Dear Colleagues, The RIPE NCC is preparing for the implementation of RFC5396, which defines the representation of all AS Numbers in the ASPLAIN format. The RIPE NCC will start using the ASPLAIN format on 25 March 25 2009. On this day the RIPE NCC will convert any existing ASDOT data in the RIPE Database into ASPLAIN equivalent data. There are two ways we will do this: - If the primary key of the object contains an ASDOT, for example "aut-num: AS8.0", then the object will be deleted and re-created. - If the object contains a reference to an ASDOT, for example "import: from AS8.0", then the object will be modified. All objects altered in any way will have a "remarks:" attribute and an extra "changed:" attribute added. Notifications will be sent to the maintainers of the data for each update. The maintainers of the data do not need to do anything regarding this change. The conversion can only be done as part of the software upgrade. But if you are responsible for any ASDOT data we would ask that you check the data after the conversion is complete. Regards, Denis Walker Business Analyst RIPE NCC