IETFdokumenter

IETFdokumenter are the documents produced by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) that describe internet protocols, architectures, and standards. They are publicly published and archived to support interoperability, implementation, and broad review across the networking community.

The two main types of IETFdokumenter are Internet-Drafts and RFCs. Internet-Drafts (I-Ds) are working documents used in the IETF’s development process. They are considered work in progress, typically valid for about six months, and may be revised or replaced as discussions progress. Most I-Ds that advance are published later as RFCs. RFCs, or Requests for Comments, are the formal publication series for finalized documents. Each RFC receives a unique number and can have different status classifications, such as informational, experimental, best current practice (BCP), or standards-track. Within the standards track, historical naming included stages like Proposed Standard, Draft Standard, and Internet Standard.

Publication and review process: IETF working groups, organized by areas and overseen by the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG), develop and refine proposals. Once a document reaches consensus and passes review, it is published as an RFC with the oversight of the RFC Editor. The process emphasizes open discussion, iterative refinement, and broad scrutiny before publication.

Accessibility and impact: IETFdokumenter are freely available to anyone via the IETF and RFC Editor websites. They form the basis for internet technology development, implementation, and interoperability, guiding engineers, researchers, operators, and vendors in implementing and adhering to standardized protocols and practices.