Date: 28 JUL 92 06:47:43 GMT
Newsgroups: vmsnet.networks.tcp-ip.multinet
X-Return-path: <info-multinet-relay@TGV.COM>
X-RFC822-From: "George D. Greenwade" <bed_gdg@SHSU.edu>
From: "George D. Greenwade" <bed_gdg@SHSU.edu>
Subject: IAFA-WG -- please help on the VMS side
Organization: The INFO-MULTINET Community

How I get involved in what I get involved in is and remains a mystery.  If
you are unaware of it, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) created
the Internet Anonymous FTP Archive (IAFA) Working Group last November.  To
date, a draft and a revised draft have been prepared.  You can retrieve
these by including the command SENDME IAFA in the body of a mail message to
FILESERV@SHSU.BITNET (FILESERV@SHSU.edu) or by anonymous ftp from
Niord.SHSU.edu (192.92.115.8) in the directory [FILESERV.IAFA].  Also, if
you are interested in this, you can subscribe to the group's e-mail
discussion list, iafa@cc.mcgill.ca, by sending a mail message to
iafa-request@cc.mcgill.ca and requesting to be added.

THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A CRITICISM OF THIS
WORKING GROUP, IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM.

The target date for these drafts being submitted to the RFC editors is
November, 1992.  As of right now, the drafts are basically Unix oriented. 
While areas for VMS inclusion are indicated, people with VMS experience and
expertise are required to fill in the blanks, as well as point out where
inconsistencies exist in the existing document.  It is my opinion that
there are a few areas which can be addressed prior to this being submitted,
if someone with adequate VMS knowledge will fill in these blanks and point
out areas of concern.  In all, the ideas included are good and desirable;
what I would hope could come of this is a little more portability that a
document such as this might move the net toward.

I have quasi-innocently (if that's possible) started a basic awareness of a
few items on iafa@cc.mcgill.ca, and it appears that a few subscribers are
now more aware of the problems I hint at.  The writers of the drafts have
stated on iafa@cc.mcgill.ca that they are willing to include VMS-related
materials, as well as take into consideration points that the VMS side may
raise, even at this late date.  From what I understand, the IETF met last
week and has essentially said to go ahead and submit what they have, even
recognizing that it doesn't include VMS or other OS'es. (NOTE: This is my
understanding; I cannot speak for the IETF on this).  The reason for the
omission of VMS is that no one has prepared anything for it and the authors
freely admit that they do not have the expertise to write it up themselves.

What I am requesting someone(s) to do is to get involved in this, if at all
possible.  I am essentially a naive end user with something of a net
awareness; however, the technicals of how the net runs and how it is
implemented on VMS is not within my area of expertise.  I do not seek a
system-based flame war; rather, I seek some medium between the existing
Unix specifications now provided and what VMS might have to do with this.

If you have an interest, please fetch the IAFA documents from either source
indicated above and subscribe to iafa@cc.mcgill.ca.  I have some net 
addresses of people who will control entry of new materials in the drafts
which I can pass along to anyone interested.  I would really appreciate
some help on this from someone(s) knowledgeable, and from what I've seen,
the MultiNet group of users and administrators are quite knowledgeable.

Regards,   George
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George D. Greenwade, Ph.D.                            Bitnet:  BED_GDG@SHSU
Department of Economics and Business Analysis         THEnet: SHSU::BED_GDG
College of Business Administration                    Voice: (409) 294-1266
P. O. Box 2118                                        FAX:   (409) 294-3612
Sam Houston State University              Internet:        bed_gdg@SHSU.edu
Huntsville, TX 77341                      bed_gdg%SHSU.decnet@relay.the.net
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