INTERIM_MEETING_REPORT_

Reported by Robert Moskowitz/Chrysler Corporation

Minutes of the Telnet TN3270 Enhancements Working Group (TN3270E)

The TN3270E Working Group met Thursday, August 26, 1993, at the Fall '93
INTEROP in San Francisco.  Approximately thirty-four people attended,
most were new faces.  Bob Moskowitz, TN3270E Chair, presented a little
background on the work started at the 26th IETF meeting in Columbus,
Ohio, and what had been accomplished to date.

The working group is well on the way of meeting its charter to produce
three RFCs.


  1. ``TN3270 Current Practices''

     This one on current TN3270 practices is authored by Jon Penner; it
     is available as an Internet-Draft and is undergoing what is hoped
     to be final changes.

  2. ``TN3270 Extensions for LUname and Printer Selection''

     The Open Connect System's proposal for an interim printing solution
     is authored by Cleve Graves.  It is also available as an
     Internet-Draft and is now undergoing what is hoped to be final
     changes.

  3. ``TN3270 Enchancements''

     This is a full redesign of the TN3270 protocol and is being
     authored by Bill Kelly.  It is in its second version and the next
     is being worked on.  The group does not feel that this document is
     finished; more customer and vendor input is needed.


Cleve Graves followed with a presentation of his proposal.  It quickly
became apparent that a name was needed for this approach, and `Simple
IBM Printing' or SIMP was proposed.  The only addition suggested was
support for IBM's Intelligent Printer Data Stream, or IPDS, and examples
of how the query response would work.  Cleve agreed that this was needed
and committed to adding it.  Cleve will also remove descriptive text
that has found its way into the current practices document.  He will
work at getting the changes done quickly so this document can be moved
on to full RFC status.

Cleve's presentation was accompanied by a number of customer
representatives' requests that this functionality be made available as
soon as possible, if not yesterday, to meet their user needs.  Based on
this, everything will be done to get the document through the IETF/IESG
system.

Bill Kelly then presented the `Enhanced TN3270 protocol'.  This protocol
will be put forth as an IETF Standard and Bob explained the logistic
steps involved in setting standards within the IETF.

There was some concern about `breaking' the TELNET practice of
negotiating Terminal Type first.  With Enhanced TN3270, the new TN3270E
option is negotiated before Terminal Type.  Most of the attendees that
understand TELNET did not see this as an issue.  There was a side
discussion on whether SNA positive and negative acknowledgments were
needed and, if so, would SNA sequencing be needed in the protocol as
well.  No resolution of this point was reached.  A question was raised
about authentication and encryption.  General agreement was reached that
the TELNET authentication option will be used when possible, but that
encryption will use the IBM SNA encryption methodology, thus making it
not a TN3270 protocol issue.

Finally there was discussion on expanding the protocol to include 5250
support.  This was viewed by many of the vendors as an unwise burdening
of the TN3270 protocol and that it would not bring any value either to
it or to 5250 support, as the protocol issue is a very small part of
either 5250 or 3270 emulation.  However, it was agreed to spend some
effort to investigate this.

Bill wrapped up the presentation by stating that there are a number of
changes that he will be making to the current document and that he will
be calling on those attending to review his document and comment about
it on the list.


Attendees

Chris Bickel             bcb9467@scmi.boeing.com
Anders Borg              anders@axis.se
Olaf Burge               unetokb@uicvmsa.aiss.uic.edu
Mike Coleman             mikec@dophin.tdh.texas.gov
David Dedic              Dave@cc.mcgill.ca
H. Dychoff               hdyc@chevron.com
Roger Erickson
Eric Fleischman          ericf@atc.boeing.com
Nadine Goes              goes@cnmtl.cn.ca
Cleve Graves             cvg@oc.com
Martin Gren              martin@axis.se
Scott Hertzog
Rich Hogrogian           rhhogrog@vnet.ibm.com
Tim Huntley              timh@vnet.ibm.com
Bill Kelly               kellywh@mail.auburn.edu
William Kwan             kwan@rabbit.com
Marjo Mercado            marjo@cup.hp.com
Jeanine Modic-Carmons    modic@r3vm.dsd.trw.com
Tome Molnar              molnar@utcc.utoronto.ca
Robert Moskowitz         3858921@mcimail.com
Rod Nay
Yoram Nussenboim         yoram@netmanage.co.il
William Palter           palter@tgv.com
Daniel Pellet            pellet@ibm.unige.ch
Jon Penner               jjp@bscs.uucp
Mike Perelc              xopr40@email.mot.com
Reynold Reimer
Bill Rubin               rubin@watson.ibm.com
Willie Ryals             unetwar@uicvmsa.aiss.uic.edu
Jim Smith                adp07@msu.edu
John David Smith         jdsmith@ads.tdh.texas.gov
Jim Spink                spink@ralvmm.vnet.ibm.com
Nick Thille              thille@cisco.com
Harrison Warrener