Lab - Research Networking Standards

Objectives
 Research Networking Standards Organizations
 Reflect on Internet and Computer Networking Experiences

Background / Scenario
Using web search engines like Google, research the non-profit organizations that are responsible for
establishing international standards for the internet and the development of internet technologies.

Required Resources
Device with internet access

Instructions

Step 1: Research Networking Standards Organizations

In this step, you will identify some of the major standards organizations and important characteristics, such as
the number of years in existence, the size of their membership, the important historical figures, some of the
responsibilities and duties, organizational oversight role, and the location of the organization’s headquarters.
Use a web browser or websites for various organizations to research information about the following
organizations and the people who have been instrumental in maintaining them.
You can find answers to the questions below by searching the following organizational acronyms and terms:
ISO, ITU, ICANN, IANA, IEEE, EIA, TIA, ISOC, IAB, IETF, W3C, RFC, and Wi-Fi Alliance.
Questions:

1. Who is Jonathan B. Postel and what is he known for?

Jonathan Postel was instrumental

in the development and management
of the TCP/IP
protocol, which is the foundation
of the modern Internet. He is also one
of the founders of
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Lab - Research Networking Standards

the Internet Engineering Task

Force (IETF) and the Internet Society
(ISOC), important
organizations in furthering the
development and governance of the
Internet.
Jonathan Postel was instrumental
in the development and management
of the TCP/IP
protocol, which is the foundation
of the modern Internet. He is also one
of the founders of
the Internet Engineering Task
Force (IETF) and the Internet Society
(ISOC), important

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Lab - Research Networking Standards

organizations in furthering the

development and governance of the
Internet.
Jonathan Postel was instrumental
in the development and management
of the TCP/IP
protocol, which is the foundation
of the modern Internet. He is also one
of the founders of
the Internet Engineering Task
Force (IETF) and the Internet Society
(ISOC), important
organizations in furthering the
development and governance of the
Internet.

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Lab - Research Networking Standards

Jonathan Postel was instrumental

in the development and management
of the TCP/IP
protocol, which is the foundation
of the modern Internet. He is also one
of the founders of
the Internet Engineering Task
Force (IETF) and the Internet Society
(ISOC), important
organizations in furthering the
development and governance of the
Internet.
Jonathan Postel was instrumental
in the development and management
of the TCP/IP

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Lab - Research Networking Standards

protocol, which is the foundation

of the modern Internet. He is also one
of the founders of
the Internet Engineering Task
Force (IETF) and the Internet Society
(ISOC), important
organizations in furthering the
development and governance of the
Internet.
Jonathan Postel was instrumental in the development and management of the TCP/IP protocol, which is the
foundation of the modern Internet. He is also one of the founders of the Internet Engineering Task Force
(IETF) and the Internet Society (ISOC), important organizations in furthering the development and
governance of the Internet.

Jonathan Postel was instrumental

in the development and management
of the TCP/IP
protocol, which is the foundation
of the modern Internet. He is also one
of the founders of
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Lab - Research Networking Standards

the Internet Engineering Task

Force (IETF) and the Internet Society
(ISOC), important
organizations in furthering the
development and governance of the
Internet.
Jonathan Postel was instrumental
in the development and management
of the TCP/IP
protocol, which is the foundation
of the modern Internet. He is also one
of the founders of
the Internet Engineering Task
Force (IETF) and the Internet Society
(ISOC), important

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Lab - Research Networking Standards

organizations in furthering the

development and governance of the
Internet.

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Lab - Research Networking Standards

2. Which two related organizations are responsible for managing the top-level domain name space and the root
Domain Name System (DNS) name servers on the internet?
The two related organizations responsible for managing the top-level domain name space and the root
Domain Name System (DNS) name servers on the internet are:
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN): ICANN is a non-profit organization that
coordinates the assignment and management of domain names, IP addresses, and other unique identifiers
on the internet. ICANN oversees the policy development and administration of the domain name system.
Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA): IANA is a department operated by ICANN. It isresponsible for
the global coordination of the DNS root, IP addressing, and other protocol parameter assignments. IANA
manages the root zone file, which contains the authoritative list of top-level domains and their associated
name servers.
3. Vinton Cerf has been called one of main fathers of the internet. What internet organizations did he chair or
help found? What internet technologies did he help to develop?
Here are some of the organizations and Internet technologies he has been associated with.
- Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF): Mr. Cerf helped found the IETF in 1986. The IETF is an
international standards organization responsible for the development and management of Internet protocol
and network standards.
- Internet Society (ISOC): Vinton Cerf and Robert E. Kahn founded ISOC in 1992. ISOC is a non-profit
organization that leads the recommendation and development of the Internet globally.
- Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP): Cerf made an important contribution to the
development and standardization of TCP/IP, the fundamental pair of network protocols that define how
devices communicate and communicate on the Internet.
- Mass Networking Technology (ARPANET): Mr. Cerf was involved in the development and implementation of
ARPANET, the original computer network from which the Internet evolved.
- IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6): Mr. Cerf promoted the transition from IPv4 to IPv6, a newer versionof the
Internet protocol with an expanded address space and better security features.
- Director of DARPA Internet Research: Cerf has held this position at the U.S. Department of Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency and has led the development and testing of many key technologies for
ARPANET and then the Internet.
4. What organization is responsible for publishing Request for Comments (RFC)?
The organization responsible for publishing Request for Comments (RFC) is the Internet Engineering Task
Force (IETF). The IETF is an open, international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and
researchers responsible for the development and standardization of protocols and technologies for the
Internet. RFCs are documents produced by the IETF that describe new protocols, standards, and best
practices for various aspects of Internet communication. They play a significant role in the evolution and
development of the Internet.
5. What do RFC 349 and RFC 1700 have in common?
RFC 349 and RFC 1700 have the commonality of both being related to the Internet Assigned Numbers
Authority (IANA) and the management of protocol parameters on the Internet. Both RFC 349 and RFC 1700
contributed to the management and standardization of protocol parameters by defining the initial assignments
and providing a reference guide. They reflect the historical development and evolution of the Internet and its
protocols.
6. What RFC number is the ARPAWOCKY? What is it?
RFC 527. The first humorous RFC then led to the IETF releasing the April Fools' Day RFC in 1989
7. Who founded the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)?
Founded by Tim Berners-Lee at MIT.

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Lab - Research Networking Standards

8. Name 10 World Wide Web (WWW) standards that the W3C develops and maintains?
Here are 10 World Wide Web (WWW) standards developed and maintained by the W3C:
- HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
- CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
- XML (extensible Markup Language)
- SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
- HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
- WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communications)
- WebSocket’s
- JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)
- RDF (Resource Description Framework)
- WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)
9. Where is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) headquarters located and what is the
significance of its logo?
located at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) with its headquarters in New York City,
New York, United States. The IEEE logo is a diamond-shaped design illustrating the right fist rule embedded
in Benjamin Franklin's kite.
10. What is the IEEE standard for the Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) security protocol?
WPA2 is based on IEEE 802.11i standard.
11. Is the Wi-Fi Alliance a non-profit standards organization? What is their goal?
Yes, the Wi-Fi Alliance is a non-profit trade association. Their goal is to ensure interoperability and backwards
compatibility of Wi-Fi devices and technologies. They achieve this by developing and promoting industry
standards, certifying Wi-Fi products for compliance, and fostering collaboration among industry stakeholders.
12. Who is Hamadoun Touré?
Hamadoun Touré is a Malian engineer who served as Secretary General of the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) from 2007 to 2014.
13. What is the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and where is it headquartered?
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a UN specialized agency headquartered in Geneva,
Switzerland.
14. Name the three ITU sectors.
The three ITU sectors are: Radio communication, Standardization and Development.
15. What does the RS in RS-232 stand for and which organization introduced it?
The "RS" in RS-232 stands for "Recommended Standard." RS-232 is a standard for serial communication that
specifies the electrical and functional characteristics of a serial interface. It was introduced by the Electronic
Industries Association (EIA) in the United States.
16. What is Space Wire?
SpaceWire is a standard for high-speed links and networks for use onboard spacecraft.
17. What is the mission of the ISOC and where are its headquarters located?
The mission of the Internet Society (ISOC) is to promote the open development, evolution, and use of the
Internet worldwide. Its headquarters are located in Reston, Virginia, United States.

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Lab - Research Networking Standards

18. What organizations does the IAB oversee?

IAB oversees the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF).
19. What organization oversees the IAB?.
The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) oversees the Internet Architecture Board (IAB).
20. When was the ISO founded and where are its headquarters located?
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was founded in 1947. Its headquarters are located in
Geneva, Switzerland.

Step 2: Reflect on Internet and Computer Networking Experiences

Take a moment to think about the internet today in relation to the organizations and technologies you have
just researched. Then answer the following questions.
Questions:

1. How do the internet standards allow for greater commerce? What potential problems could we have if we did
not have the IEEE?
Internet standards allow for greater commerce by enabling interoperability, reliability, security in online
transactions. Without the IEEE, we could face compatibility issues and a lack of consensus on best practices,
hindering communication and impeding commerce.
2. What potential problems could we have if we did not have the W3C?
Without the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), we could encounter problems such as a lack of
standardized web technologies, inconsistent implementation of web standards, and challenges in achieving
cross-browser compatibility. This could lead to a fragmented web experience, difficulty in developing and
maintaining websites, and limited interoperability between different platforms and devices.
3. What can we learn from the example of the Wi-Fi Alliance with regard to the necessity of networking
standards?
The example of the Wi-Fi Alliance demonstrates the necessity of networking standards in compatibility and
widespread adoption of technology. Without standards, connectivity would be fragmented, hindering
innovation and limiting interoperability between devices.

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