ietf-nntp Re: [NNTP Draft] 7. The GREETING Step (and MODE READER)

[Russ Allbery]

Andrew Gierth <andrew at erlenstar.demon.co.uk> writes:

>           7. The GREETING Step

>           7.1  Initial Connection

[...]

>             In all other cases, the server MUST present a 400 greeting
>             code.

It's not clear whether a 400 response to the greeting means that the
server will be closing the connection, given this language.  The sole
example shows that, but it should be specified.

>             Example of a connection from any client where the server is
>             unable to provide service

>                     [C] Initial TCP connection completed

>                     [S] 400 NNTP Service temporarily unavailable

>             At this point, the server closes the TCP connection.

[...]

>             MODE READER MAY be used by the client to indicate to the
>             server that it is a news reading client. This command may be
>             entered at any time. The server must present a greeting code
>             (as described in section 7.1.2.1) appropriate to the server's
>             ability to provide service to this client in this mode.

As discussed in news.software.nntp, if discussion of pipelining is added
to this draft it should be noted that MODE READER cannot be pipelined in
several existing implementations.

>             Example of use of MODE READER by a client not authorized to
>             receive service from the server as a news reader

>                     [C] MODE READER

>                     [S] 502 NNTP Service Unavailable

>             At this point, the server closes the TCP connection.

Does a 502 response always indicate that the server will close the
connection?

>             Example of a connection from any client where the server is
>             unable to provide news reader service

>                     [C] MODE READER

>                     [S] 400 NNTP Service temporarily unavailable

>             At this point, the server closes the TCP connection.

Same question here.

-- 
Russ Allbery (rra at stanford.edu)         <URL:http://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/>