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The `!ISODE`! software (pronounced eye-soo-dee-eee), more formally the `*ISO Development Environment`*, was an implementation of the `F33f`_`[OSI`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Open_Systems_Interconnection]`_`f `F33f`_`[upper layer protocols`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=OSI_Model]`_`f, from transport layer to `F33f`_`[application layer`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Application_layer]`_`f, which was used in the Internet research community to experiment with implementation and deployment of OSI during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The ISODE software was initially a public domain / open source implementation, led by `F33f`_`[Marshall Rose`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Marshall_Rose]`_`f. Following version 6.0, Marshall handed the lead over to `F33f`_`[Colin Robbins`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Colin_Robbins_(software_engineer)]`_`f and `F33f`_`[Julian Onions`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Nexor]`_`f, who coordinated the 7.0 and 8.0 releases. Version 8.0 was the final public domain release, made on June 19, 1992. The Open Source version is still available,`:cite-ref-1[`F5bf`_`[1`#cite-note-1]`_`f] even if only for historic interest. The software was ported to a wide set of `F33f`_`[Unix`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Unix]`_`f and `F33f`_`[Linux`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Linux]`_`f variants.`:cite-ref-2[`F5bf`_`[2`#cite-note-2]`_`f]

>>Contents

• `F0af`_`[ISODE Stack`#isode-stack]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Applications`#applications]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[PP`#pp]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Quipu`#quipu]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[FTAM`#ftam]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[VT`#vt]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[OSISEC`#osisec]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[OSIMIS`#osimis]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Contributors`#contributors]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Commercialisation`#commercialisation]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[References`#references]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Footnotes`#footnotes]`_`f

-─

>>ISODE Stack

The ISODE stack`:cite-ref-3[`F5bf`_`[3`#cite-note-3]`_`f] was an implementation of layers 3 to 6 of the `F33f`_`[OSI model`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=OSI_reference_model]`_`f. While the ISODE implementation could be configured to use one of several `F33f`_`[X.25`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=X.25]`_`f (CONS) or connectionless lower layer protocols, many ISODE deployments were based on RFC1006,`:cite-ref-4[`F5bf`_`[4`#cite-note-4]`_`f] the implementation of OSI transport protocol TP0 as a layer atop `F33f`_`[TCP`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Transmission_Control_Protocol]`_`f, in order to use IP-based networks which were becoming increasingly common. The stack also implemented an `F33f`_`[ASN.1`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Abstract_Syntax_Notation_One]`_`f compiler.

>>Applications

The ISODE Stack was the basis for a number of `F33f`_`[OSI applications`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=OSI_reference_model]`_`f.

>>>PP

ISODE formed the basis an implementation for the `F33f`_`[X.400`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=X.400]`_`f email protocol, called PP.`:cite-ref-5[`F5bf`_`[5`#cite-note-5]`_`f]`:cite-ref-6[`F5bf`_`[Footnote 1`#cite-note-6]`_`f] PP included a fully operational `F33f`_`[SMTP`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=SMTP]`_`f/`F33f`_`[MIME`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=MIME]`_`f email server and an X.400/SMTP Mixer`:cite-ref-7[`F5bf`_`[6`#cite-note-7]`_`f] gateway. PP also implemented a P7 Messagestore (PPMS).

PP was designed by `F33f`_`[Steve Kille`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Steve_Kille]`_`f and the lead engineer was Julian Onions.

>>>Quipu

ISODE had a full `F33f`_`[X.500`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=X.500]`_`f and `F33f`_`[LDAP`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=LDAP]`_`f directory called QUIPU`:cite-ref-8[`F5bf`_`[7`#cite-note-8]`_`f] (`*incorrectly`* pronounced kwip-ooo by the project). Quipu implemented a `F33f`_`[DSA`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Directory_System_Agent]`_`f and a Directory `F33f`_`[User Agent`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=User_Agent]`_`f (DUA) called DISH. X.500 was considered too heavyweight to access directories, Colin Robbins implemented a proprietary protocol to solve the problem, this was then significantly re-worked by `F33f`_`[Tim Howes`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Tim_Howes]`_`f for `F33f`_`[DIXIE`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=DIXIE]`_`f which led to the development of the `F33f`_`[Lightweight Directory Access Protocol`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Lightweight_Directory_Access_Protocol]`_`f.

QUIPU was designed by Kille and the lead engineer was Robbins, largely funded by the INCA project,`:cite-ref-9[`F5bf`_`[8`#cite-note-9]`_`f] and used extensively in the `F33f`_`[Paradise`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Nexor]`_`f academic X.500 directory pilot.

>>>FTAM

ISODE contained and implementation of `F33f`_`[FTAM`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=FTAM]`_`f, and implemented an `F33f`_`[FTAM`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=FTAM]`_`f-`F33f`_`[FTP`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=FTP]`_`f`:cite-ref-10[`F5bf`_`[9`#cite-note-10]`_`f] gateway.

>>>VT

ISODE contained a virtual terminal (VT)`:cite-ref-11[`F5bf`_`[10`#cite-note-11]`_`f] implementation and a VT-`F33f`_`[Telnet`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Telnet]`_`f gateway.

>>>OSISEC

ISODE has a full implementation of a `F33f`_`[PKI`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Public_key_infrastructure]`_`f `F33f`_`[Certificate Authority`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Certificate_authority]`_`f built on top of it by the OSISEC`:cite-ref-12[`F5bf`_`[11`#cite-note-12]`_`f]`:cite-ref-13[`F5bf`_`[12`#cite-note-13]`_`f] project. OSISEC was developed by Mike Roe & Peter Williams and integrated into ISODE by Robbins.

>>>OSIMIS

ISODE has a full implementation of a `F33f`_`[CMIP`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Common_Management_Information_Protocol]`_`f/`F33f`_`[TMN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Telecommunications_Management_Network]`_`f built on top of it by the OSIMIS`:cite-ref-14[`F5bf`_`[13`#cite-note-14]`_`f] project.

>>Contributors

The following people or groups were listed in the ISODE 8.0 manual`:cite-ref-15[`F5bf`_`[14`#cite-note-15]`_`f] as the significant contributors

• The MITRE Corporation

• The Northrop Corporation

• NYSERNet, Inc.

• `F33f`_`[Performance Systems International, Inc.`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=PSINet]`_`f

• `F33f`_`[University College London`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=University_College_London]`_`f

• The `F33f`_`[University of Nottingham`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=University_of_Nottingham]`_`f

• X-Tel Services Ltd (now `F33f`_`[Nexor`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Nexor]`_`f)

• The Wollongong Group, Inc.

• `F33f`_`[Marshall T. Rose`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Marshall_Rose]`_`f

• `F33f`_`[Colin J. Robbins`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Colin_Robbins_(software_engineer)]`_`f

• `F33f`_`[Julian P. Onions`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Nexor]`_`f

>>Commercialisation

Several companies used the ISODE software to build successful commercial products and services including (alphabetical order):

• `F33f`_`[Control Data Corporation`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Control_Data_Corporation]`_`f used Quipu as the basis of their X.500 product.

• `F33f`_`[Nexor`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Nexor]`_`f's email and directory and products are evolutions of PP and Quipu.

• `F33f`_`[X-Tel Services`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Nexor]`_`f offered commercial support contracts for the software to the academic community, including `F33f`_`[JANET`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=JANET]`_`f and `F33f`_`[SURFnet`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=SURFnet]`_`f.

>>References

`:cite-note-1`!1.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-1]`_`f "Download Isode 8.0.5 Software".

`:cite-note-2`!2.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-2]`_`f "ISODE Ports". FUNET. Retrieved 17 May 2017.

`:cite-note-3`!3.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-3]`_`f `:citerefisodemarshall-rosejulian-onionscolin-robbins1992`aISODE; `F33f`_`[Marshall Rose`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Marshall_Rose]`_`f; Julian Onions; Colin Robbins; Steve Kille (1992). "The ISO Development Environment: User's Manual (Version 7.0)". `B100`F9d9{{cite journal}}`f`b: Cite journal requires `B100`F9d9|journal=`f`b (help)

`:cite-note-4`!4.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-4]`_`f "RFC1006". IETF. May 1987.

`:cite-note-5`!5.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-5]`_`f `:citerefkilleonions1991`aKille, Steve; Onions, Julian (1991). "The PP Manual". `*University College and X-Tel Services LTD., London`*.

`:cite-note-7`!6.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-7]`_`f `:citerefkille1998`aKille, Steve (January 1998). "RFC 2156". IETF. Retrieved 22 December 2012.

`:cite-note-8`!7.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-8]`_`f `:citerefisodecolin-robbinssteve-kille1992`aISODE; Colin Robbins; Steve Kille (1992). "The ISO Development Environment: User's Manual (Version 7.0)". 5: QUIPU. `B100`F9d9{{cite journal}}`f`b: Cite journal requires `B100`F9d9|journal=`f`b (help)

`:cite-note-9`!8.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-9]`_`f "Integrated Network Architecture for Office Communications". CORDIS. Retrieved 24 December 2012.

`:cite-note-10`!9.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-10]`_`f `:citerefmindelslaski1993`aMindel, Joshua L.; Slaski, Robert (January 1993). "RFC 1415". IETF. Retrieved 22 December 2012.

`:cite-note-11`!10.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-11]`_`f "ISO 9040 - Virtual Terminal". ISO. Retrieved 24 December 2012.

`:cite-note-12`!11.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-12]`_`f `:citerefosisecmichael-roesteve-kille1992`aOSISEC; Michael Roe; Steve Kille (1992). "The OSI Security Package: OSISEC User's Manual". 1: X.509 Authentication Framework. `B100`F9d9{{cite journal}}`f`b: Cite journal requires `B100`F9d9|journal=`f`b (help)

`:cite-note-13`!12.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-13]`_`f `:citerefosisecmichael-roesteve-kille1992`aOSISEC; Michael Roe; Steve Kille (1992). "The OSI Security Package: OSISEC User's Manual". 2: Secure OSI Applications. `B100`F9d9{{cite journal}}`f`b: Cite journal requires `B100`F9d9|journal=`f`b (help)

`:cite-note-14`!13.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-14]`_`f "OSIMIS - OSI Management Information Service". `F33f`_`[UCL`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=University_College_London]`_`f. Retrieved 24 December 2012.

`:cite-note-15`!14.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-15]`_`f "ISODE 8 manual". Archived from the original on 2014-12-17.

>>Footnotes

`:cite-note-6`!Footnote 1.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-6]`_`f PP does not stand for anything. It was a project joke that it did not stand for "`F33f`_`[Postman Pat`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Postman_Pat]`_`f", while "Postman Pat" is a good description of the software, it would have created copyright issues to have used this name.

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