Re: the joys of public key-rings (NOT)

[Tom Zerucha <tz@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, Oct 23, 2000 at 03:16:33PM +0800, Erron Criddle wrote:
> To all,
> 
> We have downloaded a PGP 5.0 Key-Ring from a key-server and expecting a new 
> format (OpenPGP) header (0xC6) with a version 4 public key (new format 
> packet), we are getting an old format header (0x99) with a version 4 public 
> key (new format packet)!

This is withing spec.

> So, what to do for the transfer of public key-rings????
> 
> Do we use:
> 
> 1) old format headers with old format packets
> 2) old format headers with new format packets
> 3) new format headers with old format packets, or:
> 4) new format headers with new format packets???

Yes.  In that you should accept all formats.  The header/encapsulation
should be separate from the actual packet formats.

> Please help as we are just sitting here drinking lots and want to get back 
> to programming and testing...

If you want to be nice, you should encapsulate old format packets in
old format headers, and new in new.