Hi,

Here is my brief review of draft-song-alto-server-discovery-03.txt:

The draft discussed various approaches to the discovery of ALTO servers, such 
as DNS-based, DHCP, IANA databases, etc, but lacks a technical discussions of 
pros and cons of each approach.

For instance, DHCP options are good to have, but it needs all elements to 
understand the new option (DHCP servers, DHCP clients, DHCP proxies 
(homegateways -- yeah!). Second, a DHCP option is limited to discover only ALTO 
servers that are provided by the ISP but not beyond (which is not in line with 
the ALTO requirements).

IANA database: This is a no go, as the IANA provides registries for code points 
but not for services.

XRD: This probably goes beyond the type of service discover we need, as the 
service provided boils down to an IP address and port number to be looked up.

Provisioning: This not an option, as how do you distribute this file and manage 
it (revoke it, update it, etc)

Manual configuration: We shouldn't even consider this at all: What happens if 
you manually configure the ALTO server and you move with your laptop to another 
coffee shop, that has a different WLAN connected to a different ISP? 

Multicast: I have no idea why people do always come back to multicast. There is 
no multicast Internet-wide.

The draft has a tutorial style (i.e., a list of possible discovery mechanisms), 
but lacks IMHO the real discussion about the various options and a protocol 
specification (or at least a light start of it). 

Long story short: I miss the meat in the draft. 

With kind regards

  Martin

[email protected]

NEC Laboratories Europe - Network Research Division
NEC Europe Limited | Registered Office: NEC House, 1 Victoria Road, London W3 
6BL | Registered in England 2832014 


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