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Re: order of name attributes in certificates, suggestion for 3280 bis




Michael Ströder wrote:

Especially RFC3280bis should have a normative reference to the DN string
representation used for the example DNs in appendix C which defines:
- order
- character set
- defined RDN separator
- multi-valued RDNs
I do not believe that 3280bis should include a normative reference to RFC 2253, although I don't see any problem including an informative reference. The IETF describes normative references as follows:

Normative references specify documents that must be read to understand or implement the technology in the new RFC, or whose technology must be present
   for the technology in the new RFC to work.

The only places that I can find string representations of DNs in 3280bis are in the examples of LDAP URIs and in Appendix C. The rules for LDAP URIs, including the rules for distinguishedName portion of the URI, are specified in RFC 2255, which is already listed as a normative reference. The string representation of DNs in Appendix C are simply used to describe sample certificates, and I see no reason that the inclusion of these examples would result in the need to list RFC 2253 as a normative reference.

Semicolons as RDN separators like used in appendix C are today not
widely known to implementors and disallowed in LDAPv3 (see RFC 2253).
I can't find any place in 3280bis were semicolons are used as RDN separators. If there are any string representations of DNs in 3280bis that do not conform to RFC 2253, please specify where they are and I will correct them.

I'd think this needs clarification. Also character set of string
representation should be clearly specified (UTF-8 in RFC 2253).
I will add a note in Appendix C indicating that all string representations of DNs are encoded in accordance with RFC 2253.

=> use a normative reference to RFC 2253 (or its upcoming successor
draft-ietf-ldapbis-dn) and correct examples in appendix C accordingly.

I will add an informative reference. If any of the examples are incorrect, please specify where they are since do not see any.

Dave