As per Relevance of the word question, we have this rfc below:
Network Working Group G.
Request for Comments: 1207 FTP Software, Inc
FYI: 7 A.
J.
February 1991
FYI on Questions and
Answers to Commonly asked "Experienced Internet User"
Status of this
This FYI RFC is one of two FYI's called, "Questions and Answers
(Q/A), produced by the User Services Working Group of the
Engineering Task Force (IETF). The goal is to document the
commonly asked questions and answers in the Internet
This memo provides information for the Internet community. It
not specify any standard. Distribution of this memo is unlimited
Table of
1. Introduction.................................................. 1
2. Acknowledgements.............................................. 3
3. Questions about the Internet.................................. 3
4. Questions About Other Networks and Internets.................. 3
5. Questions About Internet Documentation........................ 4
6. Questions About the Domain Name System (DNS).................. 4
7. Questions About Network Management............................ 7
8. Questions about Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP)
Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) Implementations................. 9
9. Questions About Routing....................................... 11
10. Other Protocol and Standards Implementation Questions........ 11
11. Suggested Reading............................................ 12
12. References................................................... 13
13. Security Considerations...................................... 14
14. Authors' Addresses........................................... 15
1.
During the last few months, several people have monitored
major mailing lists and have extracted questions that are
or commonly asked. This FYI RFC is one of two in a series of FYI'
which present the questions and their answers. The first FYI, FYI 4,
presented questions new Internet users commonly ask and
answers
User Services Working Group [Page 1]
RFC 1207 FYI Q/A - for Experienced Internet Users February 1991
The goal of this FYI is to codify the Internet lore so that
operations staff, especially for networks just joining the Internet
will have an accurate and up to date set of references from which
work. Also, redundancies are moved away from the electronic
lists so that the lists' subscribers do not have to read the
queries and answers over and over again
Although the questions and their responses are taken from
mailing lists, they are presented here loosely grouped by
topic for ease of reading. First the question is presented, then
answer (or answers) as it appeared on the mailing list
Sometimes the answers are abridged for better use of space. If
question was not answered on the mailing list, the editors provide
answer. These answers are not distinguished from the answers
on the lists. Sometimes, in order to be as complete as possible,
editors provide additional information that was not present in
original answer. If so, that information falls under the
"Additional Information".
The answers are as correct as the reviewers can make them. However
much of this information changes with time. As the FYI is updated
temporal errors will be corrected
Many of the questions are in first person, and the answers
directed to the originator of the question. These phrasings have
been changed except where necessary for clarity. References to
correspondents' names have been removed
The Q/A mailing lists are maintained by Gary Malkin at FTP.COM.
are used by a subgroup of the User Services Working Group to
the Q/A FYIs. They include
quail@ftp.com This is a discussion mailing list.
primary use is for pre-release review
the Q/A FYIs
quail-request@ftp.com This is how you join the quail mailing list
quail-box@ftp.com This is where the questions and
will be forwarded-and-stored. It
not necessary to be on the quail
list to forward to the quail-box
User Services Working Group [Page 2]
RFC 1207 FYI Q/A - for Experienced Internet Users February 1991
2.
The following people deserve thanks for their help and
to this FYI Q/A: Jim Conklin (EDUCOM), John C. Klensin (MIT),
Professor Kynikos (Special Consultant), Jon Postel (ISI),
Marshall Rose (PSI, Inc.), David Sitman (Tel Aviv University),
Patricia Smith (Merit), Gene Spafford (Purdue),
James Van Bokkelen (FTP Software, Inc.).
3. Questions about the
3.1. How do I get statistics regarding the traffic on NSFNET
Merit/NSFNET Information Services maintains a variety
statistical data at 'nis.nsf.net' (35.1.1.48) in the 'stats
directory. Information includes packet counts by NSS and
counts for type of use (ftp, smtp, telnet, etc.). Filenames
of the form 'NSFyy-mm.type'.
Files are available for anonymous ftp; use 'guest' as
password
The data in these files represent only traffic which traverses
highest level of the NSFNET, not traffic within a campus
regional network. Send questions/comments to nsfnet
info@merit.edu
4. Questions About Other Networks and
4.1. We have a user who would like to access a machine
"EARN/BITNET". I can't find anything on this in the
name tables. Please, what is this, and how do I connect to it
There are several machines on the Internet that act as
between the Internet and BITNET. Two examples are UICVM.UIC.
and CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU. You can address a mail message
user%nodename.bitnet@uicvm.uic.edu where the message will
passed from the Internet to BITNET
Additional Information
These same gateways, known as INTERBIT on the BITNET/EARN side
transfer mail from computers on that network which support
mail headers, onto the Internet. (Many BITNET/EARN
still do not support SMTP, which is not a part of the
protocol used, and it is not possible to send mail from
computers across the gateways into the Internet, in general.)
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BITNET and EARN are the two largest of several
networks which use the IBM RSCS/NJE protocol suite, but are
limited to IBM systems. These independently administered
interconnected networks function as a single, worldwide
directly connecting more than 3,300 computers in about 1,400,
mostly higher-education, organizations worldwide.
worldwide network supports electronic mail, including
lists, sender-initiated file transfer, and short "interactive
messages
BITNET, frequently used (outside of Europe) to refer to
whole worldwide network, technically refers to that portion
the United States, plus sites in other countries which
connected through the United States and do not have their
separately administered cooperating networks. More than 550
organizations in the U.S. participate in BITNET
EARN is the European Academic Research Network. EARN
more than 500 institutions in Europe and several
countries
BITNET and CSNET merged organizationally on October 1, 1990,
form CREN, the Corporation for Research and
Networking. The two networks remain separate at
operational level level, however. (EARN and the
Cooperating Networks were not involved in this merger.)
5. Questions About Internet
5.1. Where do I get information regarding ordering
related to GOSIP
The complete information as issued by NIST is available online
the NIC.DDN.MIL host as PROTOCOLS:GOSIP-ORDER-INFO.TXT. The
contains pointers to contact people, ordering addresses, prices
and, in some cases, online pathnames, for various GOSIP
documents. In addition, the information as of August 1990
published as an appendix to RFC 1169, "Explaining the Role
GOSIP" [1].
6. Questions About Domain Name System (DNS
6.1. Is there a DNS Query server
Actually, what you are looking for is the service that
128.218.1.109 provides on port 5555 - you simply connect to
host at that port, type in a fully qualified domain name and
responds with an internet address and closes the connection.
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RFC 1207 FYI Q/A - for Experienced Internet Users February 1991
used it when I had a host that still only had /etc/hosts and
did just what I needed - which was basically a manual nslookup
However, the vast majority of users will find it simpler to
use a DNS query tool and ask the DNS directly. This doesn'
require much sophistication, and does allow the user to see
short names are expanded at the user's site rather than
128.218.1.109 (wherever that is). For example, suppose a
wants to find out the address of a fully-qualified domain
"X.MISKATONIC.EDU", and also see what host and address are
when "Z" is typed as a host name
Assuming the user is on a UNIX host and has a copy of the
program, type
dig x.miskatonic.
dig
and the answers will appear. You are now on your way
becoming a DNS expert. There are other UNIX alternatives
e.g., nslookup, and similar programs for non-UNIX systems
Your local DNS guru certainly has one or more of these tools
and although they are often kept from the public, they
really quite easy to use for simple cases
6.2. We have been having a frequent BIND failure on both our
and Solbourne that is traced to TCP domain queries from
IBM NSMAIN nameserver running in cache mode (UDP queries
not cause this problem, though it is usually a
resolution that is active upon the crash -- this
is an innocent victim).
I have discovered that something is trashing the hash
(sometimes even as it is being recursively used in
resolution). Also, occasionally the socket/file
for the TCP connection is changed to invalid entries
a reply write fail (though this is not necessarily fatal
and the rest of the structure is not apparently altered).
Has any one else had frequent BIND failures (
major domain sites that have heavy TCP domain loads)?
In both the case of BIND and the IBM implementation, often
FAL, there are multiple versions, with older versions being
bad. Upgrade to recent version before exploring further
BIND has always had a problem with polluting its own database
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RFC 1207 FYI Q/A - for Experienced Internet Users February 1991
These problems have been related to TCP connections, NS RRs
small TTLs, and several other causes. Experience suggests
the style of bug fixing has often been that of reducing
problem by 90% rather than eliminating it
IBM's support for the DNS (outside of UNIX systems) is
in its techniques, encouraging in its improvement, but
somewhat depressing when compared to most other DNS software.
also uses terminology that varies somewhat from the usual
usage and preserves some archaic syntax, e.g., "..".
The combination of an old BIND and an old IBM server is just
unpleasant
6.3. Is the model used by the domain name system for host
that the owner of a name gets to choose its case
The model used by the DNS is that you get to control at a
point in the name space, and are hence free to select case as
choose, until points where you in turn give away control. As
practical matter, there are several implementations that don't
the right thing. IBM implementations often map everything into
single case
6.4. According to RFC 1034 [2], section 4.2.1, one should not
to code glue RR's for name server's names unless they are
the cut. When I don't put glue RR's in, and do a query
NS records, the "additional" field is left blank. As far as
can tell, all other zones I query for NS records have
filled with the IP addresses of the NS hosts. Is this
or should I not be concerned that the additional field is empty
The protocol says that an empty additional field is not a
when the name server's name is not "below" the cut
In practice, putting in the glue where it is not required
cause problems if the servers named in the glue are used
several zones. This is broken behavior in BIND. Not putting
glue can cause other problems in BIND, usually when the
name is difficult to resolve. So, the bottom line is to put
in only when required, and don't use aliases or anything
tricky when it comes to identifying name servers
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7. Questions About Network Management
7.1. In reading the SNMP RFCs [3,4,5,6] I find mention
authentication of PDUs. Are there any standards
authentication mechanisms
There is a working group of the IETF that is working on
problem. They are close to a solution, but nothing has
reached RFC publication yet. Expect something solid
implementable by October of 1991.
7.2. Can vendors make their enterprise-specific variables
to users through a standard distribution mechanism
Yes. But before someone submits a MIB, they should check it
themselves
On uu.psi.com in pilot/snmp-wg/, there are two
mosy-sparc-4.0.3.
mosy-sun3-3.5
The first will run on a Sun-Sparc, the second will run on a Sun-3.
After retrieving one of these files in BINARY mode via anonymous FTP
the submittor can run their MIB through it, e.g.,
% mosy mymib.
Once your MIB passes, send it to
mib-checker@isi.
If everything is OK, the mib-checker will arrange to have
installed in the /share/ftp/mib directory on venera.isi.edu
Note: This processing does not offer an official endorsement.
documents submitted must not be marked proprietary, confidential
or the like
7.3. I have a question regarding those pesky octet strings again
I use the variable-type field of the Response pdu to
how the result should be displayed to the user. For example
I convert NetworkAddresses to their dotted decimal
("132.243.50.4"). I convert Object Identifiers into
("1.3.6.1.2....").
I would LIKE to just print Octet Strings as strings. But
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this causes a problem in such cases as atPhysAddress
which the Octet string contains the 6 byte address
of a printable ASCII string. In this case, I would want
display the 6 bytes instead of just trying to print
string
MY QUESTION IS: Does anyone have a suggestion as to how
can determine whether I can just print the string or
I should display the octet bytes. * Remember: I want
support enterprise specific variables too
In general, there is no way that you can tell what is inside
OCTET STRING without knowing something about the object that
OCTET STRING comes from. In MIB-II [6], some objects are
as DisplayString which has the syntax of OCTET STRING but
restricted to characters from the NVT ASCII character set (see
TELNET Specification, RFC 854 [7], for further information).
These objects are
If you want to be able to arbitrarily decide how to display
strings, without knowing anything about the object, then you
scan the octets, looking for any octet which is not
ASCII. If you find at least one, you can print the entire string
octet by octet, in "%02x:" notation. If all of the octets
printable ASCII, then you can just printf the string
7.4. If archived MIBs must be 1155-compatible [3], it would be
if those who submit them check them first. Where are
MIB tools available for public FTP? Ideally, a
syntax checker (that didn't actually generate code) would
nice
In the ISODE 6.0 release there is a tool called MOSY
recognizes the 1155 syntax and produces a flat ASCII file. If
can run it through MOSY without problems then you are OK
7.5. Suppose I want to create a private MIB object for
some action to happen, say, do a reset. Should the
or this object specify a value such as
User Services Working Group [Page 8]
RFC 1207 FYI Q/A - for Experienced Internet Users February 1991
Syntax
INTEGER {
perform reset (1),
}
even though there is only a single value? Or, is it ok
just allow a Set on this object with any value to
the desired action? If the later, how is this specified
For our SNMP manageable gizmos and doohickies with
"action" type MIB variables, I've defined two
Syntax
INTEGER {
reset(1)
not-reset(2)
}
And defined behavior so that the only valid value that
variable may be set to is "reset" (which is returned in the
response PDU) and at all other times a get/getnext will
with "not-reset".
8. Questions about Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP)
Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)
8.1. I seem to recall hearing that SLIP [8] will only run
synchronous serial lines. Is this true? ... is
something about SLIP which precludes it's being
over async lines
Other way around: SLIP is designed for async lines and is not
good fit on sync lines. PPP [9, 10] works on either, and is
you should be implementing if you're implementing something
8.2. Since we are very interested in standards in this area
could someone tell me were I can find more information on PPP
Also, can this protocol be used in other fields than for
Internet (i.e., telecontrol, telemetering) where we see
profusion of proprietary incompatible and hard to
Point-to-Point Protocols
PPP was designed to be useful for many protocols besides just IP
Whether it would be useful for your particular application
probably be discussed with the IETF's Point-to-Point
Working Group discussion list. For general discussion: ietf
ppp@ucdavis.edu. To subscribe: ietf-ppp-request@ucdavis.
User Services Working Group [Page 9]
RFC 1207 FYI Q/A - for Experienced Internet Users February 1991
The PPP specification is available as RFC 1171 [9], and a
options specification is available as RFC 1172 [10].
In UnixWorld of April 1990 (Vol. VII, No. 4, Pg. 85),
Baldwin writes
"Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) has just been submitted to
CCITT from the Internet Engineering Task Force. It specifies
standard for encapsulating Internet Protocol data and
network layer (level three on ISO's OSI Model)
information over point-to-point links; it also provides ways
test and configure lines and the upper level protocols on
OSI Model. The only requirement is a provision of a
circuit either dedicated or switched, that can operate
either an asynchronous or synchronous mode, transparent to
data-linklayer frame
"According to Michael Ballard, director of network systems
Telebit, PPP is a direct improvement upon Serial Line
Protocol (SLIP), which had neither error correction nor a
to exchange network address."
8.3. Does anyone know if there is a way to run a SLIP program
a IBM computer running SCO Xenix/Unix, with a multi-
serial board
SCO TCP/IP for Xenix supports SLIP. It works. However,
warned: SCO SLIP works *only* with SCO serial drivers, so it
*not* work with intelligent boards that come with their
drivers. If you want lots of SLIP ports, you'll need lots of
ports, perhaps with a multi-dumb-port board
Here's the setup -- SunOS 3.5, with the 4.3BSD TCP, IP &
distributions installed. Slip is running between the "ttya"
of two Sun 3/60's. "ping", "rlogin", etc., works fine, but a
mount results in "server not responding: RPC Timed Out".
SunOS 3.5 turns the UDP checksum off, which is legal and
okay over interfaces such as ethernet which has link-
checksumming. On the other hand, SLIP doesn't perform
thus running NFS over SLIP requires you to turn the UDP
on. Otherwise, you'll experience erratic behavior such as the
described above
User Services Working Group [Page 10]
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Save the older kernel and try
% adb -k -w /vmunix /dev/kmem udpcksum?w 1
to patch up the kernel
9. Questions About
9.1. Some postings mentioned "maximum entropy routing".
someone please provide a pointer to on-line or off-
references to this topic
Try NYU CSD Technical Report 371: "Some Comments on Highly
Network Routing," by Herbert J. Bernstein, May 1988.
10. Other Protocol and Standards Implementation
10.1. Does anyone recognize ethernet type "80F3"? I don't see
in RFC 1010, but I am seeing it on our net
Ethernet type 0x80F3 is used by AppleTalk for address resolution
You must have Macs on your network which are directly connected
Ethernet. These packets are used by the Mac (generally
startup) to determine a valid AppleTalk node number
Additional Information
RFC 1010 is obsolete. Please consult RFC 1060 [11], the
"Assigned Numbers" (issued March 1990), which does list "80F3":
Ethernet Exp. Ethernet Description
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------
decimal Hex decimal
33011 80F3 - - AppleTalk AARP (Kinetics)[XEROX
10.2. Does anyone know the significance of a high value
"Bad proto" in the output from netstat on Unix machines
ethernet? We're seeing values in the tens of thousands out
a few hundred thousand packets sent/received in all.
"Bad proto" values are negative, too. (Off the scale?)
help would be appreciated
This probably indicates that you are getting tens of thousands
broadcast packets from some host or hosts on your network.
might want to buy or rent a LAN monitor, or install one of
public-domain packages to see what private protocol is guilty
"FYI on a Network Management Tool Catalog: Tools for
and Debugging TCP/IP Internets and Interconnected Devices" (
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RFC 1207 FYI Q/A - for Experienced Internet Users February 1991
1147, FYI 2), [12] contains pointers to tools that may help
zero in on the problem
10.3. Which RFC would explain the proper way to configure
addresses when using subnets
Consult RFC 1122, "Requirements for Internet Hosts --
Communication Layer" [13].
10.4. Can anyone tell me what .TAR files exactly are? Is it
ZIP or LZH for the IBM PC's? IF so, how do I go about
a compressor/decompressor for .TAR files and what
does this run on
TAR stands for "Tape ARchive". It is a Unix utility which
files, and directories of files, and creates a single large file
Originally intended to back up directory trees onto tape (
the name), TAR is also used to combine files for easier
file transfer
11. Suggested
For further information about the Internet and its protocols
general, you may choose to obtain copies of the following works
Bowers, K., T. LaQuey, J. Reynolds, K. Roubicek, M. Stahl, and A
Yuan, "Where to Start - A Bibliography of General
Information", RFC 1175, FYI 3, CNRI, U Texas, ISI, BBN, SRI
Mitre, August 1990.
Braden, R., Editor, "Requirements for Internet Hosts --
Communication Layer", RFC 1122, Internet Engineering Task Force
October 1989.
Braden, R., Editor, "Requirements for Internet Hosts --
Application and Support", RFC 1123, Internet Engineering
Force, October 1989.
Comer, D., "Internetworking with TCP/IP: Principles, Protocols
and Architecture", Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 1989.
Frey, D. and R. Adams, "!%@:: A Directory of Electronic
Addressing and Networks", O'Reilly and Associates, Newton, MA
August 1989.
Krol, E., "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Internet", RFC 1118,
University of Illinois Urbana, September 1989.
User Services Working Group [Page 12]
RFC 1207 FYI Q/A - for Experienced Internet Users February 1991
LaQuey, T, Editor, "Users' Directory of Computer Networks",
Digital Press, Bedford, MA, 1990.
Malkin, G., and A. Marine, "FYI on Questions and Answers -
to Commonly asked "New Internet User" Questions", RFC 1206, FYI 4,
FTP Software, Inc., SRI, February 1991.
Postel, J., Editor, "IAB Official Protocol Standards", RFC 1140,
Internet Activities Board, May 1990.
Quarterman, J., "Matrix: Computer Networks and
Systems Worldwide", Digital Press, Bedford, MA, 1989.
Reynolds, J., and J. Postel, "Assigned Numbers", RFC 1060,
USC/Information Sciences Institute, March 1990.
Socolofsky, T., and C. Kale, "A TCP/IP Tutorial", RFC 1180,
Systems Limited, January 1991.
Stevens, W., "UNIX Network Programming", ISBN 0-13-949876-1,
Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1990.
Stine, R., Editor, "FYI on a Network Management Tool Catalog
Tools for Monitoring and Debugging TCP/IP Internets
Interconnected Devices" RFC 1147, FYI 2, Sparta, Inc., April 1990.
12.
[1] Cerf, V., and K. Mills, "Explaining the Role of GOSIP", RFC 1169,
IAB, NIST, August 1990.
[2] Mockapetris, P., "Domain Names - Concepts and Facilities",
1034, USC/Information Sciences Institute, November 1987.
[3] Rose, M., and K. McCloghrie, "Structure and Identification
Management Information for TCP/IP-based Internets", RFC 1155,
Performance Systems International, Hughes LAN Systems, May 1990.
[4] McCloghrie, K., and M. Rose, "Management Information Base
Network Management of TCP/IP-based internets", RFC 1156,
LAN Systems, Performance Systems International, May 1990.
[5] Case, J., M. Fedor, M. Schoffstall, and J. Davin, "A
Network Management Protocol (SNMP)", RFC 1157, SNMP Research
Performance Systems International, Performance
International, MIT Laboratory for Computer Science, May 1990.
[6] Rose, M., Editor, "Management Information Base for
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RFC 1207 FYI Q/A - for Experienced Internet Users February 1991
Management of TCP/IP-based internets: MIB-II", RFC 1158,
Performance Systems International, May 1990.
[7] Postel, J., and J. Reynolds, "TELNET Protocol Specification",
854, USC/Information Sciences Institute, May 1983.
[8] Romkey, J., "A Nonstandard for Transmission of IP Datagrams
Serial Lines: SLIP", RFC 1055, June 1988.
[9] Perkins, D., "The Point-to-Point Protocol: A Proposal for Multi
Protocol Transmission of Datagrams Over Point-to-Point Links",
RFC 1171, CMU, July 1990.
[10] Perkins, D., and R. Hobby, "The Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP
Initial Configuration Options", CMU, UC Davis, July 1990.
[11] Reynolds, J., and J. Postel, "Assigned Numbers", RFC 1060,
USC/Information Sciences Institute, March 1990.
[12] Stine, R., Editor, "FYI on a Network Management Tool Catalog
Tools for Monitoring and Debugging TCP/IP Internets
Interconnected Devices" RFC 1147, FYI 2, Sparta, Inc.,
1990.
[13] Braden, R., Editor, "Requirements for Internet Hosts --
Communication Layer", RFC 1122, Internet Engineering Task Force
October 1989.
13. Security
Security issues are not discussed in this memo
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RFC 1207 FYI Q/A - for Experienced Internet Users February 1991
14. Authors'
Gary Scott
FTP Software, Inc
26 Princess
Wakefield, MA 01880
Phone: (617) 246-0900
EMail: gmalkin@ftp.
April N.
SRI
Network Information Systems
333 Ravenswood Avenue, EJ294
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Phone: (415) 859-5318
EMail: APRIL@nic.ddn.
Joyce K.
USC/Information Sciences
4676 Admiralty
Marina del Rey, CA 90292-6695
Phone: (213) 822-1511
EMail: jkrey@isi.
User Services Working Group [Page 15]
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just be content we did not write this in Java, which would have made this "bigger and better" HAHAHHA.
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