IETFn

IETFn is a fictional protocol suite created for illustrative purposes in discussions about future networking architectures. In this article, IETFn stands for Integrated Edge and Transport Function Network.

IETFn is designed to emphasize function-centric addressing rather than device-centric addressing. It introduces Function IDs (FIDs) to represent services or software functions, and a discovery and resolution layer to map FIDs to network endpoints.

The architecture envisions a federated registry of FIDs. Clients send requests with a FID and optional parameters; a resolver or local cache translates the FID to service endpoints, with fallbacks to conventional IP-based routing if needed. Messages are carried over a transport layer that can be implemented on top of TCP, UDP, or QUIC.

Security constructs include token-based authentication and authorization, integrity protection with digital signatures, and privacy-preserving query mechanisms. IETFn is designed to interoperate with existing IP networks by providing adapters that translate FIDs to IP addresses and vice versa.

Origin and status: IETFn originated in theoretical discussions and pedagogical materials exploring prospective naming and discovery schemes. It is not an IETF standard and has no production deployments. Variants appear in academic papers and speculative fiction, illustrating potential benefits and challenges of function-centric networking.

Critics argue that function-centric models may complicate caching, security, and policy enforcement, while proponents cite improved modularity and resilience. The article uses IETFn as a hypothetical framework to examine design trade-offs rather than a recommended architecture.