All TELNET commands consist of at least a two byte sequence: the "Interpret as Command" (IAC) escape character followed by the code for the command. The commands dealing with option negotiation are three byte sequences, the third byte being the code for the option referenced. This format was chosen so that as more comprehensive use of the "data space" is made -- by negotiations from the basic NVT, of course -- collisions of data bytes with reserved command values will be minimized, all such collisions requiring the inconvenience, and inefficiency, of "escaping" the data bytes into the stream. With the current set-up, only the IAC need be doubled to be sent as data, and the other 255 codes may be passed transparently.
The following are the defined TELNET commands. Note that these codes and code sequences have the indicated meaning only when immediately preceded by an IAC.
NAME CODE MEANING
SE 240 End of subnegotiation parameters.
NOP 241 No operation.
Data Mark 242 The data stream portion of a Synch.
This should always be accompanied
by a TCP Urgent notification.
Break 243 NVT character BRK.
Interrupt Process 244 The function IP.
Abort output 245 The function AO.
Are You There 246 The function AYT.
Erase character 247 The function EC.
Erase Line 248 The function EL.
Go ahead 249 The GA signal.
SB 250 Indicates that what follows is
subnegotiation of the indicated
option.
WILL (option code) 251 Indicates the desire to begin
performing, or confirmation that
you are now performing, the
indicated option.
WON'T (option code) 252 Indicates the refusal to perform,
or continue performing, the
indicated option.
DO (option code) 253 Indicates the request that the
other party perform, or
confirmation that you are expecting
the other party to perform, the
indicated option.
DON'T (option code) 254 Indicates the demand that the
other party stop performing,
or confirmation that you are no
longer expecting the other party
to perform, the indicated option.
IAC 255 Data Byte 255.