A.6.1. Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)

http://www.ietf.org/

The Internet Engineering Task Force is the primary network standards body for the Internet. For example, the RFC (Request For Comments) documents that are the primary technical standards for the Internet are all created and managed by the IETF. From the IETF web page:

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is a large open international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers concerned with the evolution of the Internet architecture and the smooth operation of the Internet. It is open to any interested individual.

A.6.2. World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)

http://www.w3c.org/

From the W3C web page:

The World Wide Web Consortium was created in October 1994 to lead the World Wide Web to its full potential by developing common protocols that promote its evolution and ensure its interoperability. . . . W3C is financed primary by its Members and, to a lesser extent, by public funds. W3C Membership is available to all organizations.

By promoting interoperability and encouraging an open forum for discussion, W3C commits to leading the technical evolution of the Web. . . . To meet the growing expectations of users and the increasing power of machines, W3C is already laying the foundations for the next generation of the Web. W3C's technologies will help make the Web a robust, scalable, and adaptive infrastructure for a world of information.

A.6.3. USENIX Association

http://www.usenix.org/

From the USENIX web page:

Since 1975 the USENIX Association has brought together the community of engineers, scientists, and technicians working on the cutting edge of the computing world. The USENIX Conferences and Technical Workshops have become the essential meeting grounds for the presentation and discussion of the most advanced information on the developments of all aspects of computing systems.

USENIX and its members are dedicated to:

• Problem-solving with a practical bias

• Fostering innovation and research that works

• Communicating rapidly the results of both research and innovation

• Providing a neutral forum for the exercise of critical thought and the airing of technical issues

USENIX serves its members and supports professional and technical development through a variety of on-going activities, including:

• Annual technical conference.

• Frequent specific-topic conferences and symposia.

• A highly regarded tutorial program covering a wide range of topics, introductory through advanced.

• Numerous publications, including a book series, in cooperation with IT Press, on advanced computing systems; proceedings from USENIX symposia and conferences; the quarterly journal Computing Systems; and the biweekly newsletter.

• Participation in various ANSI, IEEE, and ISO standards efforts.

• Sponsorship of local and special technical groups relevant to the Unix environment. The chartering of the System Administrators Guild as a Special Technical Group within USENIX is the most recent.

• comp.org.usenix, the association's newsgroup.

USENIX sponsors a variety of conferences and symposia, many of which are related to or touch on network and system security. The proceedings of past events are also available. You can contact USENIX:

• By telephone: +1 510 528 8649

• By email: office@usenix.org

A.6.4. System Administrators Guild (SAGE)

http://www.usenix.org/sage

From the SAGE web page:

SAGE stands for the Systems Administrators Guild (don't ask what happened to the E). It is a subgroup of the USENIX Association. SAGE is devoted to the Advancement of System Administration as a distinct profession, within the realm of computer science but with similarities to facilities management and other service industries.

SAGE answers the widely felt need for an organization dedicated to advancing the profession of systems administration. SAGE brings together system administrators to:

• Recruit talented individuals to the profession

• Share technical problems and solutions

• Establish standards of professional excellence while providing recognition for those who attain them

• Promote work that advances the state of the art or propagates knowledge of good practice in the profession

SAGE cosponsors the annual LISA and LISA-NT conferences. For more information about SAGE, contact the USENIX office:

• By telephone: +1 510 528 8649

• By email: office@usenix.org

A.6.5. System Administration, Networking, and Security (SANS) Institute

http://www.sans.org

From the SANS web page:

The SANS (System Administration, Networking, and Security) Institute is a cooperative research and education organization through which more than 62,000 system administrators, security professionals, and network administrators share the lessons they are learning and find solutions for challenges they face. As a part of this effort, SANS offers a series of exceptional educational conferences featuring up to eight days of in-depth courses and multi-track technical conferences focusing on user experiences and problem solving. SANS also produces a series of cooperative research reports, electronic digests, posters of authoritative answers to current questions, and cooperatively-created software.