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Minutes RIPE #16, DB Working Group
by Wilfried Woeber, UniVie/ACOnet 22 Sep '93

22 Sep '93

Dear all, I just recently submitted the draft minutes for the DB-WG meeting (jointly produced by Daniel am me) to Anne. Any comments welcome! Wilfried. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Report from the Database-WG Meeting at the 16th RIPE Meeting, Amsterdam ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 0. Additions to/modifications of the agenda The proposed agenda was accepted. 1. The new Database Software Marten Terpstra provided a detailed report on the current state of the DB-Software, both from a software point of view as well as from the deployment point of view. The slides for this presentation can be found in the presentations directory in the RIPE document store: ftp.ripe.net:ripe/presentations The new software is in production use since Friday September 10th and until now there have not been any major problems. During the discussion it was again stressed, that the current implementation is built to do syntax checks according to the object description and not according to common usage practice. The RIPE NCC welcomes suggestions as to where the syntax checking needs to be changed. Currently objects with illegal schema are deleted from the database. One of the things discussed was how to avoid a possibly large number of bounced submissions. One way of doing this is to obtain (part of) the new software to do the checking locally. The beta-version of the software is available, although it probably makes more sense to wait for the official software distribution which will provide a dedicated syntax-checker. A syntax checker daemon at the NCC was also suggested to remove the requirement to run the software locally. A template generator was suggested as well. This needs more discussion on the mailing list. The NCC has run a syntax check on the whole database and was asked to make the syntax error output available. Daniel Karrenberg gave an overview on the "Authorization and Notification of Changes in the RIPE-DB" proposal. It was decided to implement it as proposed. Proposals on how to better support the distribution of the update process are very welcome. The discussion of implementing "guarded attributes" revealed concern about the possibility to delete an object that has a guarded attribute. It was agreed that the implementation will not delete any object as long as guarded fields are present. This will force removal of guarded fields from the object before the delete operation is accepted. The database is NOT keeping track of "pending deletes", thus the delete request has to be submitted again after removal of the guarded attribute(s). The NCC will look into ways to notify guardians of failed deletes. The originator of the delete request will of course be notified. The procedure to convert existing information into guarded information (eg. aut-sys: for the network object) was agreed as follows: - the NCC moves the information from the database to the guardian files - initially the NCC is the guardian - as soon as possible, responsibility for the files is transferred to the real guardian(s) 2. Database (and Software) Documentation The documentation will be structured to consist of - Object Definitions and general background information, by WW and NCC and available before the end of 1993 - Software Documentation, provided by the NCC asap - Maintainer's Guide (for eg. the Local-IRs) additional input and support is expected from the Local-IRs and others - Secondary Server Guide additional input and support is expected from the Local-IRs and others The Objects Definition and the SW-Documentation get priority, in the listed order. 3. Unique Person Handles Given the growth of the database, it is urgent to distinguish person objects for people with the same name! After another round of thorough discussion it was decided that RIPE suggests a global scheme to the InterNIC. One of the possible solutions is to reserve a sub-range of the NIC handle space for RIPE allocation, eg. XY3000-XY5000. If this approach fails, then WW and the NCC will propose a unique identifier scheme for RIPE (aka "RIPE Handle"). 4. Objects Review and Proposals The proposed CLNS routing object (dom-prefix:) was presented by Henk Steenman and accepted. Some minor loose ends how to check for syntax and maybe semantics of the hexadecimal strings that are the CLNS address-prefixes have to be ironed out (Henk Steenman and Tony Bates). The long-standing proposal to build a "Resource Object" was formally withdrawn. Then the discussion moved on to agree on how to make a smooth transition from ripe-60 to the ripe-81 format to describe the routing. The steps are as follows: - as soon as the guarded fields are implemented, ripe-60 entries will no longer be accepted. - ripe-60 information is converted to ripe-81 format. - when there are no longer any operational dependencies then all ripe-60 data will be removed from the database. Jean-Michel Jouanigot is the focal point for the ripe-60 --> ripe-81 transition coordination. Also the gateway: field for the network objects was confirmed to be obsolete and can be removed from the databse. 5. DB Exchange format(s) and procedures The circulated document about the agreed interchange format was briefly reviewed. Everything seems to be in place to actually start exchanges with the InterNIC. There was consensus that this has a very high priority. Currently the recommendation is not to try to get the various databases in sync manually. 6. DB usage conventions and recommendations Quite some time was spent to discuss the connect: attribute of the network object. It was agreed that the only well-defined value is LOCAL. This attribute should eventually be obsoleted. Later it was noted that it is currently mandatory and should be made optional after one round of mailing-list discussion. However, there is a need for the functionality, maybe the community: approach is the right way to go (eg. create community NSF). Still there is concern that some of the approaches that are obvious for "old hands in networking" are not necessarily useful for the end-users. Maybe the tools coming out of the PRIDE project can help to solve this problem. NCC to start the discussion with a rough proposal before the next meeting. 7. whois++ by Peter Deutsch et.al. The whois++ project was briefly mentioned, although the DB group had too little information to actually discuss the issue. AOB It was mentioned that there is a need for new tools to support the Local-IRs. This needs more discussion on the e-mail list. Action-List: ------------ Action 16.?: NCC Put together a consolidated distribution of the new DB software, including a separate syntax checker for objects Action 16.?: Wilfried Woeber Start discussion on the DB mailing list on new tools needed, eg. template generator, syntax checker daemon at the NCC... Action 16.?: NCC Make the error reports form the DB syntax check publicly available Action 16.?: NCC Implement changes to DB procedures according to the proposal "Authorization and Notification of Changes in the RIPE-DB" by Daniel Karrenberg Action 16.?: NCC Implement changes to DB procedures for the guarded attributes according to the agreement Action 16.?: Wilfried Woeber and NCC Produce documentation about "Background, History and Object Definitions" for the new database software before the end of 1993 Action 16.?: NCC Produce "Software Documentation" for the new databse software asap Action 16.?: NCC To approach the InterNIC to agree on the use of a sub-range of the global NIC-Handle space for RIPE usage Action 16.?: Henk Steenman and NCC (Tony Bates) Implement the dom-prefix: object for CLNS routing, after tightening the syntax definition and semantics of the CLNS-address hexadecimal string Action 16.?: Jean-Michel Jouanigot To coordinate the transition from ripe-60 to ripe-81 format for routing description Action 16.?: NCC Try to actually get the synchronisation of the various databases going, using the recently agreed DB Exchange Format Action 16.?: NCC Start discussion on the mailing list by providing a first proposal how the functionality of the badly defined connect: attribute could be replaced (with the target group of the end-user in mind!) by using eg. community: and other forthcoming tools from the PRIDE project ----------------------------------------------------------------------

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Slides of the RR status
by Tony Bates 20 Sep '93

20 Sep '93

please note - as asked the slides I presented at the Routing working group session of the status of the RIPE RR are available from ftp.ripe.net:ripe/presentations/ripe-m16-tony-RRSTATS.ps.Z plus various other slides of possible relevence (i.e plenary talks and Marten's database presentation). All presentations are in the ripe/presentations directory. --Tony. The following are already availabel from the 16th RIPE meeting. ripe-m16-dfk-NCC-REPORT.ps.Z ripe-m16-marten-DBDETAILS.ps.Z ripe-m16-marten-DBPLEN.ps.Z ripe-m16-tony-GISSREP.ps.Z ripe-m16-tony-PRIDE.ps.Z ripe-m16-tony-RRSTATS.ps.Z ripe-m16-tony-RSREP.ps.Z

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Re: FYI: InterNIC/MERIT/RIPE database exchange format
by Berthold Paffrath 16 Sep '93

16 Sep '93

Hi Marten, I have just read the syntax carefully :-) Some observations, just to be compared with your own: <version> ::= WDB_version: <version_no> should perhaps be "WDB-version" for consistency with "inaddr-server" / "admin-c" / ... (but the tag labels are weird anyway) same argument for "as-sblk" and "as-eblk" <host> ::= 1[<host_data>] 1*[<contact>] 1[<update_information>] might be 1*[<contact>|<host_contact>] otherwise remove definition of <host_contact> / <coordinator> / <altpoc> <ntype_data> ::= Research | Defense | Government | Commercial add Educational <parentdom_type> ::= COM | EDU | ROOT | NET | ORG | GOV | US either any domain or any top level domain? <host_data> ::= 1[<hostname>] 1*[<ip_addr>] 0[<nic_handle>] 0*[<nickname>] 0[<cputype>] 0[<opsys>] 0[<protocols>] 0[<hostmail>] either 0*[<protocols>] or how else do you specify multiple protocols? <phone> ::= phne: <datum> phone numbers in North American or International notation? <update_information> ::= 1[<name_date>] 1[<location>] 1[<maintainer>] 0*[<update_notify>] 0[<op_type>] must be 0[<db_operation>] <security-contact> ::= secur-c: <email-address> | <nic-handle> is never used (was omitted from <contact>?) Berthold Paffrath

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changed attitude to the proposed resource object
by Milan Sterba 13 Sep '93

13 Sep '93

Dear colleagues, After having confronted my old proposal for registering a new RIPE DB object describing network resources with the ongoing activities on network information discovery and uniform resource [locator,name, identifier ...] I have changed my views on the resources as objects registered in RIPE DB. My proposal was more aimed at registering servers (ftp, gopher, WWW, wais ...) rather than information about individual resources (single document, file, package, database access etc.) which is in fact what the users really need. Also the NCC registration procedures are not scaled for this type of task. Ther clear tendency now is towards automatic or semi-automatic resource registration procedures (archie and veronica can serve as examples). The resource indexing and registration seem to become a new type of network service which belongs more to network service providers rather than to the NCC. The role of the NCC rather be to help to coordinate this new type of services and maybe registrate and disseminate pointer information about network resource registration services in Eurooe. For the above reason I would like to withdraw my proposal for a resource object in RIPE DB. RIPE should probably keep an eye on recent evolutions in this field but probably shouldn't get directly involved with the resource registration process itself. Regards Milan Sterba P.S. Here are some references to documents which lead me to this decision : Weider, Chris : Resource transponders, March 1993 (internet draft - draft-ietf-iiir-transponders-00.txt) Berners-Lee, Tim : Uniform Resource Locators, July 1993 (internet draft - draft-ietf-uri-url-01.{txt,ps}) Weider, Chris, Deutsch, Peter : A Vision of an Integrated Internet Information Service (internet-draft - draft-ietf-iiir-vision-00.txt) -- BEWARE - MY TELEPHONE NUMBER HAS CHANGED !!!! ====================================================================== Prague University of Economics e-mail : Milan.Sterba(a)vse.cz Computing Center tel : +42 2 24 21 79 00 nam. W. Churchilla 4 home: +42 2 823 78 59 130 67 Praha 3 fax : +42 2 236 46 24 Czech republic =======================================================================

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assign versus dbm in the new software
by Marten Terpstra 09 Sep '93

09 Sep '93

People, I have put the difference between assign and dbm in the new automatic aliases as well. We now have: auto-dbm - similar to ripe-dbm, but automatic auto-assign - similar to assign, ie network objects that are already present wil be bounced, persons can be updated though. This to allow for tech-c and admin-c that need to be updated with these network numbers to simply go through. deletes are accepted either way, but preferably though auto-dbm. The software also supports the LONGACK string in the subject line of the mail which indicates that you wish verbose output, ie at least a one line status per object. Objects with warnings or errors will always be returned. It seems we are almost ready for the cutover tomorrow. Be prepared for fast and different looking acknowledgements ;-) -Marten PS It may happen that tomorrow some of the additional features of a database update (such as the split version for anonymous ftp, the WAIS index, and the cisco access-lists) might be a bit later. We have to track all the stuff we currently have installed that has to do with the database, and transform them. Almost the full staff will be in on the weekend (RIPE preparation) to look after things in case it breaks (no of course it doesn;t)

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Re: misleading use of the connect: field in inetnum: object
by Wilfried Woeber, UniVie/ACOnet 08 Sep '93

08 Sep '93

Hi Daniel, >the real problem with the "connect" attribute is that it still is the >badly defined kludge it has been from the start. I can say so because I >invented it. Today we have a well defined and agreed way of specifying >the information you want: It is called ripe-81 by the document fans and >"The Routing Registry" by afficionados. I had one and only one basic concern: when we put info into the DB, this info should HELP and not CONFUSE. I agree with you that "connect:" is maybe far from optimal. >In my opinion we should put our efforts in getting the RR populated >rather than trying to specify how to use an un-specifyable kludge. So now I've got another concern: populating the RR helps the "afficionados", but probably doesn't help the (end-)user in finding out what he/she can expect. I'd assume people are still thinking in terms of NORDUnet, NSF, RIPE and not in terms of ASxxx and ASyyy. And the basic issue remains - you can just as well put some string into the "as-*:" fields and still have only EARN-E-Mail connectivity... >The original plan was to keep connect alive with the only legal value of >LOCAL. Maybe we shouldn't even do this. An item for discussion at the RIPE >meeting! Definitely! And thanks for spending some minutes on it. Cheers, Wilfried.

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FYI: InterNIC/MERIT/RIPE database exchange format
by Marten Terpstra 08 Sep '93

08 Sep '93

Please find below the exchange format as agreed with InterNIC, MERIT and RIPE. just for your information. -Marten WHOIS Database Transfer Parse Syntax 1.0 ------------------------------------ Note: Brackets [] enclose subrules, with a prefix indicating optionality and repetition as follows: "0[]" - optional "1[]" - required "0*[]" - none or any number "1*[]" - at least one --------------------------- LANGUAGE ---------------------------------- <file> ::= 1[<version>] 1*[<record>] 1[<eof>] <version> ::= WDB_version: <version_no> <version_no> ::= 1.0 <record> ::= <begin_data> <data> <begin_data> ::= --- <eof> ::= END OF FILE <data> ::= <network> | <domain> | <host> | <individual> | <as> <network> ::= 1[<network_data>] 1*[<contact>] 0*[<inaddr_server>] 1[<update_information>] <domain> ::= 1[<domain_data>] 1*[<dom_contact>] 0*[<dns_server>] 1[<update_information>] <as> ::= 1[<as_data>] 1*[<as_contact>] 1[<update_information>] <individual> ::= 1[<individual_data>] 1[<update_information>] <host> ::= 1[<host_data>] 1*[<contact>] 1[<update_information>] /******* network-specific information *******/ <network_data> :: = 1[<netip_type>] 1[<netname>] 0[<network_type>] 1[<activated>] 0[nic_handle] 1[<organization>] <netip_type> :: <netip_addr> | <netblk> <netip_addr> ::= ntnum: <datum> <netblk> ::= ntsblk: <datum> nteblk: <datum> <netname> ::= ntnam: <datum> <network_type> ::= ntype: <ntype_data> <ntype_data> ::= Research | Defense | Government | Commercial <inaddr_server> := inaddr-server: <host_key> /******* domain-specific information *******/ <domain_data> ::= 1[<dom_name>] 1[<parentdom>] 0[nic_handle] 1[<organization>] <parentdom> ::= pdom: <parentdom_type> <parentdom_type> ::= COM | EDU | ROOT | NET | ORG | GOV | US <dom_name> ::= dnam: <datum> <dom_contact> ::= <contact> | <zone_contact> <zone_contact> ::= zone-c: <email-address> | <nic_handle> <dns_server> := dns-server: <host_key> /******* as-specific information *******/ <as_data> :: = 1[<as_type>] 0[<as_name>] 0*[<asin>] 0*[<asout>] 0*[<asdefault>] 1[<activated>] 0[nic_handle] 1[<organization>] <as_type> :: <as_number> | <as_block> <as_number> ::= asnum: <datum> <as_block> ::= as_sblk: <datum> as_eblk: <datum> <as_name> ::= asname: <datum> <asin> ::= asin: <datum> <asout> ::= asout: <datum> <asdefault> ::= asdefault: <datum> <as_contact> ::= <contact> | <as_guardian> <as_guardian> ::= asguardian: <datum> /******* host-specific information *******/ <host_data> ::= 1[<hostname>] 1*[<ip_addr>] 0[nic_handle] 0*[<nickname>] 0[<cputype>] 0[<opsys>] 0[<protocols>] 0[<hostmail>] 1[<organization>] <hostname> ::= hname: <datum> <ip_addr> ::= ipaddr: <datum> <nickname> ::= nname: <datum> <cputype> ::= cpu: <datum> <opsys> ::= opsys: <datum> <protocols> ::= proto: <datum> <hostmail> ::= hmail: <datum> <host_contact> ::= <coordinator> | <altpoc> <coordinator> ::= coord: <datum> <altpoc> ::= altpoc: <datum> /******* individual-specific information *******/ <individual_data> ::= 1[<name>] 0[nic_handle] 1[<organization>] 1*[mailbox] 0*[<phone>] 0*[<fax>] <name> ::= <name_components> | <whole_name> <name_components> ::= 1[<last_name>] 1[<first_name>] 0[<middle_name>] 0[<name_suffix>] 0[title] <last_name> ::= lname: <datum> <first_name> ::= fname: <datum> <middle_name> ::= mname: <datum> <name_suffix> ::= nmsuff: <datum> <title> ::= ttle: <datum> <whole_name> ::= whname: <datum> <mailbox> ::= mbox: <datum> <phone> ::= phne: <datum> <fax> ::= fax: <datum> /******** update information *********/ <update_information>::= 1[<name_date>] 1[<location>] 1[<maintainer>] 0*[<update_notify>] 0[<op_type>] <name_date> ::= updt: <datum> <location> ::= source: <place> <place> ::= RIPE | MERIT | INIC | DNIC | ISI | ANIC <maintainer> ::= maint: <place> <update_notify> ::= updtnot: <datum> <db_operation> ::= operation: <op_typ> <op_type> ::= ADD | MODIFY | DELETE /********* common elements *********/ <organization> ::= 1[<org>] 0*[<address>] 1[<country>] <org> ::= org: <datum> <address> ::= addr: <datum> <country> ::= cntry: <datum> <contact> ::= <admin-contact> | <tech-contact> <activated> ::= actvd: <datum> <admin-contact> ::= admin-c: <email-address> | <nic_handle> <tech-contact> ::= tech-c: <email-address> | <nic_handle> <security-contact> ::= secur-c: <email-address> | <nic_handle> <host_key> ::= <datum> /*either nic handle or ip number*/ <nic_handle> ::= nichandl: <datum> <datum> ::= 1*[<alphanum>] NL --------------------- TAG FIELD SEMANTICS ------------------------------- /****** network-specific stuff ******/ ntnam: network name of network ntnum: registered IP network number [format: xxx.xxx.0.0 for class B xxx.xxx.xxx.0 for class C] ntsblk: registered IP network number - start nteblk: registered IP network number - end ntype: network type - one of R = Research D = Defense G = Government C = Commercial E = Educational actvd: Date in which the domain/network was initially registered [format: YYMMDD] inaddr-server: inaddress servers for the paticular network (either host ip address or hostname or nic handle ) /****** domain-specific stuff ******/ dnam: domain name of domain. pdom: parent domain of domain (ie. NIC.DDN.MIL is DDN) zone-c: zone contact (found in RFC 1032) (either mail-address or nic handle) dns-server: servers for that paticular domain (either host ip address or hostname or nic handle ) /****** asn-specific stuff ******/ asnum: as number as_sblk: as start number (of a block) as_eblk: end number (of a block) asin: accepted routes from other ASs (found in RIPE-81) asout: routes announced to other ASs (found in RIPE-81) asdefault: how default routing is handled (found in RIPE-81) asguardian: guardian of this AS /******** host-specific stuff ********/ hname: hostname of host nname: nickname(s) of host ipaddr: IP address of host cpu: cpu of host (found in RFC 1060) opsys: operating system of host (found in RFC 1060) proto: protocols supported by host (found in RFC 1060) hmail: role mailbox of host administator /***** individual-specific stuff *****/ lname: last name of individual fname: first name of individual mname: middle initial of individual nmsuf: name suffix of individual (ie JR., SR., ...) ttle: title or rank (Capt., Lord, ...) mbox: network mailbox of individual in internet format phne: phone number of individual fax: fax number of individual /****** common stuff *******/ nichandl: handle given by the NIC org: organization name addr: street address cntry: country source: originator of record (RIPE/MERIT/NIC) updt: updated information (who/when) [format: YYMMDD-HHMM userid] tech-c: technical coordinator of network/domain/host (found in RFC 1032) (either mail-address or nic handle) admin-c: administrative coordinator of network/domain/host (found in RFC 1032) (either mail-address or nic handle) secur-c: security coordinator of network/domain/host ----------------------- EXAMPLES --------------------------------- INDIVIDUAL: WDB_version: 1.0 --- lname:McColum fname:Robert mname:A nmsuf:Jr. ttle:Computer Developer Manager nichandl:RM584 org:Government Systems, Inc. addr:14200 Park Meadow Drive addr:Suite 200 addr:Chantilly, VA 22021 cntry:US mbox:bobm@NIC.DDN.MIL phne:(703) 802-8476 updt:911029-120500 STANB source:NIC END OF FILE ------------------------------------------------------------------------- NETWORK: This is a sample network record that has: 1) Peter Elford (PE33) is the tech contact. 3) JATZ.AARNET.EDU.AU (AARNET) (already registered) as inaddr-server 3) ANU.ANU.EDU.AU (ANU) (already registered) as inaddr-server 4) MUNNARI.OZ.AU as a new inaddr-server WDB_version: 1.0 --- ntnum:192.107.107.0 ntnam:AARN-DEV ntype:Research Nactvd:890203 org:Australian Academic and Research Network addr:P.O. Box 1142 addr:Canberra ACT 2601 cntry:AU tech-c:PE33 inaddr-server:AARNET inaddr-server:ANU inaddr-server:128.250.1.21 updt:910103-224721 STONED source:RIPE maint:RIPE --- hname:JATZ.AARNET.EDU.AU ipaddr:139.130.204.4 nichandl:AARNET cputype:SUN-4/60 opsys:UNIX protocols:UDP/DOMAIN org:University of Melbourne country: AU uptd:900706-105714 MACGOWAN source:NIC maint:NIC --- hname:ANU.ANU.EDU.AU ipaddr:130.56.4.1 nichandl:ANU cputype:MICROVAX-II opsys:ULTRIX protocols:UDP/DOMAIN org:University of Melbourne country: AU updt:900706-105714 MACGOWAN source:NIC maint:NIC --- hname:MUNNARI.OZ.AU ipaddr:128.250.1.21 cputype:SUN-4/260 opsys:UNIX protocols:UDP/DOMAIN org:University of Melbourne country: AU updt:900705-105714 MACGOWAN source:RIPE maint:NIC --- lname:Elford fname:Peter nichandl:PE33 org:Australian Vice Chancellors Committee addr:Churchill House addr:Northbourne Ave, Braddon addr:GPO Box 1142 addr:Canberra ACT 2601 cntry:AU mbox:p.elford@AARNET.EDU.AU updated:900705-105714 MARKK source:MERIT maint:NIC END OF FILE

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Re: ** URGENT ** New database software at the NCC
by Wilfried Woeber, UniVie/ACOnet 08 Sep '93

08 Sep '93

Marten, >Just some explanation, the messages sent to assign are first checked to see >if they are already in the database, and currently bounced back to the NCC if >they are. I think what I will do is create something like auto-assign, which >has the same "on-the-fly" features as auto-dbm, but will only ADD new >objects, and bounce all objects that are already present. This would mean >that also contact people that are already present will not be updated when >sent to auto-assign. ...does this mean that we are no longer able to submit *updates* for person objects along with a new network object from the 193,194 address range? If this is the case, then I think we should generally go for a system where *all* objects *with the exception of objects for newly assigned networks* should go to the ripe-dbm mailbox. Wilfried.

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** URGENT ** New database software at the NCC
by Marten Terpstra 08 Sep '93

08 Sep '93

Dear people, You have all probably heard that new RIPE database software has been written at the NCC. We are convinced that this software should be used as soon as possible at the NCC, because the current update procedure has had several changes made already to keep it running with the current size of both the database and the amount of updates we receive. Therefore, we have planned to start using the new software at the NCC this Friday September 10th, at 10 AM. The new software has some consequences for whois users and people that send in updates. These consequences have been listed below. Please read the document below carefully. If you have any questions or major objections, please contact me, Daniel or Tony. Cheers, Marten PS All updates sent to the new mail alias before Friday 10 AM will either bounce, or update some test database. These updates will NOT be incorporated in the real RIPE database. ----- Introduction The software for the RIPE database has recently been completely rewritten, and the new implementation will have some effects on the behaviour of the database software as compared to the software currently in use at the NCC. This document describes the impact the new RIPE database software will have on usage of the database and on updates to it. USER IMPACT With the new database software, there will be some changes in the bahaviour of the database whois server. These include: New -s flag The indexed database will still contain information from various sources. As before normally only the RIPE information will be shown. The flag for requesting information from all sources remains the same (-a), and a new flag will be introduced to specify one or more specific source (-s source). The RIPE whois client available from the RIPE document store has been modified to accept this flag. Recursive Lookups Limited to Source of Reference The "-a" flag, or asking for information from multiple sources will show a slightly different behaviour. The old software used to perform recursive lookups on ALL the selected sources. This means that a contact person referenced by a NIC entry would be looked ap and listed from ALL other sources. The new software will ONLY perform recursive lookups in the source where the reference was found. Consequence is that one does not get a mix and match of referenced information from various sources. All references are ONLY looked up in the source where they are referenced. This was done to limit output volume and user confusion. Strict Enforcement of Object Definitions The current database file has objects in it that do not conform to the official object definitions. The new whois server will only output the legal fields for such an object. So, it may be that a network object contains a zone-c attribute in the database file, but the whois server will never show this attribute, because it is not in the network object definition. An overview of the defined attributes per object can be found at the end of this document. UPDATE IMPACT There are a number of changes that will affect people sending in updates for the RIPE database. Real Time Updates The new database software works with on-the-fly updates. This means that accepted and acknowledged database updates will be visible immediately in the whois server running at the NCC. These changes will not be visible immediately in the FTPable database file maintained via the RIPE Document Store. Once a day -or night rather- an automatic "cleanup" procedure will run which generates the FTPable file and adds all the guarded attributes as specified in the guardian files maintained at the NCC. This means that the database available for anonymous FTP does not necessarily have the same information as the running database. Guarded attributes will not be changed using the normal update procedure, they will be added once a day, and remain unchanged until the next cleanup time. New Update Procedure A new mailbox will be installed for direct access to the new database software without RIPE NCC staff intervention. This means fast response times, but since the updates are not looked at by the staff, updates containing errors will be bounced just as fast. The new mailbox will be <auto-dbm(a)ripe.net>. The old mailboxes will remain, and the NCC staff will look at mails directed to one of these mailboxes and forward updates to the new update procedure, after some very basic checking. The NCC will NOT correct all syntax errors in updates sent to one of these mailboxes, but it might correct some obvious errors. As before all updates and acknowledgements will be logged at the NCC. This means that errors and "strange" updates can be tracked quite easily. Stronger Syntax Checking The syntax checking in the new software has been improved and strengthened. As with the old software, database objects that cause errors will be bounced, and NOT be incorporated in the database. Warning messages are usually used to indicate corrections that have been made to the object sent in. Objects with warnings WILL be incorporated in the database, with the changes made as indicated in the warning messages. In general error and warning messages are descriptive and will give some indication where an error or warning was generated. The new syntax checking has the following rules: Database objects that miss mandatory attributes will generate an error, and will be bounced. An overview of the defined attributes per object can be found at the end of this document. Objects that have attributes that are not defined in the object, will generate an error and will be bounced. Objects that have syntax errors in the values of the various attributes will generate an error, and will be bounced. Objects that have a date in the changed field that is prior to the date in the current database entry will generate an error and will be bounced. Guarded attributes in updates will be ignored other than generating a warning if the values do not match the current value in the database. Currently only the boundary gateway and routing privilege in the network object are guarded attributes. The aut-sys attribute in the network object will be turned into a guarded attribute as soon as possible. Deletions have been made more easy to perform. To delete an object, it is sufficient to send in that object plus a delete: attribute that describes why this object has to be removed from the database. Objects that need to be deleted, will NOT be checked for syntax, but must exactly match the object currently in the database, otherwise an error will be generated, and the object will not be removed from the database. The order of the different attributes in the updates is NO LONGER relevant for the match. The order of different lines in the same attribute is. The new syntax rules have been determined from the original object definitions. It may well be that some syntax rules have been made too strict, or are simply wrong. Please do not hesitate to contact us in these cases. The syntax is not fixed forever. Attribute definition per object as used by the new database software. inetnum object Mandatory: inetnum netname descr country admin-c tech-c connect changed source Optional: aut-sys (will be guarded asap) gateway (obsolete) nsf-in nsf-out (obsolete ?) routpr-l (guarded) bdrygw-l (guarded) remarks rev-srv person object Mandatory: person address phone changed source Optional: e-mail fax-no nic-hdl remarks domain object Mandatory: domain descr admin-c tech-c zone-c changed source Optional: dom-net nserver sub-dom remarks aut-num object Mandatory: aut-num descr admin-c tech-c changed source Optional: guardian as-in as-out default remarks bdry-gw and rout-pr will be obsolete in the near future.

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misleading use of the connect: field in inetnum: object
by Wilfried Woeber, UniVie/ACOnet 07 Sep '93

07 Sep '93

Dear all, (and sorry for a possibly too wide distribution). We had some instances recently, where operations people were prompted by users to sort out connectivity problems to a given network that couldn't be reached. The most obvious thing to do is to look into the RIPE-DB, of course. The network(s) were registered, but further investigation revealed that the network(s) did not yet have full connectivity to the Internet. However the information in the connect: field of the network object contained strings like RIPE, NSF or EASI, but no indication about the more local situation. For the end-user, and most probably for a lot of operations people as well, it is definitely not obvious that the connect field is more or less just a (sometimes very misleading!) comment. Thus I propose to discuss and agree on a (RIPE) recommendation along the following lines, at least for registering new networks in the database: - The Local-IR registers the network with a (local/regional) network or service-provider string, but without using any misleading flags in the connect: field like RIPE, NSF, EASI... If -for whatever reason- commonly used strings are used, then the remarks: field should give a very clear indication about expected connection date(s) and service restrictions (like dial-up networks, e-mail only links...). - When the network is connected to a service provider to configure routing, (Reverse-)DNS, or services like e-mail, etc. the network should be tagged with a useful service-provider string. This "state" could and probably should be skipped for situations where full connectivity could be expected within a few days. Examples: ACONET or SURFNET for national academic networks, EUNET-DE for a EUnet connection, XLINK and the like Note: I'm not proposing to use the LOCAL tag, because this means that no connectivity to the outside world is wanted or intended at all! - Only after the point in time where there is really full connectivity, the usual strings like RIPE, NSF, etc. should be added to the connect: field, out-dated comments removed, DNS and AS-Number information added, and the like. In addition to that I propose to list the connect: strings in a kind of intuitive "local to global" sequence. Examples: "ACONET RIPE NSF" or "ARNES EMPB RIPE NSF" or "EUNET-XX RIPE" Thus we would end up with really useful information in the connect field, and maybe also with more complete database objects, because information is available for the second or last update phase that usually cannot be submitted when registering the network. Could I have your opinions and comments please? An example for a network in Western-Nowhere, that is connected to a regional net that gets connectivity throug ACOnet and EBONE would be: Phase-1 connect: WNWNET !while setting up the net !or eg. e-mail only conn Phase-2 connect: WNWNET ACONET RIPE !after adding... bdrygw-l: ACONET Phase-3 connect: WNWNET ACONET RIPE NSF !after registering NSF-conn. Wilfried. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wilfried Woeber : Wilfried.Woeber(a)CC.UniVie.ac.at (Internet) Computer Center - ACOnet : Z00WWR01(a)AWIUNI11.BITNET (EARN) Vienna University : 29133::WOEBER (SPAN/HEPnet) Universitaetsstrasse 7 : Tel: +43 1 436111 355 A-1010 Vienna, Austria, Europe : Fax: +43 1 436111 170 NIC: WW144 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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