Overview
ISO/IEC 4396-1:2023 - "Telecommunications and information exchange between systems - Recursive inter-network architecture - Part 1: Reference model" is the authoritative, high‑level reference model for the Recursive Inter‑Network Architecture (RINA). Published as the first edition in 2023, this standard defines the fundamental concepts and terminology for RINA and provides the top‑level architecture that later, more detailed specifications will build upon. It is intended as a reference model (not a tutorial) for distributed systems, distributed applications and recursive inter‑process communication.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 4396-1, RINA, Recursive Inter‑Network Architecture, Distributed Inter‑Process Facility (DIF), DAF, CDAP, DMS, IPC, distributed systems, network architecture.
Key Topics Covered
The document systematically describes the elements and operations that make up RINA. Major technical topics include:
- Basic concepts of distributed systems and distributed applications
- Definitions for application processes (AP), application entities (AE), naming and naming domains.
- Distributed Application Facilities (DAFs)
- Elements of a DAF, DAF security principles, Common Distributed Application Protocol (CDAP) and enrollment procedures.
- Distributed Management Systems (DMSs)
- Roles and types of DMSs such as Network Management DMS (NM‑DMS), Application Management DMS (AM‑DMS), and Name Space Management DMS (NSM‑DMS), plus DIF allocator structure and operations.
- Distributed Inter‑Process Communication (IPC) - fundamental structure
- Definition of a Distributed‑IPC‑Facility (DIF), IPC process components, flows and connections, DIF security principles and how DIFs stack as layers.
- Error and flow control components
- Terminology and roles for EFCP, DTP and DTCP (as defined in the reference model).
- Naming, addressing and binding
- Addressing semantics within DIFs and name‑space management.
Note: ISO/IEC 4396-1 contains no normative references; it establishes the terminology and architecture for the ISO/IEC 4396 series.
Practical Applications and Who Uses It
ISO/IEC 4396-1 is intended for professionals and stakeholders involved in modern network architecture and distributed systems design:
- Network architects and protocol designers adopting or evaluating RINA as an alternative to traditional TCP/IP layering.
- Software and systems engineers building DIFs, DAFs, CDAP-based services, or RINA‑compatible middleware.
- Vendors and integrators designing secure, multi‑layer IPC platforms for carrier, enterprise or research networks.
- Standards bodies, academic researchers and technical writers who need a formal reference model for recursive inter‑network concepts.
Related Standards & Further Reading
- Part of the ISO/IEC 4396 series; other parts expand detailed specifications and operational procedures referenced from this top‑level model.
- ISO Online Browsing Platform and IEC Electropedia for terminology and cross‑references.