[ih] Confusion in the RFCs

[Lars Eggert]

Hi,

I suggest emailing rfc-interest at rfc-editor.org <mailto:rfc-interest at rfc-editor.org>, which includes the RFC Production Center (what was the "RFC Editor" function previously). Folks there might know.

Thanks,
Lars


> On Sep 5, 2025, at 03:54, John Day via Internet-history <internet-history at elists.isoc.org> wrote:
> 
> I have the ARPANET Protocol Handbook (1978). It contains the Telnet Spec RFC 542 with NIC 18639. (Aug 1973). 
> However, back in the early 90s, I downloaded all of the RFCs at the time from the RFC editor’s website.  In those files, RFC 542 is the 1973 FTP spec also Aug 1973!  
> 
> I have to note in my download, RFC numbers in that immediate range are a bit spotty and looking them up today for some it says they were never issued. 
> 
> Any ideas what is going on?  Alex McKenzie pointed out that back then official documents weren’t given RFC numbers, but just NIC numbers because RFCs were requests for *comment.* Official specs were not being circulated for comment. (I always thought that was a little strange.)
> 
> Take care,
> John
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