Multiple response modes

Rickard Schoultz <schoultz@sunet.se> Wed, 01 December 1993 10:58 UTC

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To: ietf-wnils@ucdavis.edu
Subject: Multiple response modes
Date: Wed, 01 Dec 1993 11:30:20 +0100
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From: Rickard Schoultz <schoultz@sunet.se>

A reply send from a whois++ server has a layout like:

	# response-mode
	 data
	# END

The whois++ document mentions a `Pointer' response mode, allowing the
server to point to another whois++ server (records on another server).
The index document also defines a `Servers-To-Ask' reply, which allows a
server tell the client to pass the query to another server.

It would be very useful if the server could respond with a mix of
response modes. One problem with that is that `# END' is defined as the
end of the response [of the FORMAT response MODE], so this means that we
have to use something else to mark the end of the whole response;
Preferably a system response since that is what we are doing.

A server could in this model yield:

	# FULL
	# USER foo123
	  Name:Grkl Mnpgh
	# END
	# POINTER
	  <some yet-to-be-defined structure>
	# END
	% 226 Transfer complete.

Would that be acceptable?

-Rickard