Request For Comments (RFC’s) >
The following Internet references are related to RFC’s:
- BCP’s. The IETF has endorsed a set of RFC’s called Best Current Practices (BCP’s). When a BCP is updated, it retains the same BCP number, and is published as a new RFC. RFC 1818 provides a good overview of BCP’s.
- FYI’s. For Your Information (FYI) documents were created by Joyce Reynolds as a subset of the RFC’s, with FYI numbers as well as RFC numbers. These documents are generally less technical in nature, containing general and useful information with broad applicability to a wider audience. When FYI documents are updated, they retain the same FYI number, and they are published as a new RFC. The “FYI on FYI” is published as RFC 1150.
- IEN’s. In 1977, ARPA initiated a research project to design and build an Internet based on the work done by Robert Kahn and Vinton Cerf. The effort was led by an organization called the Internet Working Group, which created a series of technical notes modeled on the RFC’s called Internet Experiment Notes (IENs). Jon Postel, editor of the RFC’s, became the editor for the IENs as well. The series was merged with the RFC’s when TCP/IP became mandated for use on the ARPANET.
- RTR’s. The Reseaux Associes pour la Recherche Europeenne (RARE), or Association of European Research Networks, worked on development of the European computer communications network, and published RARE Technical Reports (RTR) which were also published as RFC’s after 1993. RARE has since merged with EARN to become the Trans European Research & Education Networking Association (TERENA).
- STD’s. Standard (STD) documents are a subset of the RFC’s, and are used to document full Internet standards. When STD documents are updated, they retain the same STD number, and are published as a new RFC. An up-to-date list can be found at Faqs.org.
You can also find more information on RFC’s at An Internet Encyclopedia.