Network Working Group                                  R. Callon, EditorRequest for Comments: 1925                                          IOOFCategory: Informational                                     1 April 1996                      The Twelve Networking TruthsStatus of this Memo   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  This memo   does not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of   this memo is unlimited.Abstract   This memo documents the fundamental truths of networking for the   Internet community. This memo does not specify a standard, except in   the sense that all standards must implicitly follow the fundamental   truths.Acknowledgements   The truths described in this memo result from extensive study over an   extended period of time by many people, some of whom did not intend   to contribute to this work. The editor merely has collected these   truths, and would like to thank the networking community for   originally illuminating these truths.1. Introduction   This Request for Comments (RFC) provides information about the   fundamental truths underlying all networking. These truths apply to   networking in general, and are not limited to TCP/IP, the Internet,   or any other subset of the networking community.2. The Fundamental Truths   (1)  It Has To Work.   (2)  No matter how hard you push and no matter what the priority,        you can't increase the speed of light.        (2a) (corollary). No matter how hard you try, you can't make a             baby in much less than 9 months. Trying to speed this up             *might* make it slower, but it won't make it happen any             quicker.Callon                       Informational                      [Page 1]RFC 1925            Fundamental Truths of Networking        1 April 1996   (3)  With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. However, this is        not necessarily a good idea. It is hard to be sure where they        are going to land, and it could be dangerous sitting under them        as they fly overhead.   (4)  Some things in life can never be fully appreciated nor        understood unless experienced firsthand. Some things in        networking can never be fully understood by someone who neither        builds commercial networking equipment nor runs an operational        network.   (5)  It is always possible to aglutenate multiple separate problems        into a single complex interdependent solution. In most cases        this is a bad idea.   (6)  It is easier to move a problem around (for example, by moving        the problem to a different part of the overall network        architecture) than it is to solve it.        (6a) (corollary). It is always possible to add another level of             indirection.   (7)  It is always something        (7a) (corollary). Good, Fast, Cheap: Pick any two (you can't            have all three).   (8)  It is more complicated than you think.   (9)  For all resources, whatever it is, you need more.       (9a) (corollary) Every networking problem always takes longer to            solve than it seems like it should.   (10) One size never fits all.   (11) Every old idea will be proposed again with a different name and        a different presentation, regardless of whether it works.        (11a) (corollary). See rule 6a.   (12) In protocol design, perfection has been reached not when there        is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take        away.Callon                       Informational                      [Page 2]RFC 1925            Fundamental Truths of Networking        1 April 1996Security Considerations   This RFC raises no security issues. However, security protocols are   subject to the fundamental networking truths.References   The references have been deleted in order to protect the guilty and   avoid enriching the lawyers.Author's Address   Ross Callon   Internet Order of Old Farts   c/o Bay Networks   3 Federal Street   Billerica, MA  01821   Phone: 508-436-3936   EMail: rcallon@baynetworks.comCallon                       Informational                      [Page 3]