i15: How to tell if a client does not support persistent connections

Issue i15 is closed, and the resolution suggests new text, in part:

	"An HTTP/1.1 client that does not support persistent connections  
MUST include the "close" connection option in every request message. "

If this is really what we want then I agree this issue resolution is  
an improvement over the old text.  However, is there any way of  
distinguishing a non-compliant client in this case?  A client could  
always *choose* to use new connections and claim that in theory it  
supports persistent connections, and therefore doesn't have to  
include the "close" connection option.

If we can't tell a compliant client from a non-compliant client, then  
I wonder if we shouldn't leave this out under the principle of  
sparing the MUSTs.  If I've missed some way of distinguishing a  
client that supports persistent connections and chooses not to use  
them, from a client that does not support persistent connections, I'd  
like to understand that.

Thanks,
Lisa

Received on Thursday, 13 December 2007 02:49:13 UTC