[ih] Who owns old RFCs ?

[John Day]

Be careful. ;-) There is a difference between interoperability and conformance. One can have interoperability without conformance. In fact, that is probably what is happening now.

John

> On Apr 24, 2020, at 15:59, Joseph Touch via Internet-history <internet-history at elists.isoc.org> wrote:
> 
> Dan (et al.),
> 
> Sure - interoperability testing is a kind of group compliance; I understand how it aligns better with the Internet model of “nobody’s in charge”.
> 
> But as you note below, testing at that event gained its own imprimatur. Seeing something interoperate elsewhere didn’t have the same perceived value.
> 
> So call it what you want and run it how you want, we need this sort of positive “label”, otherwise the lack of a label doesn’t mean anything.
> 
> AFAICT, it’s gone now, though. Maybe the ISOC could bring it back somehow, but I doubt it…
> 
> Joe
> 
>> On Apr 24, 2020, at 12:54 PM, Dan Lynch via Internet-history <internet-history at elists.isoc.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Back in the 80s I created Interop so vendors could demonstrate compliance with the IETF RFC standards. The idea of a testing institute to ensure compliance was floated and found too burdensome by everyone so public demonstrations became the efficient way. Our motto became “I know it works. I saw it at Interop!”  Of course there was months of voluntary testing at my lab in Sunnyvale that preceded the public demonstrations at Interop. Self interest motivated every one. 
>> 
>> Dan
>> 
>> Cell 650-776-7313
>> 
>>> On Apr 24, 2020, at 12:14 PM, John Levine via Internet-history <internet-history at elists.isoc.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> In article <CAA=duU0eVz-XFKk2BT66=Fte7rs+LD2oqeypVrHGFjYJ_YZSmA at mail.gmail.com> you write:
>>>> Some other SDOs and industry fora create consensus conformance test plans
>>>> and then work out a deal with one or more test labs to run the tests for a
>>>> fee. The vendors pay for the testing, and if they don't pass, the test labs
>>>> work with them so that they can bring the product into compliance. Once
>>>> they pass, they get a report and certificate showing compliance, and in
>>>> some cases a joint press release with the sponsoring SDO/forum.
>>> 
>>> I was going to suggest much the same thing, certification as a carrot,
>>> since we don't have any sticks.
>>> 
>>> -- 
>>> Internet-history mailing list
>>> Internet-history at elists.isoc.org
>>> https://elists.isoc.org/mailman/listinfo/internet-history
>> 
>> -- 
>> Internet-history mailing list
>> Internet-history at elists.isoc.org
>> https://elists.isoc.org/mailman/listinfo/internet-history
> 
> -- 
> Internet-history mailing list
> Internet-history at elists.isoc.org
> https://elists.isoc.org/mailman/listinfo/internet-history