gutman@manta.NOSC.MIL (Lewis M. Gutman) (09/11/90)
For a project I am working on, I need to gather some material on the types of gateway protocols running over TCP/IP based internets. I started with Comer's _Internetworking with TCP/IP_ and found the material detailed and well written. For about two weeks, I thought I had the subject wired. However, after seeing recently published RFCs on new routing protocols and still other routing protocols in the works (i.e., in the IETF: directory of nic.ddn.mil and other places), I wonder how well Comer's book actually describes the reality of TCP/IP internets today. The new routing protocols I'm talking about are OSPF, IGRP, ANSI IS-IS, BGP, Open Distance Vector IGP, whatever the protocol to be developed by the Open Systems Routing WG is to be called, and maybe some others I don't know about. In an attempt to understand the context of all these routing protocols, I'd like to ask people on the net several questions. First of all, is there any document which lists all of the protocols, describes them briefly, shows where they fit in (e.g., is the protocol a proprietary IGP?, is it a proposed EGP replacement?, is it intended for NSFNET backbone?, etc.), tells what the planned interactions are between the protocols, and states what the policy is regarding the acceptance and planned usage of these protocols? I'd also like to know who is driving the work. Secondly, which of the new protocols are actually running out there today? I work in a UNIX environment so I know that there are many RIPs and EGPs (gated) running on BSD UNIX machines out there. I don't really have a sense about the other protocols. I'm interested in finding out the proportion of various gateways running each protocol on TCP/IP based internets, if such information is available. Thirdly, I am interested in hearing about experiences with gateways in campus and smaller sized networks running two or more protocols. Is interoperation possible? How difficult is it transition to new equipment/protocols? In lieu of comprehensive documents on the subject, I'd be happy to put together the responses I receive and summarize to the net (if there is any interest, of course). Thanks in advance to everybody who responds. Lew Gutman Naval Ocean Systems Center, Code 854 San Diego, CA. 92152 <gutman@nosc.mil> Disclaimer: The government is not responsible when I ask a lot of questions.