brian@ucsd.Edu (Brian Kantor) (12/22/90)
DDN Information Bulletin #80 contains: RFC 1174 recommended eliminating the distinction between "connected" and "unconnected" networks, i.e. between those networks connected to the DDN and Internet, and those that are not. Although the NIC had made some procedural changes in order to comply with the recommendations of RFC 1174, it is now necessary to reinstate the previous IP network number registration polices. This reinstatement of the former methods is taken to provide time for a more thorough investigation into the impact and cost of such changes. In order to accomplish this reinstatement, the distinction of "connected" and "unconnected" networks must be re-established. The following changes are being made to restablish this distinction: 1. Effective immediately, applicants wishing to obtain IP network numbers must use the application dated 7/90 (later applications will be returned to the applicants with a request for further information). This application is online on the NIC.DDN.MIL host as NETINFO:INTERNET-NUMBER-TEMPLATE.TXT. Applicants wishing connected status for their networks must identify a government sponsor authorizing their connection. 2. Information regarding unconnected networks and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs) will no longer be available through WHOIS. 3. The NIC will contact people who registered networks or inverse addressing (IN-ADDR) information from the end of September to the present in order to ascertain their status according to the change in policy. If such networks are unconnected or do not have government sponsors, their data will no longer be available via WHOIS. (more) Unless I've missed something, this will essentially end the usefulness of the DDN NIC WHOIS as a network information resource, at least for info about a significant number of the networks attached to the greater internet. That is, there will no longer be a single authoritative source of information. One will have to consult several places to find out what's going on, or so it seems. It also seems as though there will be some impact on the ability to do DNS PTR lookups. Can this be true? What other resources will exist to fill this void? - Brian