Subject: System programmer's workshop
An invitation to a small system-programmer workshop testing Telnet connections at Project MAC.
Metcalfe, R.M., "Subject: System programmer's workshop", RFC 222, DOI 10.17487/RFC0222, September 1971, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc222>.
@misc{rfc222,
series = {Request for Comments},
number = 222,
howpublished = {RFC 222},
publisher = {RFC Editor},
doi = {10.17487/RFC0222},
url = {https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc222},
author = {R.M. Metcalfe},
title = {{Subject: System programmer's workshop}},
pagetotal = 2,
year = 1971,
month = sep,
} RFC text
Network Working Group R. Metcalfe
Request for Comments: 222 Project MAC
NIC: 7621 13 September 1971
As described in RFC's #207 and #212, the next meeting of the ARPA
Computer Network Working Group (NWG) will be held at MIT Project MAC
in Cambridge, Massachusetts, October 10-14, 1971.
The first phase of the NWG meeting is to be a workshop for a
representative group of system programmers from those sites with
operational TELNET interfaces. From noon, Sunday, October 10, until
sometime late Monday evening, teams of workshop participants will hit
the ARPA network from MAC consoles in an intensive effort to study
its operational characteristics and to work on any remaining trouble
spots in protocols and their implementations.
Although the NWG meeting is geared for heavy attendance, our
facilities and objectives make it important that no more than a dozen
system programmers be present for the grueling workshop sessions
planned. These system programmers should be from sites with
operational TELNET interfaces (user and/or server) and should have a
working knowledge of protocols, their own NCP's, and TELNET
implementations. Sites wishing to send a system programmer should
leave his name and address with Anne Speare at (617) 864-6900 x1458.
In preparation for the workshop, we are working on documentation
describing our user TELNET and a site-use scenario booklet to be used
at the workshop in exercising various systems. It is our intention
to establish a pattern of routine usage with as many sites as
possible prior to the workshop. In developing the site-use scenario
booklet, we will be looking for advice and comment from participating
hosts.
Because the use of computers with operational network protocols is
central to the success of the workshop, we are working hard to bring
our developing system into a period of stability and are making
special arrangements for on-site hardware repair personnel. To the
extent that participating sites can make similar preparations, the
chances for a successful workshop will be improved.
We are hoping that knowledgeable network people will be on call at
the various sites during the workshop so that there will be some hope
of fixing minor implementation problems on the fly.
We will begin the workshop at noon on Sunday, October 10 with a brief
strategy meeting in Project MAC's second floor conference room, #217,
545 Technology Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Our first mission
will be to establish and exercise all possible TELNET connections
with MAC's PDP-10 (Host 70.). When this first check-off is complete,
we will meet again to discuss difficulties and to regroup for our
second mission. By appropriately nesting TELNET's, we will pair up
to systematically fill in the matrix of possible TELNET connections.
During the workshop we expect to be finding and fixing implementation
problems, discussing protocol, and getting an extremely valuable
introduction to the use of a wide variety of hosts. Our experience
in the workshop will be an important input to the NWG sessions to
follow. In particular, we are to generate specific reports for the
protocol review and status sessions.
See you then.
Bob Metcalfe
(617) 864-6900
x1429 Office
x1458 Secretary
x2910 Computer Room
Room 203
Project MAC
545 Technology Square
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
[ This RFC was put into machine readable form for entry ]
[ into the online RFC archives by Ryan Kato 6/01]
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On this page
§1The Workshop Invitation
The Network Working Group meeting was scheduled for MIT Project MAC in Cambridge, Massachusetts, October 10 to 14, 1971. Its first phase was a workshop for system programmers from sites with operational Telnet interfaces.
The organizers asked for no more than a dozen participants. They should understand protocols, their own NCPs and Telnet implementations. Sites were asked to register a participant with Anne Speare.
The workshop was for a small group of system programmers whose sites had working Telnet. They were expected to understand their host software and network protocols.
§2Testing Telnet Connections
The workshop begins at noon on Sunday, October 10, with a strategy meeting at Project MAC. The first task is to establish and test all possible Telnet connections with MAC's PDP-10, Host 70. Participants then pair up and use nested Telnet sessions to fill in a matrix of connections.
The organizers expect the teams to find implementation problems, discuss protocols and learn about a range of hosts. They plan to use the experience to inform later Network Working Group sessions.
The participants first test connections to the MAC host, then work through connections between host pairs. They record problems and report what they learn.
§3Preparation and Follow-up
Project MAC is preparing documentation for its user Telnet and a booklet of scenarios for testing site use. It wants advice from participating hosts and plans to establish routine use before the workshop.
The organizers are working to stabilize their system and arrange hardware repair support. They hope knowledgeable people at other sites will be available to help solve minor problems during the tests. The workshop results will contribute to protocol review and status reports.
The organizers are preparing instructions, stable systems and repair support. Workshop findings will be used in reports and later discussions.