RFC1261 - Transition of Nic Services

Network Working Group S. Williamson

Request for Comments: 1261 L. Nobile

Network Solutions

September 1991

TRANSITION OF NIC SERVICES

Status of this Memo

This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does

not specify an Internet standard. Distribution of this memo is

unlimited.

Discussion

The transition of the Network Information Center from SRI

International in Menlo Park, CA, to Government Systems Inc. in

Chantilly, VA, is officially scheduled for 1 October 1991. This

includes the transition of services currently offered to DDN and

Internet users by SRI. These services include network/user

registration (i.e., network number and top level domain name

assignment), on-line information services, and Help Desk operations.

GSI will also continue RFCand Internet-Draft archive and

distribution services.

SRI will continue to provide all NIC services and respond to all user

calls and requests until 30 September 1991.

Defense Information System Agency (DISA) and GSI will make every

effort to ensure a smooth and timely transition of NIC services from

SRI. Network users should be minimally impacted. With a few minor

exceptions, all on-line services currently offered by SRI will appear

the same to the user when a connection is established to the new

(GSI) NIC host. These exceptions are due to the change from the

TOPS20 operating system to the SunOS operating system. The new NIC

host is a Sun 470 SPARCserver running SunOS 4.1. All users on the

DDN and the Internet should carefully note the following changes:

U.S. Postal Address: Government Systems, Inc.

Attn: Network Information Center

14200 Park Meadow Drive

Suite 200

Chantilly, VA 22021

Help Desk Telephone Numbers:

1-800-365-3642 (1-800-365-DNIC)

1-703-802-4535

Help Desk Hours of Operation:

7:00 am to 7:00 pm Eastern Time

Fax Number: 1-703-802-8376

Network Address: 192.112.36.5 (NIC.DDN.MIL)

Root Domain Server: 192.112.36.4 (NS.NIC.DDN.MIL)

During the period of 26 to 30 September 1991 the ID (WHOIS) database

will not be changed. All registration actions for this five day

period will be suspended. This action is necessary in order to

transfer the master database to GSI. Starting 26 September 1991, all

U.S. mail and fax requests should be directed to the GSI address and

fax number shown above. All electronic mail requests should continue

to be directed to the "HOSTMASTER" and "REGISTRAR" mailboxes at

NIC.DDN.MIL. As appropriate, SRI will redirect electronic mail to

GSI. On 1 October 1991 all registration activities will resume.

We hope that the transition and its accompanying changes will not

greatly inconvenience network users, and we thank you in advance for

your patience and understanding. For general questions regarding the

transition, users may call the new NIC Help Desk after September 1,

1991 at 1-800-365-3642/703-802-4535 or send an e-mail message to

nic@diis.ddn.mil.

Security Considerations

Security issues are not discussed in this memo.

Authors' Addresses

Scott Williamson

Network Solutions, Inc.

505 Huntmar Park Drive

Herndon, VA 22070

Phone: (703) 802-8405

EMail: scottw@DIIS.DDN.MIL

Leslie Nobile

Network Solutions, Inc.

505 Huntmar Park Drive

Herndon, VA 22070

Phone: (703) 802-8456

leslie@DIIS.DDN.MIL