Internet Core Protocols: The Definitive Guide

The Internet Engineering Steering Group

Although the IETF is where the protocol development effort takes place, the IESG is the organization that actually moves these protocols along the standards track.

Whenever an IETF working group finishes a proposal, it is submitted to the IESG for consideration. If the IESG thinks the protocol is useful and functional, they vote to advance the work along a standards track until it eventually becomes an Internet standard. Note that the IESG is the body responsible for making things “standards” or “informational.” This process is discussed in more detail in Section 1.2.1 later in this chapter.

The IESG membership is made up entirely of the IETF Area Directors, who themselves are nominated by the IETF. In many regards, the IETF and the IESG are inseparable and sometimes indistinguishable.

For more information on the IESG, visit their web page at http://www.ietf.org/iesg/.