Re: 5.1.2 Request-URI

Dave Kristol (dmk@allegra.att.com)
Fri, 26 Apr 96 09:42:03 EDT


"Roy T. Fielding" <fielding@avron.ICS.UCI.EDU> wrote:
  > > [DMK]
  > > I said "particularly for an origin server".  I believe an *origin
  > > server* sees either a relativeURI or an absoluteURI in the form of an
  > > http_URL on the request line.  I'm trying to nail down what an origin
  > > server should expect to see.  It should be specified somewhere.
  > 
  > No, it doesn't need to be specified anywhere beyond the syntax
  > limitations already specified.  The server is capable of controlling
  > its own namespace, period.  The protocol does not make any additional
  > limitations where none are needed, particularly when they would hinder
  > use of HTTP outside the typical Internet browser realm.

Okay, I'll accept your arguments.  However, there is still a piece I feel
is missing:

1) We want clients to send, and servers to accept, an absoluteURI.
2) Eventually we want to obviate the need for Host:.
3) The purpose of absoluteURI and/or Host is to specify the virtual host
for (at least) an http_URL.

The reason I've been trying to restrict the absoluteURI syntax is that
then it becomes easy to identify the virtual host.  I believe somewhere
in the spec. there should be an explanation of how to identify the
virtual host of "the resource identified by the request".

Dave Kristol