NANOG 24

1
Some RIR Input Regarding Current Whois
Deficiencies

• Cathy Murphy
• American Registry for Internet Numbers
• ltcathym_at_arin.netgt

2
Overview

• One-stop lookup services for IP address space and
  AS numbers
• Data accuracy (security)
• Misuse of contact information
• Increased server load

3
One-Stop Lookup Servicesfor IP Address Space and
AS Numbers
Caveat The solutions being considered would only
handle for IP address (inetnum) and AS number
(aut-num) queries.

• Data mirroring

• Establish a set of servers that could redirect
  queries to the appropriate RIR.

• Have RIRs Whois servers refer the query to the
  appropriate RIR

• RWhois model (requested by ARIN membership)
• refer attribute (Further extending RIPE NCCs
  extension to RPSL currently for domain objects
  only).

4
Data Accuracy

• Mechanisms to prevent unauthorized modification
  of registration data.

• Mechanisms to authenticate query responses.

• Provide a new, easier to use RWhois server that
  will encourage IP registrants to report network
  usage.

• Data should be updated more frequently.

• Reduces likelihood of inconsistencies between
  lookup servers.

5
Misuse of Contact Information

• Reassignment registrations for residential
  customers do not require a street address, phone
  number or email address.

• Plans for new private network object type in
  the ARIN database.

• Making data available in bulk format subject to
  an Acceptable Use Policy, minus contact data.

6
Increased Server Loads

• More and/or better servers
• Were working on it!
• More and/or better software
• Were working on it!
• Exploring opportunities to mirror ARINs Whois
  database at multiple locations
• Why an issue?
• If the servers dont respond, its effectively a
  denial-of-service.

7
Whois Now More Than Ever

• Increased industry need for and reliance on Whois

• Home grown network management tools
• Commercial products

• Load Statistics

• Jan 2000 -gt Jan 2001 number of queries doubled
• Jan 2001 -gt Jan 2002
• port 43 queries doubled
• web queries increased by a factor of 6, mostly
  since November 2001
• 97 million queries per month

8
Questions?