Network Working Group                                Tom O'Sullivan
Request for Comments:  340                           Raytheon Company
NIC          9933                                    Sudbury, Mass.
Categories:  Telnet
References:  RFC 328                                 15 May 1972

PROPOSED TELNET CHANGES

The proposed change to the TELNET protocol calling for one standard

protocol and dropping the idea of minimum implementation seems

reasonable at this time.

I suggest that both Data Types and Hide Your Input be kept for the

following reasons:

Data Types:

The objection stating that switching out of ASCII results in an

irreversible change and loss of control can be met by requiring other

codes to provide to a return to ASCII. Each other code may have its

own return code, however, it may not always be employed. Other codes

are important for alphanumeric terminals that have special devices

attached. Several potential cases can be cited:

1. Cal comp plotter attached to a teletype has logic permitting a

program to turn the plotter on and off. When operating I believe it uses an 8 bit code which could conflict with Telnet signals.

2. Numerically controlled machines, either controlled from a user

terminal or code prepared by a HOST computer to be punched on the paper tape punch at a teletype way require the use of an arbitrary 8 bit code.

3. Experiments controlled from alphanumeric terminal or sensor data

collected through a cal-comp like connection may require the use of a full 8 bit code.

In these cases a transparent data type with a provision for a return

to ASCII mode seems desirable.

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As more and more use of data base systems in the network is

considered, the need for and importance of using access keys,

passwords, etc. grows. The fact that it is difficult to select the

length of input to be hidden is not a persuasive argument. Potential

solutions seem to exist, e.g. the protocol could provide for accepting

length statements from the user program, data base system, operating

system, etc. and in default of this, use a default length representing

the server system expected optimum length.

[ 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   ]

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