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rfc:rfc1039

Network Working Group D. Latham Request for Comments: 1039 DoD Obsoletes RFC-945 January 1988

     A DoD Statement on Open Systems Interconnection Protocols

Status of this Memo

 This RFC reproduces a memorandum issued on 2-JUL-87 from the
 Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications,
 and Intelligence (ASDC31) to the Director of the Defense
 Communications Agency (DCA).  This memo is distributed for
 information only.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Memorandum

 There has been recent rapid progress in the specification and
 implementation of computer protocols based on the International
 Organization for Standardization model for Open Systems
 Interconnection (OSI).  The Government OSI Profile (GOSIP), dated 22
 April 1987, contains sufficient information to specify adequately and
 acquire interoperable vendor implementations of OSI message handling
 and file transfer capabilities.  Therefore, the policy on
 standardization of host-to-host protocols for data communications,
 promulgated by USDR&E memo of 23 March 1982, is modified as follows.
 The OSI message handling and file transfer protocols, together with
 their underlying protocols as defined in GOSIP, are adopted as
 experimental co-standards to the DoD protocols which provide similar
 services (MIL-STDs 1777, 1778, 1780, and 1781).  These OSI protocols
 may be specified in addition to, in lieu of, or as an optional
 alternative to DoD protocols, in cases where the current DoD protocol
 applicability statements apply.  They are designated as experimental
 because of the limited operational experience currently available
 with the OSI protocols and the limited operational, testing, and
 security environment currently defined in GOSIP.  Services and
 agencies choosing to implement OSI protocols at this time should
 carefully evaluate these factors and be prepared to deal with the
 complications which may accompany the introduction of new technology.
 It is intended to adopt the OSI protocols as a full co-standard with
 the DoD protocols when GOSIP is formally approved as a Federal
 Information Processing Standard.  Two years thereafter, the OSI
 protocols would become the sole mandatory interoperable protocol
 suite; however, a capability for interoperation with DoD protocols
 would be provided for the expected life of systems supporting the DoD
 protocols.
 In order to extend the OSI protocol capabilities and provide

Latham [Page 1] RFC 1039 A DoD Statement on OSIP January 1988

 interoperability between the DoD and OSI protocols as rapidly as
 possible, the following actions are requested:
    a.  The Director, Defense Communications Agency, as the DoD
    Executive Agent for Data Communications Protocol Standards,
    should:
  • Publish by November 1987 the DoD-OSI Interoperability and

Transition Plan. The plan should provide for interoperation of

    the DoD and OSI protocols at the application level.  A capability
    for experimental interoperability of DoD and OSI message handling
    and file transfer capabilities should be provided by March 1988,
    and a limit operational capability by January 1989.
  • Join the Corporation for Open Systems (COS) as the Department of

Defense representative. COS is a non-profit consortium formed to

    deal with testing and other operational issues relating to OSI
    protocols. At the request of the Office of Management and Budget,
    the Services and other defense agencies should not join COS
    directly, but may participate as the agents of DCA on appropriate
    COS committees.
  • Coordinate Service and agency participation, in accordance with

existing directives, in groups developing OSI standards,

    specifications and operating and management procedures.  These
    groups include the Government OSI User's Group, the National
    Bureau of Standards OSI Implementor's Workshop, the Corporation
    for Open Systems, the Manufacturing and Automation Protocol (MAP)
    and Technical and Office Protocol (TOP) user's groups, the
    American National Standards Institute X3S3 and X3T5 committees,
    and the NATO Tri-Service Group on Communications and Electronic
    Equipment, Sub-Group 9 (Data Processing and Distribution).
    b.  The Director, National Security Agency should assure that the
    efforts of the ongoing Secure Data Network Systems program can be
    used to provide the security extensions defined as future work
    items in GOSIP.
    c.  The Services and defense agencies should share the results and
    experience of early implementations under the experimental
    coexistence policy by actively participating in the groups
    indicated above, under DCA coordination.  This experience should
    be particularly valuable in assuring that military requirements
    can be satisfied by the developing OSI standards, specifications,
    and procedures.
 This guidance provides for the interim steps necessary to continue
 progress toward implementation of OSI standards.  As the technology

Latham [Page 2] RFC 1039 A DoD Statement on OSIP January 1988

 matures and DoD gains additional experience, the final implementation
 details will be provided in a DoD Directive.

References

 [1] Dinneen, Memorandum of Dec 78, IEN-152.
 [2] Dinneen, Memorandum of Apr 80, IEN-152.
 [3] DeLauer, Memorandum of Mar 82, IEN-207.
 [4] Latham, Memorandum of Apr 85, RFC-945.

Latham [Page 3]

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