NSF Solicits NIS Managers

In addition to the four main projects relating to the architectural aspects of the new Internet, NSF recognized that information services would be a critical component in the even more widespread, freewheeling network. As a result, a solicitation for one or more Network Information Services (NIS) managers for the NSFNET was proposed. This solicitation invited proposals for the following:

• To extend and coordinate directory and database and information and services.

• To provide registration services for nonmilitary Internet networks. The Defense Information Systems Agency Network Information Center (DISA NIC) will continue to provide for the registration of military networks.

At the time of the solicitation, the domestic, nonmilitary portion of the Internet included the NSFNET and other federally sponsored networks such as NASA Science Internet (NSI) and Energy Sciences Network (ESnet). All these networks, as well as some other networks on the Internet, were related to the National Research and Education Network (NREN), which was defined in the president's fiscal 1992 budget. The NSF solicitations for database services, information services, and registration services were needed to help the evolution of the NSFNET and the development of NREN.

Network Information Services

At the time of the proposal, certain network information services were being offered by a variety of providers. Some of these services included the following:

• End-user information services were provided by NSF Network Services Center (NNSC), operated by Bolt, Beranek, and Newman (BBN). Other NSFNET end-user services were provided by campus-level computing and networking organizations.

• Information services for various federal agency backbone networks were provided by the sponsoring agencies. NASA, for example, provided NSI information services.

• Internet registration services were provided by DISA NIC, operated by Government Services, Inc. (GSI).

• Information services for campus-level providers were provided by NSFNET mid-level network organizations.

• Information services for NSFNET mid-level network providers were provided by Merit, Inc.

Under the new solicitation, NIS managers should provide services to end-users and to campus and mid-level network service providers. They should also coordinate with other mid-level and network organizations, such as Merit, Inc.

Creation of the InterNIC

In response to NSF's solicitation for NIS managers, in January 1993 the InterNIC was established as a collaborative project among AT&T, General Atomics, and Network Solutions, Inc.^[11] It was to be supported by three five-year cooperative agreements with the NSF. During the second-year performance review, funding by the NSF to General Atomics stopped. AT&T was awarded the Database and Directory Services, and Network Solutions was awarded the Registration and NIC Support Services.

Directory and Database Services

The implementation of this service should utilize distributed database and other advanced technologies. The NIS manager could coordinate this role with respect to other organizations that have created and maintained relevant directories and databases. AT&T was providing the following services under the NSF agreement:

• Directory services (white pages):

  This provides access to Internet White Pages information using X.500, WHOIS, and netfind systems.

  The X.500 directory standard enables the creation of a single worldwide directory of information about various objects of interest, such as information about people.

  The WHOIS lookup service provides unified access to three Internet WHOIS servers for person and organization queries. It searches the InterNIC directory and Database Services server for nonmilitary domain and non-Point-of-Contact data. The search for MIL (military) domain data is done via the DISA NIC server, and the POC data is done via the InterNIC Registration Services server.

  Netfind is a simple Internet white pages directory search facility. Given the name of an Internet user and a description of where the user works, the tool attempts to locate information about the user.

• Database services:

  This should include databases of communications documents such as Request For Comments (RFCs), Internet Drafts (IDs), IETF Meeting Minutes, IETF Steering Group (IESG) documents, and so on. The service could also contain databases maintained for other groups with a possible fee.

  AT&T also offered a database service listing of public databases, which contains information of interest to the Internet community.

• Directory of directories:

  This service points to other directories and databases, such as those listed previously. This is an index of pointers to resources, products, and services accessible through the Internet. It includes pointers to resources such as computing centers, network providers, information servers, white and yellow pages directories, library catalogs, and so on.

  As part of this service, AT&T stores a listing of information resources, including type, description, how to access the resource, and other attributes. Information providers are given access to update and add to the database. The information can be accessed via different methods, such as Telnet, ftp, e-mail, and World Wide Web.

Registration Services

The NIS manager was required to act in accordance with RFC 1174, which states the following:

The Internet system has employed a central Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA)^[12] for the allocation and assignment of various numeric identifiers needed for the operation of the Internet. The IANA function is performed by the University of Southern California's Information Sciences Institute. The IANA has the discretionary authority to delegate portions of this responsibility and, with respect to numeric network and autonomous system identifiers, has lodged this responsibility with an Internet Registry (IR).

The NIS manager would become either the IR or a delegate registry authorized by the IR. The Internet registration services included the following:

• Network number assignment

• Autonomous system number assignment

• Domain name registration

• Domain name server registrations

From 1993 to 1998, NSI was the only provider of domain name registration services for the .com, .net, and .org top-level domains, following the Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Government. The agreement was amended in 1998, and NSI is now working to develop software supporting a "Shared Registration System" for these top-level domains.

Today the U.S. Government has begun to privatize the management of domain name space in hopes of introducing competition in order to benefit the global Internet community.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)^[13] is responsible for overseeing this process. ICANN is responsible for the registrar accreditation process. It also assumes responsibility for certain Internet domain name system functions, as set forth by the U.S. Government. ICANN is a nonprofit international organization.

NIC Support Services

The original solicitation for "Information Services" was granted to General Atomics in April 1993 and was taken away in February 1995. At that time, NSI took over the proposal, and it was renamed NIC Support Services.

The goal of the service was to provide a forum for the research and education community, Network Information Centers (NICs) staff, and the academic Internet community, within which the responsibilities of the InterNIC may be defined.