[comp.protocols.tcp-ip] IEEE P1003.12 Seeks Input on Sockets and XTI

iv@sun.Eng.Sun.COM (Ian Vessey) (02/12/91)

The POSIX process-to-process communications working group (P1003.12)
would like to solicit outside comment.

Between November 1990 and January 1991, we asked your opinions as to
whether this working group should

        a)      Develop a 3rd interface akin to sockets and XTI,
        b)      Standardize either Berkeley sockets or XTI,
        c)      Standardize both sockets and XTI.

The results of the poll indicated that

        a)      The working group should not adopt a new third
                interface
        b)      The working group should adopt both sockets and XTI.

These poll results were endorsed by the committee and we are currently
pursuing a plan that provides a single language independent standard
which has two `C' bindings, one for sockets and one for XTI. These
two bindings will constitute our DNI(Detailed Network Interface). We
are also working on an SNI(Simple Network Interface) which views the
network from a far simpler standpoint and operates over the DNI.

The purpose of this mail is to not only feed back the results of the
poll and it's impact on our work, but to ask for further input.
Specifically, we would like comments on perceived problems with either
of the interfaces together with suggestions for additional features
that you believe would be useful to add to one or both of them.

Please keep in mind that backwards compatibility is very important
in any change requests proposed.

As before, please submit your comments to dot12@okeeffe.Berkeley.EDU.
It would be helpful if you could indicate on which news group you
read this article.