Perspective on Name System Design

摘要

Elements of a computer network or distributed system which wish tio share information must have conventions for identifying the information of interest. Naming systems address this problem by using standards for name syntax and semantics, and interfaces which insulate applications from the details of the naming database and name service protocols. The major issue in the design on a naming system is the tension between the desire for a minimal system, which reduces the cost of implementation and ongoing operation, and the desire for a comprehensive system, which can accommodate different styles of usage for different applications, users, network organizations, and computing cultures. This paper examines the technical and human issues behind this conflict and suggests some approaches for achieving a compromise between the two desires. (Author)