Illustrated TCP/IP by Matthew G. Naugle Wiley Computer Publishing, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN: 0471196568   Pub Date: 11/01/98

Chapter 15
RFC Format

First page. Refer to slide 24. Network Working Group. The traditional heading for the group that founded the RFC series. This appears on the first line on the left–hand side of the heading.

Request for Comment: nnnn. Identifies this as a request for comments and specifies the number. Indicated on the second line on the left side. The actual number is filled in at the last moment before publication by the RFC Editor.

Author Name. The author’s name (first initial and last name only), indicated on the first line on the right side of the heading.

Author Organization. The author’s organization (company name, college division, etc.), indicated on the second line on the right side.

Submission Date. This is the month and year of the RFC publication. Indicated on the third line on the right side.

Obsoletes/Updates. If this RFC updates or obsoletes another RFC, it is indicated in the third line on the left side of the heading.

Category. The category of this RFC, one of: Standards Track, Informational, or Experimental. This is indicated on the third (if there is no Obsoletes/Updates indication) or fourth line on the left side.

RFC Format

Title. The title appears, centered, below the rest of the heading. If there are multiple authors, and if the multiple authors are from multiple organizations, the right–side heading may have additional lines to accommodate them.

Running headers. The running header in one line (on page 2 and all subsequent pages) has the RFC number on the left (RFC NNNN), the title centered (possibly an abbreviated title), and the date (month, year) on the right.

Running footers. The running footer in one line (on all pages) has the author’s last name on the left and the page number on the right ([Page N]).

Status section. Each RFC must include on its first page the “Status of this Memo” section, which contains a paragraph describing the type of RFC.

The content of this section will be one of the three following statements:

Standards track. “This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the ‘Internet Official Protocol Standards’ (STD 1) for the standardization state and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.”

Experimental. “This memo defines an experimental protocol for the Internet community. This memo does not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Discussion and suggestions for improvement are requested. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.”

Informational. “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.”

RFC Format (continued)