Network Working Group
Request for Comments: 328
NIC 9635
Categories: Telnet
References: RFC 328
Jon Postel
Computer Science
UCLA-NMC
29 April 72

Suggested Telnet Protocol Changes

    I hereby propose the following changes to the Telnet protocol.  If
no substantial negative response is received by 15 May 72 it will be
assumed that these changes are desired and should be incorporated in
any "Official Telnet Protocol".

    First I suggest that we drop the idea of a "minimum"
implementation and require a standard implementation which includes all
aspects of the protocol.

Second I suggest that we eliminate the DATA TYPE signals.

Third I suggest that we do away with HIDE YOUR INPUT signal.

Arguments:

Standard Implementation:

The idea of an accepted implementation which does not include whole protocol is an admission that the parts of the protocol left out are either not useful or not expected to be used, and that other mechanisms will be constructed to provide those functions. Thus there should be no minimum implementation, but only the standard implementation which includes the whole protocol.

Data Types:

The DATA TYPE signals are supposed to allow the communicating processes to switch from ASCII to some other code set. However, the other code sets suggested do not allow for the Telnet signals, and thus once the switch is made the Telnet protocol is no longer applicable. There is no way to specify how to get back to ASCII or Telnet thus the
conversation is "out of control".

       [ This RFC was put into machine readable form for entry ]
       [ into the online RFC archives by BBN Corp. under the   ]
       [ direction of Alex McKenzie.                   12/96   ]