RFC 3989 · INFORMATIONAL · 2005

Middlebox Communications Protocol Semantics

Overview

RFC 3989, “Middlebox Communications Protocol Semantics”, is an Informational document published in February 2005 by M. Stiemerling, J. Quittek, T. Taylor. It has been obsoleted by RFC 5189 — refer to the newer document for the authoritative version. The canonical text is published by the RFC Editor.

Abstract

This memo specifies semantics for a Middlebox Communication (MIDCOM) protocol to be used by MIDCOM agents for interacting with middleboxes such as firewalls and Network Address Translators (NATs). The semantics discussion does not include any specification of a concrete syntax or a transport protocol. However, a concrete protocol is expected to implement the specified semantics or, more likely, a superset of it. The MIDCOM protocol semantics is derived from the MIDCOM requirements, from the MIDCOM framework, and from working group decisions. This memo provides information for the Internet community.

Abstract as published in the RFC, via rfc-editor.org.

What “Informational” means

Published for the general information of the community. It does not define an IETF standard and carries no standards-track status.

Read this RFC

The canonical text of RFC 3989 is hosted at rfc-editor.org. Available in TXT,HTML.

Relationships to other RFCs
Obsoleted by
RFC 5189
Other RFCs from 2005

Who Is Online

In total there are 48 users online: 0 registered, 42 guests and 6 bots.

Most users ever online was 1,226 on 13 Jun 2026, 3:56 am.

Bots: AhrefsBot Applebot Facebook Other Bot SemrushBot YandexBot

Users active in the past 15 minutes. Total registered members: 354