Internet Core Protocols: The Definitive Guide

The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority

Since many different protocols and data types exist, and since many of these documents use numeric or keyword assignments that must not be duplicated, a registry is required to act as a central clearinghouse for these types of assignments. This is the purpose of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).

The IANA keeps track of every type of assignment specified in the different RFCs and STDs, including mundane lists such as the protocol identifiers (like 17 for UDP and 6 for TCP) and esoteric lists such as the different MIME media types.

For more information on the IANA, visit their web page at http://www.iana.org/.