Enzo,
IHO, the aim of the S/MIME WG is to ensure interoperability of S/MIME. I view
S/MIME as a profile (the MSG spec) of the CMS/ESS and other specs. So to be
S/MIME compliant you must meet the mandatory elements of the MSG spec and this
implies compliancy with certain aspects of the CMS spec, but not all of it.
I believe that vendors should be able to remain CMS compliant without being
S/MIME compliant or dependant of S/MIME's algorithms suite.
IMHO, protocol and procedural compliancy should be treated differently from
algorithm compliancy. I would like to see CMS be algorithm independant.
For this reason, IMO I believe your question should have been:
Wouldn't that endanger interoperability between S/MIME-compliant agents sitting
on the two sides of the fence, and exchanging mail through a gateway?
And the answer would be no, as the S/MIME spec ensures interoperability.
Regards,
Darren
-------------------------------------------------------------
Darren Harter BSc Hons MBCS CEng
CASM Technical Architect
CASM Programme Office
CESG
Work: dharter(_at_)cesg(_dot_)gov(_dot_)uk
Home: Darren(_dot_)Harter(_at_)bcs(_dot_)org(_dot_)uk
"Enzo Michelangeli" <em(_at_)who(_dot_)net> 11/06/98 11:38am >>>
Wouldn't that endanger interoperability between CMS-compliant agents sitting
on the two sides of the fence, and exchanging mail through a gateway?
Enzo