Re: [rfc-i] Fwd: I-D Action: draft-carpenter-rfc-principles-00.txt

Adrian Farrel <adrian@olddog.co.uk> Sun, 10 May 2020 17:34 UTC

Return-Path: <rfc-interest-bounces@rfc-editor.org>
X-Original-To: ietfarch-rfc-interest-archive@ietfa.amsl.com
Delivered-To: ietfarch-rfc-interest-archive@ietfa.amsl.com
Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by ietfa.amsl.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id B4A113A0ABB; Sun, 10 May 2020 10:34:26 -0700 (PDT)
X-Virus-Scanned: amavisd-new at amsl.com
X-Spam-Flag: NO
X-Spam-Score: -2.65
X-Spam-Level:
X-Spam-Status: No, score=-2.65 tagged_above=-999 required=5 tests=[BAYES_00=-1.9, HEADER_FROM_DIFFERENT_DOMAINS=0.249, HTML_MESSAGE=0.001, MAILING_LIST_MULTI=-1, SPF_PASS=-0.001, URIBL_BLOCKED=0.001] autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no
Received: from mail.ietf.org ([4.31.198.44]) by localhost (ietfa.amsl.com [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id 87DIP6OCNTJ3; Sun, 10 May 2020 10:34:23 -0700 (PDT)
Received: from rfc-editor.org (rfc-editor.org [4.31.198.49]) (using TLSv1.2 with cipher AECDH-AES256-SHA (256/256 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by ietfa.amsl.com (Postfix) with ESMTPS id BE4E33A0AB7; Sun, 10 May 2020 10:34:22 -0700 (PDT)
Received: from rfcpa.amsl.com (localhost [IPv6:::1]) by rfc-editor.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 53E0EF40709; Sun, 10 May 2020 10:34:10 -0700 (PDT)
X-Original-To: rfc-interest@rfc-editor.org
Delivered-To: rfc-interest@rfc-editor.org
Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by rfc-editor.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 4331AF40709 for <rfc-interest@rfc-editor.org>; Sun, 10 May 2020 10:34:08 -0700 (PDT)
X-Virus-Scanned: amavisd-new at rfc-editor.org
Received: from rfc-editor.org ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (rfcpa.amsl.com [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id CtJZbdKfTris for <rfc-interest@rfc-editor.org>; Sun, 10 May 2020 10:34:03 -0700 (PDT)
Received: from mta5.iomartmail.com (mta5.iomartmail.com [62.128.193.155]) by rfc-editor.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 7E76BF406D6 for <rfc-interest@rfc-editor.org>; Sun, 10 May 2020 10:34:02 -0700 (PDT)
Received: from vs3.iomartmail.com (vs3.iomartmail.com [10.12.10.124]) by mta5.iomartmail.com (8.14.4/8.14.4) with ESMTP id 04AHYBkm017568; Sun, 10 May 2020 18:34:11 +0100
Received: from vs3.iomartmail.com (unknown [127.0.0.1]) by IMSVA (Postfix) with ESMTP id 3943B2203A; Sun, 10 May 2020 18:34:11 +0100 (BST)
Received: from asmtp3.iomartmail.com (unknown [10.12.10.224]) by vs3.iomartmail.com (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 23B0E22032; Sun, 10 May 2020 18:34:11 +0100 (BST)
Received: from LAPTOPK7AS653V ([84.93.26.18]) (authenticated bits=0) by asmtp3.iomartmail.com (8.14.4/8.14.4) with ESMTP id 04AHYA55004477 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 bits=256 verify=NO); Sun, 10 May 2020 18:34:10 +0100
From: Adrian Farrel <adrian@olddog.co.uk>
To: 'Michael StJohns' <msj@nthpermutation.com>, rfc-interest@rfc-editor.org
References: <158900073744.13624.17132280974290551869@ietfa.amsl.com> <df63c2e3-6327-58c4-8bb8-44175fb466a1@gmail.com> <734a73bb-dd4a-78ba-e774-f3db9560bc75@nthpermutation.com>
In-Reply-To: <734a73bb-dd4a-78ba-e774-f3db9560bc75@nthpermutation.com>
Date: Sun, 10 May 2020 18:34:08 +0100
Organization: Old Dog Consulting
Message-ID: <00cf01d626f1$36863ff0$a392bfd0$@olddog.co.uk>
MIME-Version: 1.0
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook 16.0
Thread-Index: AQIXd1lDfRLMUyCB5gsDzs94bJ6JOwH5gkxcAaiXejaoAeGC4A==
Content-Language: en-gb
X-Originating-IP: 84.93.26.18
X-Thinkmail-Auth: adrian@olddog.co.uk
X-TM-AS-GCONF: 00
X-TM-AS-Product-Ver: IMSVA-9.0.0.1623-8.2.0.1013-25412.001
X-TM-AS-Result: No--19.739-10.0-31-10
X-imss-scan-details: No--19.739-10.0-31-10
X-TMASE-Version: IMSVA-9.0.0.1623-8.2.1013-25412.001
X-TMASE-Result: 10--19.739000-10.000000
X-TMASE-MatchedRID: 8HTFlOrbAtFor4mPA3EMtnFPUrVDm6jtekMgTOQbVFuUucejOoym7/VZ RgYwg53IhunahIR1skv9Kt7RtC14vbk9jpapP9jUlVHM/F6YkvRw8Aq1WXxkIJaJMh5D/hRfGUq KP6l3DmN/hEESNiYhyonsa8SDM3SwP2mkvIawf9iFTLRMAFrHXEX+NKU+2Zr+q2RzHFToRUiRHn of8YOK/aN2PKP3ZcmbBFaz26ucC+dz4sVWKF9cY6JVTu7sjgg1M9EkAUzyluF9JruBF3g/RjKNq H+n0q7dZBwN8EbP6bshF5Ec66a+DIJeUXYfLk0BIPc0X7BR470p7CfTKkEjpRBEGklbuMi4hzQH k5Qv+7UYee7EEsYMYPykGlgGUBKt2HSJLQfme0tcDXoTHAPnrAoXSOLC5a44LpveAxN4M1/BJCY DIAg0MgUl5JgeEQtrnQlPlipoBaLwhYtDtTTwvTfEJhkPJ1IacgUuM/TfAYzmeXXUnjCNyhj55A tg9RNHih41R0SYctd/IJahU/1LkdCX76rBBS2rLTHwnYOikQ26hgVvSdGKo2yIID37xcHK5Jmw4 eLTuAS9f7c6KrFbWfwGqYI0xr8fui/X4MEzW0Dlv4IR1ypeLu+acqossQ1Iaq7Dr1BRCsvUcpmB KTDCtRV2BsEKINzfag+14wpLE044T/2D6njxkuqq1/VfpBZTGrSmht4ssAc1ho4h8XMwoGK8E4g om5/qXScoSC3Tq1aqxeF6rW3Jo6rIGkJxj/ITwY28o+cGA5pqjvRCnKLx+jfzN9nCvn5IilvAb1 8i4hPppsXI0DhdL+2O06dSsVrYzj8fPxf/liRJ60FQ1lQvAH0tCKdnhB58r10pknZXGJqNwWY+K mOUG2F5X5yuwToh6BetiFDnDZIj651uB5UYLnui486hseLD1uWGyfpWIqnx+6muNYOAMw==
X-TMASE-SNAP-Result: 1.821001.0001-0-1-12:0,22:0,33:0,34:0-0
Subject: Re: [rfc-i] Fwd: I-D Action: draft-carpenter-rfc-principles-00.txt
X-BeenThere: rfc-interest@rfc-editor.org
X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.29
Precedence: list
List-Id: "A list for discussion of the RFC series and RFC Editor functions." <rfc-interest.rfc-editor.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <https://www.rfc-editor.org/mailman/options/rfc-interest>, <mailto:rfc-interest-request@rfc-editor.org?subject=unsubscribe>
List-Archive: <http://www.rfc-editor.org/pipermail/rfc-interest/>
List-Post: <mailto:rfc-interest@rfc-editor.org>
List-Help: <mailto:rfc-interest-request@rfc-editor.org?subject=help>
List-Subscribe: <https://www.rfc-editor.org/mailman/listinfo/rfc-interest>, <mailto:rfc-interest-request@rfc-editor.org?subject=subscribe>
Reply-To: adrian@olddog.co.uk
Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="===============5810204437135231458=="
Errors-To: rfc-interest-bounces@rfc-editor.org
Sender: rfc-interest <rfc-interest-bounces@rfc-editor.org>

Thanks Mike for the historic perspective that will (hopefully) avoid some back and forth about why we are where we are. And thanks Brian for a good draft that serves as an excellent starting point for discussion.

 

Adrian

 

From: rfc-interest <rfc-interest-bounces@rfc-editor.org> On Behalf Of Michael StJohns
Sent: 10 May 2020 00:46
To: rfc-interest@rfc-editor.org
Subject: Re: [rfc-i] Fwd: I-D Action: draft-carpenter-rfc-principles-00.txt

 

On 5/9/2020 1:13 AM, Brian E Carpenter wrote:

Hi,
 
This draft is intended as background material for ongoing discussions about the role of the Request for Comments (RFC) Series Editor (the RSE). This version is purely personal opinion. I welcome comments, best sent to  rfc-interest@rfc-editor.org <mailto:rfc-interest@rfc-editor.org>  if they concern the RFC Series in general, or to rfced-future@iab.org <mailto:rfced-future@iab.org>  if they concern the role of the RSE specifically.

Brian - excellent document!   I think I'm north of 95% in agreement with both the background and how you want to frame the RFC editor.

Some additional data points:

On or before the NCAR IETF meeting, Phill Gross and Jon Postel got together to figure out how the IETF might end up using the RFC series as a publication stream. That happened privately as far as I know because Phill presented it as a fait accompli at the NCAR meeting.   At the time, the IETF was trying to have a pretty fast cycle time on draft documents, and that was out of Jon's wheelhouse.   The IETF (individuals) had started sending out complete but un-edited documents in a series entitled "Internet Design Engineering and Analysis Series" which at one point ended up with one network equipment provider indicating that its product supported "IDEA 9".  What came out of the Phill/Jon discussion was the Internet Drafts ephemeral stream which would lead to final publication as RFCs.  At NCAR, the IETF was still firmly a operational engineering organization rather than a standards organization, but that changed in the next year or so.

All this is preface to a comment on:

The RFC series constitutes the archival publication channel
for Internet Standards and for other contributions by the
Internet research and engineering community. RFCs are available
free of charge to anyone via the Internet. The IAB must approve
the appointment of an organization to act as RFC Editor and the
general policy followed by the RFC Editor.

NCAR was November 87; funding for the RFC editor was solely a US Government thing.   The IAB was still pre-Kobe in form.  The agreement was not so much that the IAB appointed the RFC editor, but that the RFC editor and the IETF chair had agreed upon the RFC series as a place to host IETF documents.   Kobe happened around '91.  The US Government gradually reduced its funding for the IETF and things like the RFC Editor and IANA started transitioning out around '97-'98. (I retired from ARPA and the USAF in '96 and participated a bit in the Internic process, but lost track of who was funding what after I left).   

The IAB claimed hegemony over the RFC series in RFC 1601 (March 1994):

   (d) RFC Series and IANA
 
      The IAB is responsible for editorial management and publication of
      the Request for Comments (RFC) document series, and for
      administration of the various Internet assigned numbers.

The above probably had more to do with the fact that Jon had been on the IAB than anything else.

and

   2.4 RFC Series and Assigned Numbers
 
      The RFC series constitutes the archival publication channel for
      Internet Standards and for other contributions by the Internet
      research and engineering community.  The IAB shall select an RFC
      Editor, who shall be responsible for the editorial management and
      publication of the RFC series.
 
 
      The IAB shall also designate an Internet Assigned Numbers
      Authority (IANA) to administer the assignment of Internet protocol
      numbers.

 

But at that point in time was dependent on .. well ARPA, NSF, NASA and DOE for the funding for those functions.    E.g. the claim may have been made, but it had no teeth.   Ditto for the IANA function which was still happening at SRI-NIC.  Note the co-claim of authority for the IANA, what that model looks like today, and the hoops we needed to go through to get there.

In any event, from my point of view as the COTR on the ISI contract that funded the labor for the RFC series, the series belonged to ISI, and wasn't a ownership deliverable to the government.  As COTR, I kept my hands off of anything to do with editorial oversight.  When Joyce and Bob got out of the business, we hired Heather and, I believe, got a formal written transfer of the ownership of the RFC series from ISI to ISOC.  I assume there was some further transfer from ISOC to the IETF or IETF LLC or Trust at some point, but I lost track. 

It's my position, that absent that transfer, the actual authority the IAB had was to designate where the Internet Standards would be published, not to select the RFC editor whatever was claimed.  Had the 1994 IAB tried to exercise what authority it had claimed, it would probably would have found itself falling flat.  Ditto for most of the IABs up until Bob retired.  It could have published elsewhere, but it couldn't have forced the RFC series to move somewhere else.

The key document here would be the one that describes the ownership of the brand.   

The phrase I would socialize/insert for section 3, (9) is "The <insert appropriate legal entity here> owns the RFC Series brand and holds it in trust for the Internet community."

One other item:   On your list in section 3, I'd modify (6) to begin "Major strategic decisions...." for the obvious reasons.

 

I keep coming back to the idea that we should re-form the RFC organization along the lines of an independent non-profit publisher.

Later, Mike

 

 

 
 
I advise reading the pretty HTML version since this draft is in v3 format:
https://www.ietf.org/id/draft-carpenter-rfc-principles-00.html
 
Regards,
    Brian
 
 
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: I-D Action: draft-carpenter-rfc-principles-00.txt
Date: Fri, 08 May 2020 22:05:37 -0700
From: internet-drafts@ietf.org <mailto:internet-drafts@ietf.org> 
Reply-To: internet-drafts@ietf.org <mailto:internet-drafts@ietf.org> 
To: i-d-announce@ietf.org <mailto:i-d-announce@ietf.org> 
 
 
A New Internet-Draft is available from the on-line Internet-Drafts directories.
 
 
        Title           : Principles of the Request for Comments Series
        Author          : Brian Carpenter
  Filename        : draft-carpenter-rfc-principles-00.txt
  Pages           : 9
  Date            : 2020-05-08
 
Abstract:
   This document discusses the underlying principles of the Internet
   technical community's Request for Comments document Series.
 
 
The IETF datatracker status page for this draft is:
https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-carpenter-rfc-principles/
 
There are also htmlized versions available at:
https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-carpenter-rfc-principles-00
https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-carpenter-rfc-principles-00
 
 
Please note that it may take a couple of minutes from the time of submission
until the htmlized version and diff are available at tools.ietf.org.
 
Internet-Drafts are also available by anonymous FTP at:
ftp://ftp.ietf.org/internet-drafts/
 
 
_______________________________________________
I-D-Announce mailing list
I-D-Announce@ietf.org <mailto:I-D-Announce@ietf.org> 
https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/i-d-announce
Internet-Draft directories: http://www.ietf.org/shadow.html
or ftp://ftp.ietf.org/ietf/1shadow-sites.txt
 
_______________________________________________
rfc-interest mailing list
rfc-interest@rfc-editor.org <mailto:rfc-interest@rfc-editor.org> 
https://www.rfc-editor.org/mailman/listinfo/rfc-interest

 

_______________________________________________
rfc-interest mailing list
rfc-interest@rfc-editor.org
https://www.rfc-editor.org/mailman/listinfo/rfc-interest