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 RFC and 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