Network Working Group Internet Architecture Board
Request for Comments: 1370 Lyman Chapin, Chair
October 1992
Applicability Statement for OSPF
1. INTRODUCTION
Users and vendors have expressed a strong need for IP routers from different vendors that can interoperate using a common Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP). There is therefore an urgent requirement for a high-functionality non-proprietary 'open' IGP that will be ubiquitously available from all IP router vendors.
2. APPLICABILITY OF OSPF
An IP router that implements any routing protocol (other than static routes) is required to implement OSPF [1] and the OSPF MIB [2]. Within OSPF, implementation of all features except TOS (Type-of- Service) routing is required; implementation of TOS routing is recommended.
IAB [Page 1]
RFC 1370 Applicability Statement: OSPF October 1992
It should be noted that OSPF is intended for use by routers for exchanging dynamic routing information, and not for use by hosts. As discussed in Section 3.3.1.4 of STD-2, "Requirements for Internet Hosts -- Communication Layers" [3], 'wiretapping' of routing protocols by hosts is not recommended. Recommended mechanisms for a host to use for discovering local routers and detecting dead routers will be found in [3]. In particular, the ICMP Router Discovery messages, under development, will provide a standard way for a host to learn the addresses of local routers [6].
3. REFERENCES
[1] Moy, J., "OSPF Version 2", RFC 1247, Proteon, Inc., July 1991.