Network Working Group G. Malkin
Request for Comments: 1150 Proteon
FYI: 1 J. Reynolds
ISI
March 1990
F.Y.I. on F.Y.I.
1. Introduction
The FYI series of notes is designed to provide Internet users with a central repository of information about any topics which relate to the Internet. FYIs topics may range from historical memos on "Why it was was done this way" to answers to commonly asked operational questions.
2. Why RFCs
There are several reasons why the FYIs are part of the larger RFC series of notes. The formost reason is that the distribution mechanisms for RFCs are tried and true. Anyone who can get an RFC, can automatically get an FYI. More importantly, anyone who knows of the RFC series, can easily find out about the FYIs.
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RFC 1150 F.Y.I. on F.Y.I. March 1990 3. Format RulesSince the FYIs are a part of the RFC series, they must conform to RFC-1111 (Request for Comments on Request for Comments: Instructions to RFC Authors) with respect to format. Ideally, they should be submitted in ASCII format, as described by section 2a, of RFC-1111.
4. Status Statement
Each RFC must include on its first page the "Status of this Memo" section which contains a paragraph describing the intention of the RFC. This section is meant to convey the status granted by the RFC Editor and the Internet Activities Board (IAB). There are several reasons for publishing a memo as an RFC, for example, to make available some information for interested people, or to begin or continue a discussion of an interesting idea, or to make available the specification of a protocol.
5. Distribution Statement
Each FYI is to also include a "distribution statement". As the purpose of the FYI series is to disseminate information, there is no reason for the distribution to be anything other than "unlimited".
6. Security Considerations
All FYIs must contain a section that discusses the security considerations of the procedures that are the main topic of the RFC.
7. Author's Address
Each FYI must have at the very end a section giving the author's address, including the name and postal address, the telephone number, and the Internet email address.
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RFC 1150 F.Y.I. on F.Y.I. March 1990 8. Relation to other FYIsSometimes an FYI adds information on a topic discussed in a previous FYI or completely replaces an earlier FYI. There are two terms used for these cases respectively, UPDATES and OBSOLETES. A document that obsoletes an earlier document can stand on its own. A document that merely updates an earlier document cannot stand on its own; it is something that must be added to or inserted into the existing document, and has limited usefulness independently.
9. The FYI Editors
All FYIs are submitted to the IETF User Services Working Group for review prior to their submission to the RFC Editor.
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RFC 1150 F.Y.I. on F.Y.I. March 1990
Phone: (213) 822-1511
10. The FYI Announcement List
New FYIs are announced to the RFC distribution list maintained by the SRI Network Information Center (NIC). Contact the SRI-NIC to be added or deleted from this mailing list by sending an email message to RFC-REQUEST@NIC.DDN.MIL.
11. Obtaining FYIs
FYIs can be obtained via FTP from NIC.DDN.MIL, with the pathname FYI:mm.TXT, or RFC:RFCnnnn.TXT (where "mm" refers to the number of the FYI and "nnnn" refers to the number of the RFC). Login with FTP, username ANONYMOUS and password GUEST. The NIC also provides an automatic mail service for those sites which cannot use FTP. Address the request to SERVICE@NIC.DDN.MIL and in the subject field of the message indicate the FYI or RFC number, as in "Subject: FYI mm" or "Subject: RFC nnnn".