- db-wg - mailman.ripe.net

Re: "Dale S. Johnson": # Comment characters in templates
by Marten Terpstra 29 Nov '94

29 Nov '94

David.Kessens(a)ripe.net writes * Hi Marten, * * I see no problems but is a '#' also allowed after a number of spaces : * * # This is a comment Yup, leading spaces are always ignored. * Do you check the attributes for '#' when sent in ? * Does this generate a warning ? Well, if there is a "#" type comment inside an attribute (ie somewhere inside the value of an attribute) this will generate a syntax error in most cases. Ie something like: person: Marten Terpstra address: ....... phone: +31 20 592 5065 # Preferred phone: +31 20 592 5064 # Backup would spefically NOT be allowed and would generate syntax errors for that attribute. Unless of course the syntax for an attribute allows # chars (I don't think there are any though). -Marten

1 0

RIPE Database Transition T2
by Marten Terpstra 17 Nov '94

17 Nov '94

Dear all, Apologies for this wide distribution but I think it is important enough. This is a reminder that coming Monday the 21st of November, the second and last step of the RIPE database transition will take place. This transition is the transition from network number objects that hold all policy information, to route objects that contain all this information. For more detailed info on what exactly will change and how, please read ripe-123 which is available as: ftp://ftp.ripe.net/ripe/docs/ripe-123.{txt|ps} Especially section 5 explains forthe various RIPE database user groups what is going to change. -Marten

1 0

Database transition step 1 completed
by Marten Terpstra 14 Oct '94

14 Oct '94

Dear all, I am pleased to say that the first step of the RIPE database transition has been succesfully completed yesterday. Up till now, one minor and one major bug have been found and fixed and the database seems stable. Those who daily ftp the ripe database from ftp.ripe.net may have found that it was not there this morning. This was a simple typo in one of my scripts and has been fixed. The ftpable files (the complete database in ripe/dbase/ripe.db and the split versions in ripe/dbase/split) are currently generated at around 5:30 (AM for the US folks ;-) Dutch time, which is currently UTC+1. All database files ara available as uncompressed and compressed (both normal compress and gzip) versions. The generation time can be changed if you think there is a need (earlier, not later). Those who run a secondary copy of the database may find that the latest ftpable database takes much longer to index. This is because the database now includes large provider blocks, and the old software is not good at handling large blocks. The current plan is to have a beta release of the software (with some documentation on the changes) ready this weekend, so you can pick up this software and use it to index the RIPE database. This version will have all of the classless and other features as per the database transition plan (T1). As far as conflicts/problems in the guardian files are concerned, most of them have been resolved. There are some 15 guardian files left with problems. These guardians will be approached to correct these problems. If you have questions/comments/bugs, please report to me personally, or to any of the above lists if you think they are interesting for a larger audience. Regards, -Marten

1 0

New Document available: ripe-123
by RIPE NCC Document Annoucement Service 06 Oct '94

06 Oct '94

New/Revised RIPE Document Announcement -------------------------------------- A revised/new document is available from the RIPE document store. Ref: ripe-123 Title: RIPE Database Transition Plan Author: Tony Bates, Daniel Karrenberg, Marten Terpstra Date: 3 October 1994 Format: PS=70350 TXT=35083 Obsoletes: Obsoleted by: Updates: Updated by: Old: Short content description ------------------------- This document guves full details of the transition plan for the new proposed RIPE database and routing registry objects. Please make sure you are aware of the details in the document including the actual dates. FTP Access ---------- All RIPE documents and Internet RFC`s are available via anonymous FTP from host ftp.ripe.net. Type "ftp ftp.ripe.net". Login with username "anonymous" supplying your email address as the password. After logging in, type "cd ripe/docs/" followed by the command "get filename". The relevant filenames for this document are: ripe-123.txt for the ASCII version ripe-123.ps for the PostScript version Electronic Mail Retrieval of Documents -------------------------------------- Documents can also be retrieved from the RIPE document store using a mail server program. For more information on how to use the program, send email to: mail-server(a)ripe.net with "send HELP" in the body text. RIPE NCC Interactive Information Server --------------------------------------- Type "telnet info.ripe.net". This is a menu driven service allows the document store to be browsed. After reading documents you are prompted as to whether you would like to receive an email copy of the document you have just read. If you would, you simply enter your email address and the document will be mailed to you. Below are details of alternative methods of access. Gopher Access ------------- The same documents are available via a "gopher" server at "gopher gopher.ripe.net". WAIS Access ----------- There is also a "WAIS" server at wais.ripe.net, where there is a WAIS index for RIPE documents "ripe-docs.src" WWW Access ---------- For those who wish to add this home page at the RIPE NCC to their own customized home pages, it can be accessed as: http://www.ripe.net MIME Mail Reader ---------------- Below is the data which will enable a MIME compliant Mail Reader implementation to automatically retrieve the RIPE document by FTP or mail server. SEND ripe/docs/ripe-123.txt

1 0

New Document available: ripe-122
by RIPE NCC Document Annoucement Service 06 Oct '94

06 Oct '94

New/Revised RIPE Document Announcement -------------------------------------- A revised/new document is available from the RIPE document store. Ref: ripe-122 Title: Specifying an `Internet Router' in the Routing Registry Author: Tony Bates Date: 3 October 1994 Format: PS=37970 TXT=14242 Obsoletes: Obsoleted by: Updates: Updated by: Old: Short content description ------------------------- This document specifies a simple object for detailing Internet routers with the RIPE routing registry. FTP Access ---------- All RIPE documents and Internet RFC`s are available via anonymous FTP from host ftp.ripe.net. Type "ftp ftp.ripe.net". Login with username "anonymous" supplying your email address as the password. After logging in, type "cd ripe/docs/" followed by the command "get filename". The relevant filenames for this document are: ripe-122.txt for the ASCII version ripe-122.ps for the PostScript version Electronic Mail Retrieval of Documents -------------------------------------- Documents can also be retrieved from the RIPE document store using a mail server program. For more information on how to use the program, send email to: mail-server(a)ripe.net with "send HELP" in the body text. RIPE NCC Interactive Information Server --------------------------------------- Type "telnet info.ripe.net". This is a menu driven service allows the document store to be browsed. After reading documents you are prompted as to whether you would like to receive an email copy of the document you have just read. If you would, you simply enter your email address and the document will be mailed to you. Below are details of alternative methods of access. Gopher Access ------------- The same documents are available via a "gopher" server at "gopher gopher.ripe.net". WAIS Access ----------- There is also a "WAIS" server at wais.ripe.net, where there is a WAIS index for RIPE documents "ripe-docs.src" WWW Access ---------- For those who wish to add this home page at the RIPE NCC to their own customized home pages, it can be accessed as: http://www.ripe.net MIME Mail Reader ---------------- Below is the data which will enable a MIME compliant Mail Reader implementation to automatically retrieve the RIPE document by FTP or mail server. SEND ripe/docs/ripe-122.txt

1 0

New Document available: ripe-121
by RIPE NCC Document Annoucement Service 06 Oct '94

06 Oct '94

New/Revised RIPE Document Announcement -------------------------------------- A revised/new document is available from the RIPE document store. Ref: ripe-121 Title: Support for Classless Internet Addresses in the RIPE Database Author: Tony Bates, Daniel Karrenberg, Marten Terpstra Date: 3 October 1994 Format: PS=36698 TXT=14177 Obsoletes: Obsoleted by: Updates: Updated by: Old: Short content description ------------------------- This document details the added support for classless Internet addresses in the RIPE database. It details the change in representation and handling of database objects. FTP Access ---------- All RIPE documents and Internet RFC`s are available via anonymous FTP from host ftp.ripe.net. Type "ftp ftp.ripe.net". Login with username "anonymous" supplying your email address as the password. After logging in, type "cd ripe/docs/" followed by the command "get filename". The relevant filenames for this document are: ripe-121.txt for the ASCII version ripe-121.ps for the PostScript version Electronic Mail Retrieval of Documents -------------------------------------- Documents can also be retrieved from the RIPE document store using a mail server program. For more information on how to use the program, send email to: mail-server(a)ripe.net with "send HELP" in the body text. RIPE NCC Interactive Information Server --------------------------------------- Type "telnet info.ripe.net". This is a menu driven service allows the document store to be browsed. After reading documents you are prompted as to whether you would like to receive an email copy of the document you have just read. If you would, you simply enter your email address and the document will be mailed to you. Below are details of alternative methods of access. Gopher Access ------------- The same documents are available via a "gopher" server at "gopher gopher.ripe.net". WAIS Access ----------- There is also a "WAIS" server at wais.ripe.net, where there is a WAIS index for RIPE documents "ripe-docs.src" WWW Access ---------- For those who wish to add this home page at the RIPE NCC to their own customized home pages, it can be accessed as: http://www.ripe.net MIME Mail Reader ---------------- Below is the data which will enable a MIME compliant Mail Reader implementation to automatically retrieve the RIPE document by FTP or mail server. SEND ripe/docs/ripe-121.txt

1 0

New Document available: ripe-120
by RIPE NCC Document Annoucement Service 06 Oct '94

06 Oct '94

New/Revised RIPE Document Announcement -------------------------------------- A revised/new document is available from the RIPE document store. Ref: ripe-120 Title: Authorisation and Notification of Changes in the RIPE Database Author: Daniel Karrenberg, Marten Terpstra Date: 3 October 1994 Format: PS=50496 TXT=28655 Obsoletes: ripe-096 Obsoleted by: Updates: Updated by: Old: Short content description ------------------------- This document represents a major change in the way authorisation and notification of changes and updates in the RIPE database will be done in the future. FTP Access ---------- All RIPE documents and Internet RFC`s are available via anonymous FTP from host ftp.ripe.net. Type "ftp ftp.ripe.net". Login with username "anonymous" supplying your email address as the password. After logging in, type "cd ripe/docs/" followed by the command "get filename". The relevant filenames for this document are: ripe-120.txt for the ASCII version ripe-120.ps for the PostScript version Electronic Mail Retrieval of Documents -------------------------------------- Documents can also be retrieved from the RIPE document store using a mail server program. For more information on how to use the program, send email to: mail-server(a)ripe.net with "send HELP" in the body text. RIPE NCC Interactive Information Server --------------------------------------- Type "telnet info.ripe.net". This is a menu driven service allows the document store to be browsed. After reading documents you are prompted as to whether you would like to receive an email copy of the document you have just read. If you would, you simply enter your email address and the document will be mailed to you. Below are details of alternative methods of access. Gopher Access ------------- The same documents are available via a "gopher" server at "gopher gopher.ripe.net". WAIS Access ----------- There is also a "WAIS" server at wais.ripe.net, where there is a WAIS index for RIPE documents "ripe-docs.src" WWW Access ---------- For those who wish to add this home page at the RIPE NCC to their own customized home pages, it can be accessed as: http://www.ripe.net MIME Mail Reader ---------------- Below is the data which will enable a MIME compliant Mail Reader implementation to automatically retrieve the RIPE document by FTP or mail server. SEND ripe/docs/ripe-120.txt

1 0

New Document available: ripe-119
by RIPE NCC Document Annoucement Service 06 Oct '94

06 Oct '94

New/Revised RIPE Document Announcement -------------------------------------- A revised/new document is available from the RIPE document store. Ref: ripe-119 Title: RIPE Database Template for Networks and Persons Author: Anne Lord, Marten Tersptra Date: 3 October 1994 Format: PS=46506 TXT=21385 Obsoletes: ripe-050 Obsoleted by: Updates: Updated by: Old: Short content description ------------------------- This document is an update to the network object for the RIPE database. FTP Access ---------- All RIPE documents and Internet RFC`s are available via anonymous FTP from host ftp.ripe.net. Type "ftp ftp.ripe.net". Login with username "anonymous" supplying your email address as the password. After logging in, type "cd ripe/docs/" followed by the command "get filename". The relevant filenames for this document are: ripe-119.txt for the ASCII version ripe-119.ps for the PostScript version Electronic Mail Retrieval of Documents -------------------------------------- Documents can also be retrieved from the RIPE document store using a mail server program. For more information on how to use the program, send email to: mail-server(a)ripe.net with "send HELP" in the body text. RIPE NCC Interactive Information Server --------------------------------------- Type "telnet info.ripe.net". This is a menu driven service allows the document store to be browsed. After reading documents you are prompted as to whether you would like to receive an email copy of the document you have just read. If you would, you simply enter your email address and the document will be mailed to you. Below are details of alternative methods of access. Gopher Access ------------- The same documents are available via a "gopher" server at "gopher gopher.ripe.net". WAIS Access ----------- There is also a "WAIS" server at wais.ripe.net, where there is a WAIS index for RIPE documents "ripe-docs.src" WWW Access ---------- For those who wish to add this home page at the RIPE NCC to their own customized home pages, it can be accessed as: http://www.ripe.net MIME Mail Reader ---------------- Below is the data which will enable a MIME compliant Mail Reader implementation to automatically retrieve the RIPE document by FTP or mail server. SEND ripe/docs/ripe-119.txt

1 0

DB-WG Draft minutes, Lisbon
by Wilfried Woeber, UniVie/ACOnet 03 Oct '94

03 Oct '94

This is the draft minutes for the DB-WG meeting in Lisbon. My sincere thanks are due to Havard Eidnes for doing a particularly good job at taking notes. Any comments welcome! Best regards, Wilfried. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Draft Minutes from DB-WG meeting at the 19th RIPE meeting, Lisbon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Opening Havard Eidnes volunteered to take the minutes. The proposed agenda item "review of DB-WG in the context of a changing RIPE" was moved to the end of the agenda. An item about "review of domain object for in-addr.arpa" was added. 2. The classless database Marten Terpstra from the RIPE NCC gave an orientation of what changes have been implemented and how this can be tested. The major changes are: - Change of representation of IP addresses and ranges in the database, as described in the draft "ripe-clarep" and "ripe-inetnum" documents. There are two new notations, classless prefix such as 192.0.0.0/8 and classless range (currently proposed as e.g. 192.3.2.0 > 192.3.3.255, this covers two class C networks). - Lookups in the new database will return the exact match if it exists, or the first less specific object. There are some options to control the matching: -L return all less specific entries -m return the direct more specific entry -M return all the more specific entries - The database itself has been split into individual files for each object type. - More new query options: -t <type> returns a template or form for the specified object type -T <type> return only objects of the specified type -F do a "fast and raw" return of data, i.e. no post-processing or pretty-printing -S do not add syntactic sugar (such as "accept", "from" etc. in AS object) A beta version of the database software is already up and running. It now consists of some 9000+ lines of Perl code. The software is still undergoing changes to acommodate the updated RIPE-81++ and to add authorization. There is a test server running at rijp.ripe.net which can be used for to become familiar with the bahaviour of the new code. A proposal was made to allow objects to be submitted to this test database, and Marten Terpstra agreed to set it up. These submitted changes will be removed from the database on a daily basis, as the data from the production database is pulled in. Current planning (as of the time of the RIPE meeting) calls for a move to using the new software in early October. The draft documents "ripe-clarep" and "ripe-inetnum" were approved. 3. Authorization Daniel Karrenberg from the RIPE NCC oriented about what changes are being proposed to improve (implement) authorization of updates in the RIPE database. This is being done by introducing: - A "maintainer" (mntner) object describing an entity responsible for a set of objects in the database, and where this maintainer wishes to secure his updates and prevent others from submitting changes to objects maintained by this maintainer going un-noticed. - New attributes: upd-to Send notifications of updates to this address mnt-nfy Basically same as "notify" auth Specifies authentication methods (in "mntner" object) - Authentication methods proposed: NONE no authentication (today's method :-) MAIL-FROM <regexp> update will only be accepted if mail containing a database update originates from an e-mail address matching the regular expression. CRYPT-PW <crypt-str> stores a crypted password, send a "password:" attribute (with the password in clear text) together with each update. A single maintainer can register more than one authentication method. Any individual object can be linked to more than one maintainer entity. The "password:" line(s) in update requests are not considered to be part of an object, thus no password will ever be forwarded by using the notify, mnt-nfy or similar attributes. A question was raised how one could be notified of the creation of new objects in the database. Guardians of communities and ASes will be notified when components are added/changed/removed. Notification will also be given when multiple "route" objects are registered with same key but different origins. However, the addition of a more specific route with a different origin than the immediate less specific route registered, the maintainer/guardian of the AS where the less specific route originates would probably not be notified (this was asked for). 4. inet-rtr (Internet Router) object There had been some recent input from the MBONE group; they wish to use this object to register details about IP multicast routers. However, the inet-rtr object is needed now by the PRIDE tools, so there was consensus that we should approve the doucment as it is. After some more discussions within the MBONE community a written proposal to extend the object is expected before the next RIPE meeting. 5. Database transition The RIPE NCC people summarized the transition issues when going from the old database to the new one. There will be changes in: - schema - procedures - user interface The WHOIS interface and the output from queries will have some changes (e.g. the classless representation is used instead of the old one). The guardian procedures will change; first there has to be an exact match between the entries in the guardian file and the entries in the database. The current database has been cross-checked with the current guardian files, and there are lots of conflicts in this area. When the new database software is put into production, the RIPE NCC will produce "problem" files in each guardian's home directory, and the guardians are strongly encouraged to clear these up before phase II of the database transition. The transition will happen by two "big bangs": B1 and B2. At B1: - the new classless database will be put into production - users of NLC will have to transition to using Merit's ALC program, as NLC will not be upgraded to support the new database. ALC functionality was described as being a superset of NLC. - Guarded objects can be updated under control of the new authorization mechanisms - The RIPE NCC will create prototype "mntner" objects in each guardian's home directory - The RIPE NCC will prepare new "inetnum" and "route" objects in each guardian's home directory Due to logistic concerns, between B1 and B2, updates for networks with allocation and routing information already split into separate objetcs (inetnum/route) will probably not be permitted. At B2: - complete transition to the new database Proposed time schedule: B1: early october B2: 4-6 weeks later The issue of how queries posed in the "old style" would be interpreted ensued -- the question is whether e.g. 128.39.0.0 should be interpreted as 128.39.0.0/32 or 128.39.0.0/16. In most cases the end result will be the same, since the immediate less specific object will be returned, although some expressed the opinion that the latter of the two interpretations would cause less confusion. The RIPE NCC held the opinion that /32 should be used, but apparently this needs to be discussed more. The database aspects of RIPE-81++ were approved (although the range notation may change). A proposal from the RIPE NCC to add "as-name" to the AS object was approved. 6. Domain object for in-addr.arpa Concern was expressed that with the advent of the classless database we may end up registering duplicate information, since the in-addr.arpa delegation hierarchy can now be implemented "properly" by use of the "inetnum" object. After a short discussion it was agreed that the RIPE NCC would review the opinions and come up with a new domain object proposal to cover this. 7. Time stamps in the database The people from Merit had expressed a desire to store more fine-grained time stapm information in the database, and had proposed to do this by adding hhmmss at the end of the "changed" attribute. This was hotly debated and contested from some parties, but there was consensus that there is a need to ensure that older updates stuck in mail queues would not be released later and overwrite more recent update requestss. To solve this, it was decided to add an optional sequence number to the "changed" attribute after the date string. This sequence number can, of course, be derived from local (at the origin of the update) hhmmss information. However, no time semantics of any form are implied. The people from Merit also wished to use this in some situations to produce a "consistency snapshot" of the database at a given time (in retrospect). Again it was contested whether the proposed simple mechanism would solve that issue. There will probably also be a separate new attribute called "stored" or "processed", which will record when the object was actually entered in the RIPE database (local time at the RIPE NCC). 8. RIPE handles This activity has been put on hold due to RIPE NCC overload. RIPE handles can be assigned on a case-by-case basis as the need arises. There are however too little resources available to carry this through together with the imminent database transition. 9. Ownership of objects This issue was overtaken by events, ref. the notify/maintainer changes. 10. Inverse recursion A query for added functionality had been raised; the trigger is the ability to pose a query like the following one: "give me all the objects where person XX is registered as a contact person". Marten Terpstra said this would probably take little time to add to the new database, and he would look into finding the extra time to do this. 11. Data exchange between IRs This has also been put on hold by the RIPE NCC, due to the lack of RIPE handles (see point 8). The advent of rwhois should improve this situation, and the entries for the blocks 193.* and 194.* will point at the whois server at the RIPE NCC. Otherwise a full merge of the databases (basically InterNIC and RIPE NCC) is difficult, since there are many conflicts between these databases outside of the 193.* and 194.* blocks, and who to "trust" in each case is uncertain. 12. CLNS routing registry Put on hold since the need for this is unclear, and the RIPE NCC do not have many resources to put into activity. There has also been a lack of input from the interested parties. Nevertheless, the functionality already implemented will be carried over to the new software and remain usable. 13. Review of DB-WG in the context of a changing RIPE The DB WG chairman expressed a desire to have the possibility to arrange at least a single non-parallel session during each RIPE meeting dedicated to the DB issues, since much of the work in other WGs touch on the DB. 14. AOB None. Meeting closed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wilfried Woeber : e-mail: Wilfried.Woeber(a)CC.UniVie.ac.at Computer Center - ACOnet : Vienna University : Tel: +43 1 4065822 355 Universitaetsstrasse 7 : Fax: +43 1 4065822 170 A-1010 Vienna, Austria, Europe : NIC: WW144 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 0

RIPE Database playground
by Marten Terpstra 20 Sep '94

20 Sep '94

Folks, As requested at the last RIPE meeting, I have setup a test database for you all to use and get some feeling of how all this works. Some details: - the "inetnum" and "route" objects (new format, ie after the split) will be regenerated every night, and will overwrite any changes/additions you may have sent in. - all other objects remain in the test database - the address to send test data to is: test-dbm(a)ripe.net - there is a whois server running on this database on machine "bwhois.ripe.net", normal whois port 43. - most of the functionaility of ripe-81++, authorisation, inet-rtr and all other docs presented at the RIPE meeting has been implemented. - there are a few things that still need implementation, try: "whois -h bwhois.ripe.net help" for help and open issues. - Bugs/Questions please to me directly (or ripe-dbm), or to the list if you think it is important enough. - most unix type clients will understand extra options (see the help for a complete list) as: % whois -h bwhois.ripe.net -- -L key or % whois -h bwhois.ripe.net "-L key" I will send a similar mail to the local-ir list and all guardians later this week or early next week, you are the first ones to have a go at it. Go! -Marten

1 0