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Network Computer CAE Specification
Copyright © 1997 The Open Group
Underlying Network Services
The Network Computer is a true Internet host.
As such, it must adhere to the basic standards that permit the
interoperability of all hosts on the Internet.
The basic architecture and behavior of such hosts are described in
Internet Standard 3, Requirements for Internet Hosts:
The NC shall adhere to the specific
elements of this architecture as described in this chapter.
Transmission Control Protocol
Most of the services for the NC require reliable, end-to-end
connections for their execution.
Consequently, they are defined to be implemented on top of
the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).
TCP defines a method for connection-oriented, end-to-end
communications to take place over Internet Protocol-based (IP) networks.
It is defined by
Internet Standard 7, Transmission Control:
User Datagram Protocol
The Domain Name Service required in the NC sends queries via the User
Datagram Protocol (UDP) as defined in
Internet Standard 6, User Datagram Protocol:
over Internet Protocol-based networks.
UDP is a connectionless protocol designed for lightweight communication.
UDP messages can also be sent and received by Java Applets.
Internet Protocol
TCP sessions are conducted over Internet Protocol-based networks.
Hosts on such networks, including products which conform to
a NC Product Standard (see
NC Product Standards
,
shall adhere to
Internet Standard 5, Internet Protocol, Version 4 (IPv4):
-
IETF RFC 791, Internet Protocol,
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IETF RFC 950, Internet Standard Subnetting Procedure,
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IETF RFC 919, Broadcasting Internet Datagrams,
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IETF RFC 922, Broadcasting Internet Datagrams in the Presence of Subnets,
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IETF RFC 792, Internet Control Message Protocol,
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IETF RFC 1112, Host Extensions for IP Multicasting.
Note that this NC specification not specify the physical connection
mechanism between the NC and a network.
Nor does it specify the mechanism whereby an IP connection is first
made via that physical connection.