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

Chapter 90
Internet Assigned Numbers Authority

The Internet protocol suite, as defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and its steering group (the IESG), contains numerous parameters, such as internet addresses, domain names, autonomous system numbers (used in some routing protocols), protocol numbers, port numbers, management information-based object identifiers (including private enterprise numbers), and many others.

The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is the central coordinator for the assignment of unique parameter values for Internet protocols. The IANA is chartered by the Internet Society (ISOC) and the Federal Network Council (FNC) to act as the clearinghouse to assign and coordinate the use of numerous Internet protocol parameters.

Certain fields within IP and TCP are required to be unique. Imagine a port number that is arbitrarily assigned for FTP, or an IP address that is allowed to be assigned by any site and then wants to connect to the Internet. It is the task of the IANA to make those unique assignments as requested and to maintain a registry of the currently assigned values.

As of this writing, RFC 1700 contains the compilation of assigned numbers. However, an up-to-date FTP site is available at:

ftp://ftp.isi.edu/in-notes/iana/assignments

Requests for parameter assignments (protocols, ports, etc.) should be sent to:

<iana@isi.edu>

Requests for SNMP network management private enterprise number assignments should be sent to:

<iana-mib@isi.edu>

The IANA is located at and operated by the Information Sciences Institute (ISI) of the University of Southern California (USC). If you are developing a protocol or application that will require the use of a link, socket, port, protocol, and so forth, please contact the IANA to receive a number assignment (refer to RFC 1700).