Re: MIME type for libpcap-format capture files

[Phil Vandry <vandry () TZoNE ORG>]

Hi tcpdump-workers,

As I've now returned from a vacation, I would like to revive this
thread. Now that we have a manpage describing the format, I think we
are ready to start the ball rolling. I am going to send the following
email:

To: ietf-types () iana org
Cc: tcpdump-workers () lists tcpdump org
Subject: Registration of media type for libpcap-format capture files

Hello,

We would like to register a media type (MIME type) for the file format
used by the libpcap library ( http://www.tcpdump.org/ ). This file
format is widely used by well-known software such as the network packet
capturing packages tcpdump and Wireshark but up to now has had no
official media-type to designate it.

Per section 3 of RFC 4288, we believe the standards tree is the correct
place for this new media type. In particular, we do not consider the
vendor tree to be appropriate because there is no "vendor" that owns
the type (libpcap is open source).

We would like to request some clarification concerning the process
established by RFC 4288 for regstering new types. Sections 3.1 and 5
state that registrations in the standards tree must either come from
the IETF itself (in which case they must be published as RFCs) or
from another "recognized standards body". However, the libpcap
development community represents neither the IETF nor a recognized
standards body, to our knowledge. How do you advise that the
registration be made? Will the IETF sponsor an application that we
prepare?

We suggest that the type should be "application/libpcap-capture" and
it will not be a problem to document the file format as well as to
meet the other requirements stated in RFC 4288 section 4.

Thank you for your consideration.

-Phil
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