RE: sector alignment for DataOut PDUs?

[Paul Koning <ni1d@arrl.net>]

>>>>> "Nick" == Martin, Nick <Nick.Martin@COMPAQ.com> writes:

 Nick> Paul, For all data carrying PDUs except the last in a sequence,
 Nick> the sender is expected to send maximum sized PDU allowed.  When
 Nick> the negotiated maximum is a multiple of 512, this effect is
 Nick> what you request.

 Nick> I thought this was a requirement, but I did not find it as such
 Nick> in draft 10. ...

 Nick> IMHO, it makes more sense to include stronger wording
 Nick> encouraging maximum negotiated length transfers rather than to
 Nick> add another parameter requiring PDU breaks on different
 Nick> boundaries.

That sounds like a fine suggestion, if it gives the target enough
power to achieve the alignment I'm looking for.  Strengthening the
text you quoted is a start, but other places would have to be
strengthened as well -- for example the rules on responding to an R2T.

 Nick> If such initiator behavior may not be supported by all targets,
 Nick> then the initiators SHOULD NOT do it.

That's not sufficient.  You need "MUST NOT".  The reason: if you say
"should not" then you can build a conforming initiator that cannot
interoperate with a conforming target.  All correctly written protocol
specs have the property that conformance implies interoperability.
(Unfortunately, few specs pass this test... :-( )  So a target can be
allowed to rely on full size PDUs only if initiators are required (not
merely encouraged) to send full size PDUs.

       paul