GENWiki

Network Working Group R. Callon, Editor Request for Comments: 1925 IOOF Category: Informational 1 April 1996

                    The Twelve Networking Truths

Status of this Memo

 This memo provides information for the Internet community.  This memo
 does not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of
 this memo is unlimited.

Abstract

 This memo documents the fundamental truths of networking for the
 Internet community. This memo does not specify a standard, except in
 the sense that all standards must implicitly follow the fundamental
 truths.

Acknowledgements

 The truths described in this memo result from extensive study over an
 extended period of time by many people, some of whom did not intend
 to contribute to this work. The editor merely has collected these
 truths, and would like to thank the networking community for
 originally illuminating these truths.

1. Introduction

 This Request for Comments (RFC) provides information about the
 fundamental truths underlying all networking. These truths apply to
 networking in general, and are not limited to TCP/IP, the Internet,
 or any other subset of the networking community.

2. The Fundamental Truths

 (1)  It Has To Work.

 (2)  No matter how hard you push and no matter what the priority,
      you can't increase the speed of light.

      (2a) (corollary). No matter how hard you try, you can't make a
           baby in much less than 9 months. Trying to speed this up
           *might* make it slower, but it won't make it happen any
           quicker.

Callon Informational [Page 1]  RFC 1925 Fundamental Truths of Networking 1 April 1996

 (3)  With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. However, this is
      not necessarily a good idea. It is hard to be sure where they
      are going to land, and it could be dangerous sitting under them
      as they fly overhead.

 (4)  Some things in life can never be fully appreciated nor
      understood unless experienced firsthand. Some things in
      networking can never be fully understood by someone who neither
      builds commercial networking equipment nor runs an operational
      network.

 (5)  It is always possible to aglutenate multiple separate problems
      into a single complex interdependent solution. In most cases
      this is a bad idea.

 (6)  It is easier to move a problem around (for example, by moving
      the problem to a different part of the overall network
      architecture) than it is to solve it.

      (6a) (corollary). It is always possible to add another level of
           indirection.

 (7)  It is always something

      (7a) (corollary). Good, Fast, Cheap: Pick any two (you can't
          have all three).

 (8)  It is more complicated than you think.

 (9)  For all resources, whatever it is, you need more.

     (9a) (corollary) Every networking problem always takes longer to
          solve than it seems like it should.

 (10) One size never fits all.

 (11) Every old idea will be proposed again with a different name and
      a different presentation, regardless of whether it works.

      (11a) (corollary). See rule 6a.

 (12) In protocol design, perfection has been reached not when there
      is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take
      away.

Callon Informational [Page 2]  RFC 1925 Fundamental Truths of Networking 1 April 1996

Security Considerations

 This RFC raises no security issues. However, security protocols are
 subject to the fundamental networking truths.

References

 The references have been deleted in order to protect the guilty and
 avoid enriching the lawyers.

Author's Address

 Ross Callon
 Internet Order of Old Farts
 c/o Bay Networks
 3 Federal Street
 Billerica, MA  01821

 Phone: 508-436-3936
 EMail: rcallon@baynetworks.com

Callon Informational [Page 3]