pafford@metis.rtp.dg.com (Randy Pafford) (04/14/90)
I'm trying to clarify my understanding of the current state of DNS on the Internet. The README that comes with the BSD 5.61 sendmail.cf files states that everybody on the Internet should be able to understand and lookup addresses of the form "user@host.domain." However, the MILNET is transitioning to the DNS and until it's done, doesn't have to use the nameserver. Thus when sending to a MILNET address you must hide the originating hostname behind a NIC-registered host, e.g. "user%host.domain@registered_host.domain". Towards this end, in the tcpproto.cf file, addresses to user@host.arpa are rewritten into the "%" form. However, some of the RFCs I've seen say that the transition to DNS should be complete by October 89. Thus, is it now safe to send all Internet addresses out in the form "user@host.domain"? If not, why? I know that many sites still send out messages to many addresses rewritten into the "%" form. Randy Pafford pafford@rtp.dg.com Data General Corporation 62 T.W. Alexander Dr, Research Triangle Park, NC (919) 248-6055