- From: Jim Whitehead <ejw@cse.ucsc.edu>
- Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 11:36:55 -0700
- To: <www-webdav-dasl@w3.org>, "WebDAV WG" <w3c-dist-auth@w3.org>
The DAV Searching and Locating (DASL) protocol is a mechanism for remotely submitting search queries to a WebDAV server, using the "SEARCH" method. For approximately a year and a half, from 1999-2000, the IETF had a working group dedicated to working on the DASL protocol specification. Unfortunately, this working group did not make sufficient progress, and was ultimately closed. Current protocol drafts, and minutes from DASL meetings are recorded on the DASL site, at: http://www.webdav.org/dasl/ However, before the DASL WG ran out of steam, the DASL protocol specification got very close to completion. It is currently in an implementable state, and indeed, the Xythos Storage Server has an implementation of the DASL protocol. Exchange 2000 also implements the SEARCH method, but does not implement the DAV:basicsearch query syntax, and hence cannot be claimed to fully implement the DASL protocol. There was some discussion on reviving DASL at the Minneapolis IETF meeting. While several participants there were interested in seeing this work be completed, no one there could commit to working on the protocol, and finishing it. It is my understanding that the most significant remaining issues concern i18n search issues (sort ordering, string equality comparison, etc.). Participants at the Minneapolis meeting felt that other activities in the WebDAV space (DeltaV, access control, interoperability, to name a few) have higher current priority. As a result, DASL is not likely to percolate up to the top of the priority queue for quite some time. The suggestion was made in Minneapolis that the current DASL protocol specification be moved to Experimental status. From RFC 2026 ("The Internet Standards Process -- Revision 3"), an Experimental specification is: The "Experimental" designation typically denotes a specification that is part of some research or development effort. Such a specification is published for the general information of the Internet technical community and as an archival record of the work, subject only to editorial considerations and to verification that there has been adequate coordination with the standards process (see below). An Experimental specification may be the output of an organized Internet research effort (e.g., a Research Group of the IRTF), an IETF Working Group, or it may be an individual contribution. Basically, the Experimental designation would allow the current DASL protocol to be baselined as an RFC, and allow implementation of the protocol to begin, for the purpose of gathering additional information concerning the behavior of the protocol. When it comes time to revive DASL, and move it to Proposed Standard, the information gathered while the specification is in Experimental status will be very helpful in improving the specification, and in making the case that the specification is ready to move to Proposed. I personally favor moving the DASL specification to Experimenal status, since I feel it is a good way to express that the current DASL specification is solid enough to implement, and will increase the likelihood that other implementations of the DASL specification will be made, thus helping us to better understand the characteristics of this protocol. It is a course of action that requires low effort, and adds value to the existing specification. Assuming the WebDAV WG agrees with this course of action, in the near future I will be submitting the DASL protocol specification to the IESG for consideration as an Experimental RFC, and the DASL requirements document as an Informational RFC. - Jim
Received on Tuesday, 10 April 2001 14:38:21 UTC