[lanana-discuss] LANANA proposal draft #1 (FSG102)

Daniel Quinlan quinlan at transmeta.com
Wed Apr 3 14:23:33 PST 2002


This proposal is still incomplete.  Note the "TODO" items for the most
critical missing items.  Note that I lowered the "break in" period
before a maintainer is placed on the steering committee from six months
to three months.

The guidelines for the proposal are here:

  http://www.freestandards.org/policy/fsg102-newworkgroup-draft.txt

If you're not on the lanana-discuss mailing list (only John and Scott),
you can subscribe here:

  http://www.freestandards.org/mailman/listinfo/lanana-discuss

I would like us to fill in as many of the TODOs as possible and then
start finding people to act as maintainers for the new LSB registries
ASAP.  My goal is to finish this in time for the April 25th Free
Standards Group board meeting.

 Dan

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1. PROBLEM AND PROPOSED SOLUTION ABSTRACT

a. General description of the current problem

Some names and numbers must be statically assigned within the Linux
operating system.  Without registries for these names and numbers,
conflicts between differing implementations are likely which causes
interoperability problems that affect everyone.

b. Brief abstract of the proposed solution

LANANA, the Linux Assigned Names and Numbers Authority, is intended to
be to Linux what IANA is to there Internet: a central registry of names
and numbers within the Linux project.  It has successfully existed as an
informal organization since 10-Apr-2000.  We propose to now make it an
official workgroup of the Free Standards Group.  This will enable LANANA
to better support new registries that are required by other Free
Standards Group workgroups.

The proposed workgroup structure is as follows:

  1. Steering Committee (SC)

     * The SC may create new registries and fill maintainer vacancies
       with a majority vote.
     * The SC may freeze or disband registries and remove maintainers
       with a 2/3 supermajority vote.
     * The SC sets appeals process and policies by majority vote.
     * SC members are all maintainers in place for three months or more
       plus N persons appointed by Free Standards Group board of
       directors (where N is no less than two and no more than half of
       the total SC at time of appointment).

  2. Registries and Maintainers

     Current registries:

       * The Linux Device List, John Cagle
       * The Linux Zone Unicode Assignments, H. Peter Anvin

     Additional registries to be created in 2Q02:

       * LSB package names (Line 12161: package naming)
       * LSB cron.d script names (Line 18638: installed cron.d scripts)
       * LSB init.d script names (Line 18888: installed init.d scripts)

  3. Appeals process and policies

       * TBD (Ted suggests IANA model)

Note: the Free Standards Group executive director will examine extending
Free Standards Group insurance to cover maintainers and SC.

c. Existing software, partial solutions, etc.

The web site, www.lanana.org already exists.  Currently, each registry
is consists of a document managed by a maintainer.  Databases or other
readily available software may be employed in the future.

d. Existing free software projects related to the proposed standard.

None.

e. Companies and organizations in the field that would benefit from
   the standard. This should include general industry descriptions,
   as well as major potential participants.

All companies and organizations that make use of Linux.

f. Other parties that would benefit from the standard, including free
   software projects or classes of end users.

All Linux developers and users.

2. INITIAL PARTY INVOLVEMENT

 a. POLICY AGREEMENT

    TODO: call for participation, find appointees and new maintainers.

 b. TECHNICAL AGREEMENT

    See section (1b).

    TODO: list specific technical goals for each registry

    TODO: This document should also include a report of any known
    hurdles to the creation or adoption of this standard.

3. FORMALIZE PROPOSAL AND PROCESS

 a. CORE PARTICIPANTS

    Linux Device List, John Cagle
    Linux Zone Unicode Assignments, H. Peter Anvin
    SC appointee, TBA
    SC appointee, TBA
    LSB package names maintainer, TBA
    LSB cron.d script names maintainer, TBA
    LSB init.d script names maintainer, TBA

    TODO: fill in "TBA" names

 b. GOALS TO TASKS, RESOURCES

    TODO

 c. INTERIM WORKGROUP CHAIRPERSON

    We recommend H. Peter Anvin as the interim workgroup chairperson.

4. PRESENT FORMAL PROPOSAL TO FREE STANDARDS GROUP BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    TODO
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