Network Working Group Ralph Alter
RFC#305 BBN
NIC #9078 23 February 1972
UNKNOWN HOST NUMBERS
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In response to a recent minor flurry of confusion, it seems worth
announcing publicly the fact that new IMPs are tested (almost
always) on the ARPA Net here at BBN before delivery to the intended
site. Accordingly, sites should not be surprised to receive RFCs
or at least RSTs from IMPs or Hosts they thought didn't exist, or
at least did not exist yet.
Occasionally, IMPs of some given configuration are tested in a
mode where they announce their IMP number as different from what
it will be when finally installed. A variety of reasons may create
sUCh a situation. The latest such occurrence is that a TIP, to be
installed shortly at ETAC with IMP number 20 (replacing the 316
IMP now at ETAC which is number 20) was recently tested here with
McClellan's IMP number (22). (It couldn't be tested with its own
number since the 316 IMP currently at ETAC is using that number.)
The result was RSTs from the TIP (Host 3) at IMP 22 - which is
network address 150 (226 octal or 96 hex).
One site asked if their Host tables needed updating. The answer
is _NO_. We fully eXPect IMPs tested under these circumstances to be
ignored or CLS'd by some Hosts. We suggest that Host tables (where
they are thought to be necessary) be modified only in response to
official notification from BBN via either an RFCor an update to
Appendix A of BBN Report #1822.
RA/jm
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[ direction of Alex McKenzie. 12/96 ]