RE: iSCSI: Alternatives to Urgent Pointer "pseudo-Framing"

[Black_David@emc.com]

> I have a general question for this group. Are we allowed to define a new 
> TCP option, to be used for iSCSI framing? 

The charter (http://www.ietf.org/html.charters/ips-charter.html) says:

  The WG will not work on: 
   [... bullet item elided ...]. 
  - Modifications to internet transport protocols or approaches requiring
  transport protocol options that are not widely supported, although the
  WG may recommend use of such options for block storage traffic. 

which is a long form of "no".  The WG is also subject to a "MUST
work with existing TCP/IP stacks" requirement.

> Otherwise, can the group work in collaboration with some other
> IETF-WG's for this purpose?

Before setting off in this direction, please take a close look at SCTP
(RFC 2960).  From what I can see, a strong case that SCTP is
not an acceptable answer is a necessary prerequisite to pursuing
this sort of work in IETF.

--David

---------------------------------------------------
David L. Black, Senior Technologist
EMC Corporation, 42 South St., Hopkinton, MA  01748
+1 (508) 435-1000 x75140     FAX: +1 (508) 497-8500
black_david@emc.com       Mobile: +1 (978) 394-7754
---------------------------------------------------