Internet Standard

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Internet Standard
In computer network engineering, an Internet Standard (abbreviated as "STD") is a normative specification of a
technology or methodology applicable to the Internet. Internet Standards are created and published by the Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF).
Overview
An Internet Standard is a special Request for Comments (RFC) or set of RFCs. An RFC that is to become a Standard
or part of a Standard begins as an Internet Draft, and is later (usually after several revisions) accepted and published
by the RFC Editor as an RFC and labeled a Proposed Standard. Later, an RFC can be labeled Internet Standard.
Collectively, these stages are known as the Standards Track, and are defined in RFC 2026 and RFC 6410. The label
Historic is applied to deprecated Standards Track documents or obsolete RFCs that were published before the
Standards Track was established.
Only the IETF, represented by the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG), can approve Standards Track RFCs.
The definitive list of Internet Standards is maintained in Internet Standards document STD 1: Internet Official
Protocol Standards.
Standardization process
Becoming a standard is a two step process within the IETF called Proposed Standards and Internet Standards. If an
RFC is part of a proposal that is on the Standard Track, then at the first stage, the standard is proposed and
subsequently organizations decide whether to implement this Proposed Standard. After the criteria in RFC 6410 is
met (two separate implementations, widespread use, no errata etc.), the RFC can advance to Internet Standard.
The Internet Standards Process is defined in several "Best Current Practice" documents, notably BCP 9
[1]
(currently[2] RFC 2026 and RFC 6410). There were previously three standard maturity levels Proposed Standard,
Draft Standard and Standard. RFC 6410 reduced this to two maturity levels.
Proposed Standard
A Proposed Standard (PS) is generally stable, has resolved known design choices, is believed to be well-understood,
has received significant community review, and appears to enjoy enough community interest to be considered
valuable. However, further experience might result in a change or even retraction of the specification before it
advances. Usually, neither implementation nor operational experience is required.
Draft Standard
In October 2011 RFC 6410 in essence merged this second and the third Internet Standard maturity level for future
Internet Standards. Existing older Draft Standards retain that classification. The IESG can reclassify an old Draft
Standard as Proposed Standard after two years (October 2013).
Internet Standard
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Internet Standard
An Internet Standard is characterized by a high degree of technical maturity and by a generally held belief that the
specified protocol or service provides significant benefit to the Internet community. Generally Internet Standards
cover interoperability of systems on the Internet through defining protocols, message formats, schemas, and
languages. The most fundamental of the Internet Standards are the ones defining the Internet Protocol.
An Internet Standard ensures that hardware and software produced by different vendors can work together. Having a
standard makes it much easier to develop software and hardware that link different networks because software and
hardware can be developed one layer at a time. Normally, the standards used in data communication are called
protocols.
All Internet Standards are given a number in the STD series - The first document in this series, STD 1, describes the
remaining documents in the series, and has a list of Proposed Standards.
Each RFC is static; if the document is changed, it is submitted again and assigned a new RFC number. If an RFC
becomes an Internet Standard (STD), it is assigned an STD number but retains its RFC number. When an Internet
Standard is updated, its number stays the same and it simply refers to a different RFC or set of RFCs. A given
Internet Standard, STD n, may be RFCs x and y at a given time, but later the same standard may be updated to be
RFC z instead. For example, in 2007 RFC 3700 was an Internet StandardSTD 1and in May 2008 it was replaced
with RFC 5000, so RFC 3700 changed to Historic status, and now[2] STD 1 is RFC 5000. When STD 1 is updated
again, it will simply refer to a newer RFC, but it will still be STD 1. Note that not all RFCs are standards-track
documents, but all Internet Standards and other standards-track documents are RFCs.
The list of Internet standards in RFC 5000 ends with STD 68 (RFC 5234, ABNF) published in 2008. It does not
cover STD 69 (aset of five EPP RFCs), STD 70 (RFC 5652, CMS) published in 2009, STD 71 (RFC 6152,
8BITMIME), and STD 72 (RFC 6409, Mail Submission) published in 2011.
Standard Type Associated Protocols
Email IMAP, POP, X.400, SMTP, CMC, MIME, binhex, uuencode
Web http, CGI, html/xml/vrml/sgml
Internet Directory X.500, LDAP
Application http, FTP, telnet, gopher, wais
Videoconferencing H.320, H.323, Mpeg-1, Mpeg-2
References
[1] http:/ / tools.ietf. org/ html/ bcp9
[2] http:/ / en. wikipedia. org/ w/ index. php?title=Internet_Standard& action=edit
External links
List of Full Standard [[Request for Comments|RFC (http:/ / www. apps. ietf. org/ rfc/ stdlist. html)]s]
Internet Architecture Board (http:/ / www. iab. org/ )
Internet Engineering Steering Group (http:/ / www. ietf. org/ iesg/ )
Internet Engineering Task Force (http:/ / www. ietf. org/ )
RFC Editor (http:/ / www. rfc-editor. org/ )
Article Sources and Contributors
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Article Sources and Contributors
Internet Standard Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=610996817 Contributors: Aboalbiss, Abune, Adamgpope, Aldie, Alvestrand, Behind The Wall Of Sleep, Bgwhite,
Blobglob, Bwrs, Ccyber5, Cenarium, CharlotteWebb, Chris55, Conversion script, Cybjit, Digita, DocWatson42, Galzigler, Gareth Owen, Genium, IMSoP, Ivan Pozdeev, JTN, Jamelan,
Jonesey95, Kbrose, Kdz, Koavf, Kubieziel, Kvng, Labongo, Largesock, Light show, Lucas gonze, Mac, Mjb, Nazi 2007, Noremacskich, Omniplex, R'n'B, Rdrs, RetiredWikipedian789, Ringbang,
Rlsheehan, SMcCandlish, Sbanker, ScottMHoward, Smichae, Stephan Leeds, The Anome, Timwi, TonyW, Uruiamme, Wiki104, Wrs1864, Yanksox, 60 anonymous edits
License
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