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DDN MGT Bulletin 111             DISA DDN Defense Communications System   
13 January 1993                   Published by: DDN Network Info Center
                                     (NIC@NIC.DDN.MIL)  (800) 365-3642


                       DEFENSE  DATA  NETWORK
                        MANAGEMENT  BULLETIN

 The DDN MANAGEMENT BULLETIN is distributed online by the DDN Network
 Information Center under DISA contract as a means of communicating
 official policy, procedures and other information of concern to
 management personnel at DDN facilities.  Back issues may be read
 through the TACNEWS server ("@n" command at the TAC) or may be
 obtained by FTP (or Kermit) from the NIC.DDN.MIL host [192.112.36.5]
 using login="anonymous" and password="guest".  The pathname
 for bulletins is ddn-news/ddn-mgt-bulletin-nn.txt (where "nn" is the
 bulletin number).
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                     New User Template Submissions

The new User Registration template was released in November and placed
on-line in the NIC /templates directory, where it is now available via
FTP.  Thus far, most submissions from Host Administrators have not adhered
to the attached instructions, most particularly the "DO NOT CHANGE
FORMAT!" warning attached to the template header.  As outlined in
Management Bulletin 101, all registration templates submitted to the NIC
are parsed by automatic software routines.  The data on the templates is
taken "as is" and transferred to the NIC WHOIS database.  The NIC no
longer has sufficient staff to edit registration requests manually.
Thus, it is absolutely essential that all submissions be in the correct
format.  If the templates have been altered in any way, they CANNOT be
processed by the software designed for that purpose.  DO NOT TRY TO TYPE
THE TEMPLATES YOURSELF.  Use whatever data copying facility your
system provides to reproduce the template from the downloaded file.

In the future, all incorrectly formatted submissions will be returned
to the sender for correction and re-submission.

Some of the more common errors include the following:

1. Stripping the header lines from the template.

   The header is needed for software identification purposes.  The
   header lines MUST be attached to EACH template.  


2. Changing the format of individual lines.  

   Once again, when lines are altered or omitted, the automatic parsing
   routines cannot parse the data correctly.  This makes the template
   impossible to process without manual editing.


3. Inserting N/A, None, or "Not Applicable" in template fields.

   If no information is available for a given field, or if the
   information does not apply, the field should be left BLANK.


4. Not including information in fields that are marked as required.  

   Templates that are missing required information cannot be processed.


5. Putting required information in the wrong field.

   For example, separate fields are provided for City, State, and Zip
   Code.  These items must not be placed on a single line.


                       Host Template Submissions

The new Military Host Registration template has also been released and
placed on-line in the NIC /templates directory, where it is now available
via FTP, filename mhost-template.txt.  Host/Gateway administrators are
sent all the information related to their particular device in this
format, which initiates the reregistration process.  The HA is asked to
make any necessary changes and to return the host template to the NIC. 
Unfortunately, many of these host templates have been returned to the NIC
for processing with the same problems that have made many user templates
impossible to process--i.e., the format has been altered.  In addition,
many HAs tried to initiate changes with the host template that cannot
be made without an NCD. Changes that must be effected via the NCD are:

   *  Change in hostname or MILNET IP address
   *  Deletion or decommission of a host
   *  Change or update to CPU information
   *  Host location change. 

As with User registration template submissions, it is absolutely essential 
that the format of the template be maintained.  If the templates have been
altered in any way, they CANNOT be processed by the software designed for
that purpose.  Host templates that have been altered will be returned to
the administrator for resubmission. 

The cooperation of all Host Administrators is absolutely necessary to ensure
the integrity of the WHOIS database and to facilitate the issue of TAC cards
to those users who require them.  In many respects, the security of the DDN
hinges on the accuracy and validity of the database.  Please READ ALL 
INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY before submitting your registration requests to the
DDN NIC.  If you have questions, please call the NIC Help Desk at
1-800-365-3642 or (703) 802-4535 outside the continental US or in the
Washington DC metropolitan area.  

In addition, you may direct questions concerning USER registration to 
registrar@nic.ddn.mil.  Questions concerning the registration of networks,
hosts, ASNs, etc. should be E-mailed to hostmaster@nic.ddn.mil.  Questions
regarding Reregistration may be sent to REREG@NIC.DDN.MIL