ISO IEC 29168-1-2023 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/IEC 29168-1:2023 — Information technology — Open systems interconnection — Part 1: Object identifier resolution system. This standard defines the Object Identifier Resolution System (ORS), a DNS-based mechanism and architecture for associating and retrieving application-specific information for nodes in the international OID tree.

Abstract

This document specifies the ORS architecture and a DNS-based resolution mechanism. It defines how application-defined information associated with an OID node is inserted into DNS zone files and how ORS clients map OID-IRI values to DNS names, query DNS for application-specific information, process returned records, and cache results to improve performance. The ORS itself does not allocate or register OID nodes and does not prescribe bit-level client APIs.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: March 2023 (Edition 2, published 2023-03).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO) / International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), published jointly as an ISO/IEC International Standard.
• ICS / categories: 35.100.01 (Open systems interconnection — general).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2023 revision of the earlier 2011 edition).
• Number of pages: 26 (official ISO pagination).

Scope

The standard specifies the Object Identifier Resolution System (ORS) including the overall ORS architecture, the DNS-based resolution mechanism, the DNS resource records required in ORS zones, and the behaviour required of ORS clients for producing DNS queries from OID-IRIs and processing the returned information. It does not cover OID allocation/registration processes or low-level programming interfaces, nor does it provide a tutorial on general DNS zone file management beyond the specific records needed to support ORS.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of the ORS architecture and DNS-based resolution mechanism for OID-associated data.
• Rules for mapping OID-IRI values into DNS names so ORS clients can form DNS queries for application-specific information.
• Specification of required DNS resource records for ORS zones and prohibition of alternative-record forms with different semantics in the ORS domain.
• Required behaviour of ORS clients, including query formation, response processing, and caching strategies to reduce resolution latency.
• Mechanisms to resolve an OID node when a superior OID node is not ORS-supported; clarification that ORS does not govern OID allocation or registration.

Typical use and users

Implementers of systems that reference or publish metadata tied to OID nodes (for example, registries, certificates, schema repositories, and protocol specifications) use ORS to publish and resolve application-specific OID information. Typical users include protocol designers, standards bodies, registry operators, DNS zone administrators, and software developers building ORS-capable clients or services.

Related standards

Replaces and updates ISO/IEC 29168-1:2011 (the 2011 edition was withdrawn when the 2023 edition was published). The ORS family also includes subsequent parts addressing operational procedures for the ORS operational agency (for example, ISO/IEC 29168-2 published as a later part).

Keywords

Object Identifier (OID), ORS, OID-IRI, DNS-based resolution, DNS resource records, OID resolution, OID metadata, open systems interconnection, ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 6.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC 29168-1:2023 specifies the Object Identifier Resolution System (ORS), a standard way to publish and resolve application-specific information associated with nodes in the international OID tree using DNS.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the ORS architecture, the DNS-based mechanism for mapping OID-IRI values to DNS names, the required DNS resource records for ORS zones, and the required behaviour of ORS clients (including caching and handling when parent OID nodes lack ORS support). It does not cover OID allocation/registration or platform-specific client APIs.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Standards developers, registry operators, DNS administrators, and software developers implementing OID-based metadata publication or resolution in their applications and services.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2023 document is the current (Edition 2) version and supersedes the 2011 edition, which was withdrawn.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 1 of the ISO/IEC 29168 series. Later parts address operational procedures and agency responsibilities for ORS support (for example, Part 2 covers procedures for the ORS operational agency).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: OID, ORS, OID-IRI, DNS, DNS resource records, OID metadata, open systems interconnection.