Network Access Server Requirements (nasreq)
-------------------------------------------
 
 Charter 
 
 Chair(s):
     Allan Rubens  <acr@merit.edu>
     John Vollbrecht  <jrv@merit.edu>
 
 Security Area Director(s) 
     Stephen Crocker  <crocker@tis.com>
 
 Mailing lists: 
     General Discussion:nas-req@merit.edu
     To Subscribe:      nas-req-request@merit.edu
     Archive:           
 
Description of Working Group:

The Network Access Server Requirements Working Group has as its primary
goal, to identify functions and services that should be present in IP
Network Access Servers (NAS's) and to specify the standards that
provide for these functions and services.  The term ``Network Access
Server'' is used instead of the more conventional term ``Terminal Server''
as it more accurately describes the functions of interest to this
Group.  A ``Network Access Server'' is a device that provides for the
attachment of both traditional ``dumb terminals'' and terminal emulators
as well as workstations, PC's or routers utilizing a serial line
framing protocol such as PPP or SLIP.  A NAS is viewed as a device that
sits on the boundary of an IP network, providing serial line points of
attachment to the network.  A NAS is not necessarily a separate
physical entity; for example, a host system supporting serial line
attachments is viewed as providing NAS functionality and should abide
by NAS requirements.

This Group will adopt (or define, if need be) a set of standard
protocols to meet the needs of organizations providing network access.
The immediate needs to be addressed by the Group are in the areas of
authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA). In general, this
Group will select a set of existing standards as requirements for a
NAS.  If necessary, the Group will identify areas of need where
internet standards don't already exist and new standardization efforts
may be required.

Initially the Group will independently investigate the two cases of
character and frame oriented access to the NAS.  This investigation
will be aimed at determining what work is being done, or needs to be
done, in this and other working groups in order to be able to define
the set of NAS requirements.  While the ultimate goal of this Group is
to produce a NAS Requirements document, it may be necessary to define
standards as well.  This initial investigation will help determine what
the goals of this Group need to be.  The Group will also work with
appropriate Working Groups to define required NAS standards that fall
into the areas of these other groups.

 
 Goals and Milestones: 
 
     Done NAS Requirements Document posted as an Internet-Draft.               

   Nov 92 Post an Internet-Draft on Character oriented Authentication, 
          Authorization, and Accounting(AAA).                                  

   Nov 92 Post an Internet-Draft on frame oriented AAA requirements.           

   Nov 93 Submit the NAS Requirements document to the IESG as a Proposed 
          Standard.                                                            


 Internet Drafts:

Posted Revised       I-D Title  <Filename>
------ ------- ------------------------------------------
 Oct 92 New     <draft-ietf-nasreq-nasrequirements-00.txt> 
                Network Access Server Proposed Requirements Document           

 Request For Comments:

  None to date.