through which existing NICs fulfill
basic requirements previously indicated under "Essential
Functions".
Today's Internet NICs provide network users with a wide array
value-added services. The types and levels of services vary for
particular NIC depending on a number of issues such as funding
audience served, available resources, and mission of the
organization
An overview of some of the services offered today by Internet NICs
listed below. This overview provides examples of the
services recommended earlier, and also gives a flavor of the
avenues through which value-added user services are provided.
section provides examples, not recommendations
6.1 Direct User
The main objective of a Network Information Center is to
support for network users. Most NICs provide both telephone
electronic mail hotlines for convenient user access. Existing
also often serve as intermediaries between users and the
experts who provide specific information. Because NICs
directly with end-users, they can frequently evaluate their services
and modify them to accommodate changing user needs
6.1.1 Referrals. Today's NICs are aware of other Internet
and keep such referral information as up-to-date as possible
6.1.2 User-to-User Communication. NICs can facilitate
between network users. Often this is done through
or electronic mail. For example, a NIC can set up a
conference dealing with a specific discipline or perhaps
specific topic so that users can share ideas and
with each other. Some NICs establish special interest groups
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RFC 1302 NISI February 1992
hold in-person meetings to promote the exchange of
between their users
6.1.3 Application Support. NICs often provide user support
specific host applications in addition to providing
and support about the network to which the host is attached
6.1.4 Technical Support. Technical experts are available at
locations or elsewhere to trouble shoot user problems. The
and variety of technical expertise varies with the organization
6.1.5 Emergency Services. Most NICs provide immediate notification
users of impending events that may affect their network usage
This is often done through electronic mail bulletins which
the particular event, its impact, and its duration
6.2 User Training
NICs sponsor seminars, classes, and training workshops intended
assist users in understanding the network environment.
training events range from general "what is the Internet"
workshops on specific topics such as how to use a super-
application
6.3 Marketing and Public Relations
6.3.1 Newsletters. Some Internet NICs publish newsletters which
used to inform subscribers about network developments and tools
and as marketing documents to try to get more organizations
attach to the network
6.3.2 Other Publications. Many NICs also produce a variety
general purpose brochures and "how-to" documents which
distributed to potential network users
6.3.3 PR Activities. NICs may be involved in a variety of
relations activities from writing and distributing press
about new network developments to holding press conferences
announce significant technological events
6.4 Information Repository
An important activity of NICs is producing and/or
information of interest to their users. Most NICs
hardware to store such information online and distribute
information to their users both electronically and in hard-
form
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RFC 1302 NISI February 1992
6.5 Administrative
Many NICs perform registration services, such as registering
information in a white pages database, keeping a record of hosts
their networks, or keeping a record of contacts for hosts, networks
or domains
7. EXAMPLES OF PRESENT INFORMATION DELIVERY
Information is delivered to network users via a wide variety
mechanisms. The most common methods are electronic mail and
transfer protocol (FTP); however, information is also relayed via
telephone, FAX machines, U.S. mail, and in-person seminars, as
as via electronic bulletin boards and remote database access.
are always looking for ways of making information broadly
so that the maximum number of network users can use it effectively
The following table lists the various information delivery
used in the Internet today, and notes the kind of
distributed using each method
______________________________________________________________________
Table 1: AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND DELIVERY
Delivery Mechanism Type of Information
------------------------------------------------------------------
FTP Network maps, functional specs
draft RFCs, newsletters
protocols, any information
a file: ASCII, binary, etc
electronic mail General information, newsletters
announcements, security alerts
network status
bulletin board General information, announcements
source
hard copy Newsletters, user guides,
guides, press releases,
Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 10]
RFC 1302 NISI February 1992
presentations/seminars Network applications,
trends, technical overviews
general information about
environment, TCP/IP
Telnet Remote systems,
person-to-person Answers to specific questions
contact information,
electronic conference Other users, discipline-
information services General information,
information, local
directory services Phone book information (
pages, and eventually yellow pages
library services Bibliographies, full text
phone Specific requests, contacts
referrals, connecting
U.S. mail Newsletters, user
FAX Variety of printed
Finger, whois User
______________________________________________________________________
8. DATABASE ACCURACY
As has been mentioned elsewhere in this paper, NICs often are
sites of databases of various types of information, which
maintained for various reasons. It is recommended that
emphasize the importance of keeping such data as accurate
possible. In addition, it is important to allow people some
over personal information about them that may reside in a
database, especially if the information will be available publicly
It is recommended that, as part of the process of
information for a database, a NIC should disclose the
information to those supplying data
Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 11]
RFC 1302 NISI February 1992
- Why the information is being collected and how it will be used
- What the consequences are of not providing the asked for data
of revoking data in a database
- Which information asked for is mandatory and which is optional
- Which information will be made public
- How the data can be updated and who may provide updates
- How and how often the NIC will solicit for data updates
A NIC should actively seek updates to its data at least once a year
The date publicly available data was last updated should be part
the public information available about that data. In general,
should know when personal information about them is available in
public database, and have the opportunity to change it or revoke it
9. SECURITY
Because NICs interact directly with network users, they will have
deal with network and host security issues at times. NICs should
aware of those agencies and groups on the Internet that have
responsibility of handling security incidents so that users can
properly referred when necessary, and so the NICs themselves
resources to call on should a major incident occur. NICs should
aware of security issues and security information resources, such
network mailing lists and the Site Security Handbook (FYI 8,
1244), and advocate the importance of security considerations
their users. NICs should have explicit procedures in place to
in the event of a security incident. Such procedures will
include the means of interacting with both response centers and NOCs
as well as with users
Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 12]
RFC 1302 NISI February 1992
10. AUTHORS'
Dana D.
Merit Network,
1075 Beal
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2112
Phone: (313) 936-2648
EMail: dds@merit.
Patricia G.
Merit Network,
1075 Beal
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2112
Phone: (313) 936-3000
EMail: psmith@merit.
April N.
SRI
Network Information Systems
333 Ravenswood Avenue, EJ294
Menlo Park, CA 94025-3493
Phone: (415) 859-5318
EMail: april@nisc.sri.
Sitzler, Smith, & Marine [Page 13]
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this is version 0.1 of the Relevance System and you gotta expect some crappy subroutines sometimes,
just be content we did not write this in Java, which would have made this "bigger and better" HAHAHHA.
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