Protocol testing methdology development at NBS

The National Bureau of Standards has three primary goals in computer networking.

1. To develop networking and protocol standards which meet U.S. Government and industry requirements and will be implemented in off-the-shelf, commercial products.

2. To develop testing methodologies to support the development and implementation of computer network protocols; and

3. To assist Government and industry users in the application of advanced networking technologies, and computer and communication manufacturers, in the implementation of standard protocols.

To support these objectives, NBS has laboratory activities where prototypes of draft protocol standards are implemented and tested in a variety of communications environments (e.g. global networks, local networks, office systems networks), supporting different applications (e.g. file transfer, message processing), on difference kinds and sizes of computers. The primary purposes are to advance the state of the art in measurement methodologies for advanced computer networking technologies, and to determine protocol implementation correctness and performance.

NBS views testing as a cooperative research effort and works with other agencies, private sector companies and other countries in the development of methodologies. At this time, this cooperation involves five network laboratories in other countries and over 20 computer manufacturers.

The test methodologies developed at NBS are well documented and the testing tools themselves are developed with an objective of portability and made available to many organizations engaged in protocol development and implementations.

Consistent with goals, NBS standards developments, research in testing methodologies, and technical assistance are characterized by direct industry/government cooperation and mutual support.