Most of the information about the TCP/IP protocol family is published as Requests For Comments (RFCs). RFCs define the various aspects of the protocol, its use, and management as a set of loosely coordinated notes.
The RFCs contain a lot of useless information (mostly because it is system-specific or considerably outdated), but they also contain a wealth of detail for those who want to take TCP/IP to its limits. Unexpectedly, there is quite a bit of interesting and humorous reading in the RFCs, including several classic works such as "'Twas the Night Before Start-up" (RFC 968), "ARPAWOCKY" (RFC 527), and "Telnet Randomly—Lose Option" (RFC 748).
This appendix lists the important (or, as just mentioned, interesting or humorous) RFCs that readers might want to refer to. Instructions for accessing the RFCs are also included. This list is not complete. Where possible, old and outdated RFCs have been dropped from the list. However, thinning the list of RFCs is a time-consuming process, involving reading each of the documents in turn. Because there are almost 1,500 RFCs, I have relied on other users' comments, notes from the NIC, and other reference works for a suitable pruning.
RFCs can be obtained in several ways, the easiest of which is electronically. Paper copies are available upon request. Electronic copies are usually in ASCII format, although some are in PostScript format and require a PostScript interpreter to print them. Most RFCs obtained electronically do not have diagrams, figures, or pictures.
RFCs can be obtained using FTP through the Internet Network Information Center (NIC). Use FTP to access the NIC archive NIC.DDN.MIL. Use the user name guest and the password anonymous. RFCs can then be retrieved by using the FTP get command with the following format:
<RFC>RFC527.txt
Replace the RFC527 portion with the number of the RFC required. You can FTP into the NIC archive only if you have access to a machine with Internet access.
RFCs can be requested through electronic mail. Both the NIC and the NFSNET Network Service Center provide automated responses, returning the requested RFC. Both services read incoming electronic mail for keywords that indicate which RFC is required as well as the sender's e-mail address, then send back the RFC requested.
To obtain an RFC from the NIC, send a message with the subject field set to the RFC you want. Mail it to service@nic.ddn.mil. If you want more information on obtaining information through the NIC e-mail system, send mail with the word help as the subject.
To obtain RFCs from the NFSNET Network Service Center, send a message with the first two lines like this:
REQUEST: RFC TOPIC: 527
The first line specifies that you want an RFC, and the second line gives the RFC number. Send the mail to info-server@sh.cs.net. For more information, set the topic to help.
If you do not have access to electronic communications, you can request a preprinted copy of an RFC. To obtain a printed copy of any RFC, call the Network Information Center at 1-800-235-3155.
It is considered bad manners to make the NIC staff wait while you find which RFCs you want. Make a list of them first, so your telephones conversation is short and succinct. They must answer many calls a day and are usually quite busy.
Following are categorized lists of available RFCs.
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RFC1360
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"IAB Official Protocol Standards," Postel, J.B.; 1992
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RFC1340
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"Assigned Numbers," Reynolds, J.K.; Postel, J.B.; 1992
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RFC1208
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"Glossary of Networking Terms," Jacobsen, O.J.; Lynch, D.C.; 1991
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RFC1180
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"TCP/IP Tutorial," Socolofsky, T.J.; Kale, C.J.; 1991
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RFC1178
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"Choosing a Name for Your Computer," Libes, D.; 1990
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RFC1175
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"FYI on Where to Start: A Bibliography of Inter-networking Information," Bowers, K.L.; LaQuey, T.L.; Reynolds, J.K.; Reubicek, K.; Stahl, M.K.; Yuan, A.; 1990
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RFC1173
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"Responsibilities of Host and Network Managers: A Summary of the Oral Tradition of the Internet," vanBokkelen, J.; 1990
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RFC1166
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"Internet Numbers," Kirkpatrick, S.; Stahl, M.K.; Recker, M.; 1990
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RFC1127
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"Perspective on the Host Requirements RFCs," Braden, R.T.; 1989
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RFC1123
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"Requirements for Internet Hosts—Application and Support," Braden, R.T., ed; 1989
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RFC1122
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"Requirements for Internet Hosts—Communication Layers," Braden, R.T., ed; 1989
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RFC1118
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"Hitchhiker's Guide to the Internet," Krol, E., 1989
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RFC1011
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"Official Internet Protocol," Reynolds, J.R.; Postel, J.B.; 1987
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RFC1009
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"Requirements for Internet Gateways," Braden, R.T.; Postel, J.B.; 1987
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RFC980
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"Protocol Document Order Information," Jacobsen, O.J.; Postel, J.B.; 1986 |
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RFC1072
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"TCP Extensions for Long-Delay Paths," Jacobson, V.; Braden, R.T.; 1988
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RFC896
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"Congestion Control in IP/TCP Internetworks," Nagle, J.; 1984
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RFC879
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"TCP Maximum Segment Size and Related Topics," Postel, J.B.; 1983
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RFC813
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"Window and Acknowledgment Strategy in TCP," Clark, D.D.; 1982
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RFC793
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"Transmission Control Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1981
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RFC768
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"User Datagram Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1980 |
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RFC1219
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"On the Assignment of Subnet Numbers," Tsuchiya, P.F.; 1991
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RFC1112
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"Host Extensions for IP Multicasting," Deering, S.E.; 1989
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RFC1088
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"Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams over NetBioses Networks," McLaughlin, L.J.; 1989
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RFC950
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"Internet Standard Subnetting Procedure," Mogul, J.C.; Postel, J.B.; 1985
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RFC932
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"Subnetwork Addressing Schema," Clark, D.D.; 1985
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RFC922
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"Broadcasting Internet Datagrams in the Presence of Subnets," Mogul, J.C.; 1984
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RFC9l9
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"Broadcasting Internet Datagrams," Mogul, J.C.; 1984
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RFC886
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"Proposed Standard for Message Header Munging," Rose, M.T.; 1983
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RFC815
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"IP Datagram Reassembly Algorithms," Clark, D.D.; 1982
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RFC814
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"Names, Addresses, Ports, and Routes," Clark, D.D.; 1982
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RFC792
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"Internet Control Message Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1981
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RFC791
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"Internet Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1981
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RFC781
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"Specification of the Internet Protocol (IP) Timestamp Option," Su, Z.; 1981 |
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RFC1236
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"IP to X.121 Address Mapping for DDN," Morales, L.F. Jr.; 1991
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RFC1220
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"Point-to-Point Protocol Extensions for Bridging," Baker, F., ed.; 1991
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RFC1209
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"Transmission of IP Datagrams over the SMDS Service," Piscitello, D.M.; Lawrence, J.; 1991
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RFC1201
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"Transmitting IP Traffic over ARCNET Networks," Provan, D.; 1991
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RFC1188
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"Proposed Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams over FDDI Networks," Katz, D.; 1990
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RFC1172
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"Point-to-Point Protocol Initial Configuration Options," Perkins, D.; Hobby, R.; 1990
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RFC1171
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"Point-to-Point Protocol for the Transmission of Multiprotocol Datagrams over Point-to-Point Links," Perkins, D.; 1990
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RFC1149
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"Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams on Avian Carriers," Waitzman, D.; 1990
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RFC1055
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"Nonstandard for Transmission of IP Datagrams over Serial Lines: SLIP," Romkey, J.L.; 1988
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RFC1044
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"Internet Protocol on Network System's HYPERchannel: Protocol Specification," Hardwick, K.; Lekashman, J.; 1988
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RFC1042
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"Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams over IEEE 802 Networks," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1988
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RFC1027
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"Using ARP to Implement Transparent Subnet Gateways," Carl-Mitchell, S.; Quarterman, J.S.; 1987
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RFC903
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"Reverse Address Resolution Protocol," Finlayson, R.; Mann, T.; Mogul, J.C.; Theimer, M.; 1984
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RFC895
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"Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams over Experimental Ethernet Networks," Postel, J.B.; 1984
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RFC894
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"Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams over Ethernet Networks," Hornig, C.; 1984
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RFC893
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"Trailer Encapsulations," Leffler, S.; Karels, M.J.; 1984
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RFC877
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"Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams over Public Data Networks," Korb, J.T.; 1983 |
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RFC1084
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"BOOTP Vendor Information Extensions," Reynolds, J.K.; 1988
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RFC951
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"Bootstrap Protocol," Croft, W.J.; Gilmore, J.; 1985
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RFC906
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"Bootstrap Loading Using TFTP," Finlayson, R.; 1984 |
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RFC1101
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"DNS Encoding of Network Names and Other Types," Mockapetris, P.V.; 1989
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RFC1035
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"Domain Names—Implementation and Specification," Mockapetris, P.V.; 1987
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RFC1034
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"Domain Names—Concepts and Facilities," Mockapetris, P.V.; 1987
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RFC1033
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"Domain Administrators Operations Guide," Lottor, M.; 1987
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RFC1032
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"Domain Administrators Guide," Stahl, M.K.; 1987
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RFC974
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"Mail Routing and the Domain System," Partridge, C.; 1986
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RFC920
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"Domain Requirements," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1984
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RFC799
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"Internet Name Domains," Mills, D.L.; 1981 |
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RFC1094
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"NFS: Network File System Protocol Specification," Sun Microsystems, Inc.; 1989
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RFC1068
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"Background File Transfer Program (BFTP)," DeSchon, A.L.; Braden, R. T.; 1988
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RFC959
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"File Transfer Protocol," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1985
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RFC949
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"FTP Unique-Named Store Command," Padlipsky, M.A.; 1985
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RFC783
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"TFTP Protocol (Revision 2)," Sollins, K.R.; 1981
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RFC775
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"Directory Oriented FTP Commands," Mankins, D.; Franklin, D.; Owen, A.D.; 1980 |
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RFC1341
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"MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) Mechanisms for Specifying and Describing the Format of Internet Message Bodies," Borenstein, N.; Freed, N.; 1992
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RFC1143
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"Q Method of Implementing Telnet Option Negotiation," Bernstein, D.J.; 1990
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RFC1090
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"SMTP on X.25," Ullmann, R.; 1989
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RFC1056
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"PCMAIL: A Distributed Mail System for Personal Computers," Lambert, M.L.; 1988
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RFC974
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"Mail Routing and the Domain System," Partridge, C.; 1986
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RFC822
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"Standard for the Format of ARPA Internet Text Messages," Crocker, D.; 1982
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RFC821
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"Simple Mail Transfer Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1982 |
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RFC1267
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"A Border Gateway Protocol 3 (BGP-3)," Lougheed, K.; Rekhter, Y.; 1991
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RFC1247
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"OSPF version 2," Moy, J.; 1991
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RFC1222
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"Advancing the NSFNET Routing Architecture," Braun, H.W.; Rekhter, Y.; 1991
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RFC1195
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"Use of OSI IS-IS for Routing in TCP/IP and Dual Environments," Callon, R.W.; 1990
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RFC1164
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"Application of the Border Gateway Protocol in the Internet," Honig, J.C.; Katz, D.; Mathis, M.; Rekhter, Y.; Yu, J.Y.; 1990
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RFC1163
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"Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)," Lougheed, K.; Rekhter, Y.; 1990
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RFC1136
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"Administrative Domains and Routing Domains: A Model for Routing in the Internet," Hares, S.; Katz, D.; 1989
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RFC1074
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"NSFNET Backbone SPF-Based Interior Gateway Protocol," Rekhter, J.; 1988
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RFC1058
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"Routing Information Protocol," Hedrick, C.L.; 1988
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RFC911
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"EGP Gateway under Berkeley UNIX 4.2," Kirton, P.; 1984
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RFC904
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"Exterior Gateway Protocol Formal Specification," Mills, D.L.; 1984
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RFC888
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"STUB Exterior Gateway Protocol," Seamonson, L.; Rosen, E.C.; 1984
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RFC827
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"Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP)," Rosen, E.C.; 1982
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RFC823
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"DARPA Internet Gateway," Hinden, R.M.; Sheltzer, A.; 1982 |
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RFC1254
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"Gateway Congestion Control Survey," Mankin, A.; Ramakrishnan, K.K, eds.; 1991
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RFC1246
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"Experience with the OSPF Protocol," Moy, J., ed.; 1991
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RFC1245
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"OSPF Protocol Analysis," Moy, J., ed; 1991
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RFC1125
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"Policy Requirements for Inter-Administrative Domain Routing," Estrin, D.; 1989
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RFC1124
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"Policy Issues in Interconnecting Networks," Leiner, B.M.; 1989
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RFC1104
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"Models of Policy-Based Routing," Braun, H.W.; 1989
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RFC1102
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"Policy Routing in Internet Protocols," Clark, D.D.; 1989 |
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RFC1205
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"Telnet 5250 Interface," Chmielewski, P.; 1991
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RFC1198
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"FYI on the X Window System," Scheifler, R.W.; 1991
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RFC1184
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"Telnet Linemode Option," Borman, D.A., ed.; 1990
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RFC1091
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"Telnet Terminal-Type Option," VanBokkelen, J.; 1989
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RFC1080
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"Telnet Remote Flow Control Option," Hedrick, C.L.; 1988
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RFC1079
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"Telnet Terminal Speed Option," Hedrick, C.L.; 1988
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RFC1073
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"Telnet Window Size Option," Waitzman, D.; 1988
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RFC1053
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"Telnet X.3 PAD Option," Levy, S.; Jacobson, T.; 1988
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RFC1043
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"Telnet Data Entry Terminal Option: DODIIS Implementation," Yasuda, A.; Thompson, T.; 1988
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RFC1041
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"Telnet 3270 Regime Option," Rekhter, Y.; 1988
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RFC1013
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"X Window System Protocol, version 11: Alpha Update," Scheifler, R.W.; 1987
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RFC946
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"Telnet Terminal locations Number Option," Nedved, R.; 1985
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RFC933
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"Output Marking Telnet Option," Silverman, S.; 1985
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RFC885
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"Telnet End of Record Option," Postel, J.B.; 1983
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RFC861
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"Telnet Extended Options: List Option," Postel, J.B; Reynolds, J.K.; 1983
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RFC860
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"Telnet Timing Mark Option," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1983
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RFC859
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"Telnet Status Option," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1983
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RFC858
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"Telnet Suppress Go Ahead Option," Postel, J.B,; Reynolds, J.K.; 1983
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RFC857
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"Telnet Echo Option," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1983
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RFC856
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"Telnet Binary Transmission," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1983
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RFC855
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"Telnet Option Specifications," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1983
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RFC854
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"Telnet Protocol Specification," Postel, J.B.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1983
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RFC779
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"Telnet Send-locations Option," Killian, E.; 1981
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RFC749
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"Telnet SUPDUP-Output Option," Greenberg, B.; 1978
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RFC736
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"Telnet SUPDUP Option," Crispin, M.R; 1977
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RFC732
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"Telnet Data Entry Terminal Option," Day, J.D.; 1977
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RFC727
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"Telnet Logout Option," Crispin, M.R.; 1977
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RFC726
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"Remote Controlled Transmission and Echoing Telnet Option," Postel, J.B.; Crocker, D.; 1977
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RFC698
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"Telnet Extended ASCII Option," Mock, T.; 1975 |
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RFC1196
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"Finger User Information Protocol," Zimmerman. D.P.; 1990
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RFC1179
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"Line Printer Daemon Protocol," McLaughlin, L.; 1990
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RFC1129
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"Internet Time Synchronization: The Network Time Protocol," Mills, D.L.; 1989
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RFC1119
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"Network Time Protocol (version 2) Specification and Implementation," Mills, D.L.; 1989
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RFC1057
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"RPC: Remote Procedure Call Protocol Specification: Version 2," Sun Microsystems, Inc.; 1988
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RFC1014
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"XDR: External Data Representation Standard," Sun Microsystems, Inc.; 1987
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RFC954
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"NICNAME/WHOIS," Harrenstien, K.; Stahl, M.K.; Feinler, E.J.; 1985
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RFC868
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"Time Protocol," Postel, J.B.; Harrenstien, K.; 1983
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RFC867
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"Daytime Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1983
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RFC866
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"Active Users," Postel, J.B.; 1983
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RFC8G5
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"Quote of the Day Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1983
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RFC8G4
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"Character Generator Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1983
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RFC863
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"Discard Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1983
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RFC862
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"Echo Protocol," Postel, J.B.; 1983 |
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RFC1271
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"Remote Network Monitoring Management Information Base," Waldbusser, S.; 1991
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RFC1253
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"OSPE version 2: Management Information Base," Baker, P.; Coltun, R.; 1991
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RFC1243
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"Appletalk Management Information Base," 1991
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RFC1239
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"Reassignment of Experimental MIBs to Standard MIBs," Reynolds, J.K.; 1991
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RFC1238
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"CLNS MIB for Use with Connectionless Network Protocol (ISO 8473) and End System to Intermediate System (ISO 9542)," Satz, G.; 1991
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RFC1233
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"Definitions of Managed Objects for the DS3 Interface Type," Cox, T.A.; Tesink, K., eds.; 1991
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RFC1232
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"Definitions of Managed Objects for the DS1 Interface Type," Baker, F.; Kolb, C.P., eds.; 1991
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RFC1231
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"IEEE 802.5 Token Ring MIB," McCloghrie, K.; Fox, R.; Decker, E.; 1991
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RFC1230
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"IEEE 802.4 Token Bus MIB," McCloghrie, K.; Fox R.; 1991
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RFC1229
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"Extensions to the Generic-Interface MIB," McCloghrie, K., ed.; 1991
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RFC1228
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"SNMP-DPI: Simple Network Management Protocol Distributed Program Interface," Carpenter, G.; Wijnen, B.; 1991
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RFC1227
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"SNMP MUX protocol and MIB," Rose, M.T.; 1991
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RFC1224
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"Techniques for Managing Asynchronously Generated Alerts," Steinberg, L.; 1991
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RFC1215
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"Convention for Defining Traps for Use with the SNMP," Rose, M.T., ed.; 1991
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RFC1214
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"OSI Internet Management: Management Information Base," LaBarre, L., ed.; 1991
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RFC1213
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"Management Information Base for Network Management of TCP/IP-based Internets: MiB-II," McCloghrie, K.; Rose, M.T., eds.; 1991
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RFC1212
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"Concise MIB Definitions," Rose, M.T.; McCloghrie, K., eds.; 1991
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RFC1187
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"Bulk Table Retrievals with the SNMP," Rose, M.T.; McCloghrie, K.; Davin, J.R.; 1990
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RFC1157
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"Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)," Case, J.D.; Fedor, M.; Schoffstall, M.L.; Davin, C.; 1990
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RFC1156
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"Management Information Base for Network Management of TCP/IP-based Internets," McCloghrie, K.; Rose, M.T.; 1990
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RFC1155
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"Structure and Identification of Management Information for TCP/IP-Based Internets," Rose, M.T.; McCloghrie, K.; 1990
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RFC1147
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"FYI on a Network Management Tool Catalog: Tools for Monitoring and Debugging TCP/IP Internets and Interconnected Devices," Stine, R.H., ed.; 1990
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RFC1089
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"SNMP over Ethernet," Schoffstall, M.L.; Davin, C.; Fedor, M.; Case, J.D.; 1989 |
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RFC1241
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"Scheme for an Internet Encapsulation Protocol: Version 1," 1991
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RFC1234
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"Tunneling IPX Traffic through IP Networks," Provan, D.; 1991
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RFC1088
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"Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams over NetBioses Networks," McLaughlin, L.J.; 1989
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RFC1002
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"Protocol Standard for a NetBioses Service on a TCP/UDP Transport: Detailed Specifications," NetBioses Working Group; 1987
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RFC1001
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"Protocol Standard for a NetBioses Service on a TCP/UDP Transport: Concepts and Methods," NetBioses Working Group; 1987 |
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RFC1240
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"OSI Connectionless Transport Services on Top of UDP: Version 1," Shue, C.; Haggerty, W.; Dobbins, K.; 1991
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RFC1237
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"Guidelines for OSI NSAP Allocations in the Internet," Gollela, R.; Gardner, E.P.; Callon, R.W.; 1991
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RFC1169
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"Explaining the Role of GOSIP," Cerf, V.G.; Mills, K.L.; 1990 |
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RFC1244
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"Site Security Handbook"
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RFC1115
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"Privacy Enhancement for Internet Electronic Mail: Part III—Algorithms, Modes, and Identifiers [Draft]," Linn, J.; 1989
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RFC1114
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"Privacy Enhancement for Internet Electronic Mail: Part II—Certificate-Based Key Management [Draft]," Kent, S.T.; Linn, J.; 1989
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RFC1113
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"Privacy Enhancement for Internet Electronic Mail: Part I—Message Encipherment and Authentication Procedures [Draft]," Linn, J.; 1989
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RFC1108
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"Security Options for the Internet Protocol," 1991 |
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RFC1251
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"Who's Who in the Internet: Biographies of IAB, IESG, and IRSG Members," Malkin, G.S.; 1991
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RFC1207
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"FYI on Questions and Answers: Answers to Commonly Asked 'Experienced Internet User' Questions," Malkin, G.S.; Marine, A.N.; Reynolds, J.K.; 1991
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RFC1206
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"FYI on Questions and Answers: Answers to Commonly Asked 'New Internet User' Questions," Malkin, G.S.; Marine, A.N.; 1991 |
