[comp.dcom.lans] Request for TCP/IP conformance spec

eac@edison.GE.COM (Beth Clark) (04/24/87)

Thanks to all who replied to my request for information about
TCP/IP conformance standards.  Here are the responses:


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From:   sskelton
        NCR Corporation, Wichita, Kansas

I would suggest contacting Daniel C. Lynch, president of Advanced Computing
Environments of Cupertino, Ca..  He was also the organizer of the recent
TCP/IP conference in Monterey,Ca. of which the major topic was Interoperability.In a recent Datamation article (march 1,1987), an interview with Lynch tells
of his efforts to try to supply the conformance testing for vendors, users,
and the DOD for TCP/IP.  Called the Coalition for Working Systems (CWS).

[Note:  Two days ago I got a mailing from Lynch offering me his new
newsletter "Connexions", $360 for 12 issues/yr.  If anyone is interested,
the address is Advanced Computing Environments, 21370 Val Avenue,
Cupertino, CA 95014  408-996-2042.

The Datamation was very helpful, and cited the reluctance of the DCA and
vendors to try to formulate a standard now since so many varying products
are already on the market.  ]


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From:  eugene miya  (eugene@ames-aurora.ARPA)
       NASA Ames Research Center

Yes there is one it was prepared by the Defense Communications Engineering
Center.  I had a copy, but I would really have to look around.  Work was
done by BBN.  "Conformance" is far to strong a word.  It sounds like you
have a bureacracy to contend with.  This is not like Ada.

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From:   Tony Michel  (michel@cct.bbn.com)
	BBN Communications

BBN Communications is in the process of setting up a service to assist
with the testing and evaluation of TCP/IP.  We are now offering this
service to product vendors, who wnat to test prior to going on DDN.
I expect we could assist you.

What we have is not as precise and closed form as the ISO conformance
tests.  It turns out to be very hard to pin down a subject TCP implementation
for testing, since many implementations were not designed with the hooks
for testing.  Nonetheless, there's a lot you can do.  What we do is
run the subject under a variety of real applications, and IP and TCP
level test programs.  We also test the subject against a variety of the real
DEC, UNIX, and IBM systems which are "out there," which, though not precise
is a very good test.

Ed Black of BBNCC is a good administrative starting point, and I am a
suitable technical POC, if you'd like more info.

[ I have contacted Ed for this. ]
-- 
Beth Clark		GE Fanuc Automation - Charlottesville, VA
eac@edison.GE.COM	old arpa: eac%edison.GE.COM@seismo.CSS.GOV
eac@edison.UUCP		old uucp: {seismo,decuac,houxm,calma,hpfcla}!edison!eac