IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force

An Overview of the Internet Engineering Task Force

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is a large open global community of set of connections designers, operators and sellers among others who are mostly concerned with the development of the internet structural design as well as the even process of the internet. On this basis, IETF is always open to any interested person from the whole world. Importantly, this organization has an open and formal culture which can be evident from the way elections are conducted. In this case, voting members are elected in accordance to an indiscriminative process in order to assure balanced sections in the organization. Additionally, the study of outfitted and technological problems with the internet, identifying set of rules and architectural explanations, and making suggestions to the course-plotting committee is the main work of the Internet Engineering Task Force (Okin, 2005).

It should be noted that, there are working groups in IETF organization that perform most of the work. This is done by selecting a particular interesting internet topic and with the help of the group's chair, the topic is thoroughly researched. On this basis, these study topics are well organized and they help to add knowledge to the learning of internet. In this case, the researchers, vendors, and operators use the knowledge of internet in conducting their businesses. Importantly, the work done by the working groups in this organization is arranged and documented in one or more ‘Request for Comments' which are used in defining the internet works (Coleman, 2009).

Basically, the increased scale and technical complexity of the internet has made the IETF to undergo some growing pains and challenges in trying to regulate the similar increase in their own tasks. The overview of the operations of the Internet engineering Task Force has changed considerably following its growth and development over the years. Arguably, the main mechanism does not change from publication of summary stipulations, appraisal and testing by participants as well as republication. It is of importance top note that, IETF develops and promotes internet standards through studying internet thoroughly by the use of the study groups. In this case, all people or participants in this organization are volunteers despite the fact that their work in mainly founded by the employers. On this basis, through the spirit of volunteering participants are abler to conduct studies and come up with very viable recommendations which are tabled to the steering committee (Internet Engineering Task Force, 1992).

Certainly, the working groups are organized into different areas by the subject matter of the topic selected. In this relation, they are able to widely understand the concept of internet as they continue studying it. In relation to the different areas, the main ones include internet, operations, management, transport, applications, and security among others. The Internet Engineering Task force as a part of internet society is overseen by the Internet Architectural Board (IAB). On this basis, the Internet Architectural Board is controls the IETF external relationships, its Administrative Oversight Committee which manages the IETF Administrative Support Activity (Okin, 2005).

Certainly, there are very crucial meetings held by IETF but vary greatly in terms of areas where they are held. On this basis, most of the meetings are usually held where it is very convenient to most of the volunteers. Previously, the Internet Engineering Task Force organization has been having three meetings a year but this is currently changing into two meetings a year. In this case, these meetings are held in all parts of the world with most of the meetings being held in North America, Europe, and Asia. In order to reduce operational costs in the organization, communal funding of these meetings is characteristically a very essential factor (Coleman, 2009).

Origin of the Internet Engineering Task Force

The foundation of the Internet Engineering Task Force dates back in the year 1986 when the first meeting was held that comprised of 21 American government financed researchers. At its initial stages, the meetings held had very few people not more that 35 until in the 13th meeting where 120 people were recorded as present members. In early 1990's, these meeting had expanded in terms of number of attendees and the scope of the topics discussed. It is of importance to note that, the internet /engineering Task Force was founded in America when some American funded researchers initiated the need to study internet. On this basis, the internet society was the home of IETF and other internet process standardization. In this case, this organization was founded by researchers, vendors, designers, and operators in order to study internet and internet services (Internet Engineering Task Force, 1992).