[ PROTOCOLS:OSDIR-12-88.TXT ]                           [ AM, 4/90 ]


                    ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

                       WASINGTON, DC 20301-3040


						22 December 1988

MEMORANDUM FOR SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS
	       CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
	       DIRECTORS, DEFENSE AGENCIES

SUBJECT:   Open Systems Interconnection Protocols

	In the 24 August 1988 Federal Register, the Department of Commerce
published notice of Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) Number 146
to adopt the Government Open Systems Interconnection Profile (GOSIP) Version
1.0 for federal government use.  GOSIP defines a common set of data communica-
tions protocols which enable computer systems developed by different vendors
to interoperate and the users of different applications on these systems to
exchange information.  GOSIP, Version 1.0 dated June 1988, contains the 
requisite information for federal government acquisitions of the Open Systems
Interconnection (OSI) Message Handling System and File Transfer, Access and
Management applications in conjunction with several OSI networking technol-
ogies.

	From now until August 1990, the OSI protocols specified in GOSIP are
adopted as a full co-standard to the Department of Defense protocols which
provide similar services (MIL-STDs 1777, 1778, 1780, and 178l).  During this
period the DoD protocols may continue to be specified in addition to, in lieu
of, or as an optional alternative to the corresponding OSI protocols.  
Effective August 1990, the OSI protocols specified in GOSIP become the sole
mandatory interoperable protocol suite and must be included in all proposals
for new automated information systems and major upgrades which require net-
work services.  After that time DoD protocols may continue to be acquired in
addition to the OSI protocols when required to support operational needs.
OSI protocols which provide additional functionality will be added to GOSIP
as implementation specifications for these protocols are developed.  These
protocols must be cited in all proposals eighteen months following their
adoption into GOSIP.

	The Department of Defense OSI Implementation Strategy was published
by the Defense Communications Agency in May 1988 to establish the OSI
protocols as a military co-standard with the current DoD protocols and to
provide guidance for implementing DoD/OSI protocol interoperability in DoD
networks.  The Services and agencies should use this document in developing
information systems requirements.  In order to complete the necessary DoD
wide coordination in a timely manner, DoD components are requested to for-
ward individual OSI Interoperability and Transition Plans to ASD(C3I) by
1 August 1989.  The Chairman of the Protocol Standards Steering Group 
(PSSG) will provide guidance regarding common format and content of the
plans.  A progress report is requested from the PSSG by 1 March 1989.

	This guidance provides for the interim steps necessary to continue
progress toward implementation of OSI standards.  Final implementation
details will be provided in a DoD Directive now in process.


					Gordon A Smith