`Request for Comments: 1206 FTP Software, Inc.
`FYI: 4 A. Marine
`Obsoletes: RFC 1177 SRI
` February 1991
`
` FYI on Questions and Answers
` Answers to Commonly asked "New Internet User" Questions
`
`Status of this Memo
`
` This FYI RFC is one of two FYI’s called, "Questions and Answers"
` (Q/A), produced by the User Services Working Group of the Internet
` Engineering Task Force (IETF). The goal is to document the most
` commonly asked questions and answers in the Internet.
`
` This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does
` not specify any standard. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
`
`Table of Contents
`
` 1. Introduction................................................. 1
` 2. Acknowledgements............................................. 2
` 3. Questions About the Internet................................. 2
` 4. Questions About TCP/IP....................................... 4
` 5. Questions About the Domain Name System....................... 4
` 6. Questions About Internet Documentation....................... 5
` 7. Questions about Internet Organizations and Contacts.......... 9
` 8. Questions About Services..................................... 13
` 9. Mailing Lists................................................ 16
` 10. Miscellaneous "Internet lore" questions..................... 17
` 11. Suggested Reading........................................... 18
` 12. References.................................................. 19
` 13. Condensed Glossary.......................................... 20
` 14. Security Considerations..................................... 31
` 15. Authors’ Addresses.......................................... 32
`
`1. Introduction
`
` New users joining the Internet community have the same questions as
` did everyone else who has ever joined. Our quest is to provide the
` Internet community with up to date, basic Internet knowledge and
` experience, while moving the redundancies away from the electronic
` mailing lists so that the lists’ subscribers do not have to read the
` same queries and answers over and over again.
`
` Future updates of this memo will be produced as User Services members
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` become aware of additional questions that should be included, and of
` deficiencies or inaccuracies that should be amended in this document.
` An additional FYI Q/A will be published which will deal with
` intermediate and advanced Q/A topics.
`
` The Q/A mailing lists are maintained by Gary Malkin at FTP.COM. They
` are used by a subgroup of the User Services Working Group to discuss
` the Q/A FYIs. They include:
`
` quail@ftp.com This is a discussion mailing list. Its
` primary use is for pre-release review of
` the Q/A FYIs.
`
` quail-request@ftp.com This is how you join the quail mailing list.
`
` quail-box@ftp.com This is a write-only list which serves as a
` repository for candidate questions and answers.
` It is not necessary to be on the quail mailing
` list to forward to the quail-box.
`
`2. Acknowledgements
`
` The following people deserve thanks for their help and contributions
` to this FYI Q/A: Vint Cerf (CNRI), Ralph Droms (Bucknell),
` Tracy LaQuey Parker (UTexas), Craig Partridge (SICS), Jon Postel (ISI),
` Joyce K. Reynolds (ISI), Karen Roubicek (BBNST), Marty Schoffstall
` (PSI, Inc.), Patricia Smith (Merit), Gene Spafford (Purdue) and
` James Van Bokkelen (FTP Software, Inc.).
`
`3. Questions About the Internet
`
` What is the Internet?
`
` The Internet is a large collection of networks (all of which run
` the TCP/IP protocols) that are tied together so that users of any
` of the networks can use the network services provided by TCP/IP to
` reach users on any of the other networks. The Internet started
` with the ARPANET, but now includes such networks as NSFNET,
` NYSERnet, and thousands of others. There are other major wide
` area networks, such as BITNET and DECnet networks, that are not
` based on the TCP/IP protocols and are thus not part of the
` Internet. However, it is possible to communicate between them and
` the Internet via electronic mail because of mail gateways that act
` as "translators" between the different network protocols involved.
`
` Note: You will often see "internet" with a small "i". This could
` refer to any network built based on TCP/IP, or might refer to
` networks using other protocol families that are composites built
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` of smaller networks.
`
` I just got on the Internet. What can I do now?
`
` You now have access to all the resources you are authorized to use
` on your own Internet host, on any other Internet host on which you
` have an account, and on any other Internet host that offers
` publicly accessible information. The Internet gives you the
` ability to move information between these hosts via file
` transfers. Once you are logged into one host, you can use the
` Internet to open a connection to another, login, and use its
` services interactively (this is known as remote login or
` "TELNETTING". In addition, you can send electronic mail to users
` at any Internet site and to users on many non-Internet sites that
` are accessible via electronic mail.
`
` There are various other services you can use. For example, some
` hosts provide access to specialized databases or to archives of
` information. The Internet Resource Guide provides information
` regarding some of these sites. The Internet Resource Guide lists
` facilities on the Internet that are available to users. Such
` facilities include supercomputer centers, library catalogs and
` specialized data collections. The guide is published by the NSF
` Network Service Center (NNSC) and is continuously being updated.
` The Resource Guide is distributed free via e-mail (send a note to
` resource-guide-request@nnsc.nsf.net to join the e-mail
` distribution) and via anonymous FTP (in nnsc.nsf.net:resource-
` guide/*). Hardcopy is available at a nominal fee (to cover
` reproduction costs) from the NNSC. Call the NNSC at 617-873-3400
` for more information.
`
` How do I find out if a site has a computer on the Internet?
`
` Three good sources to consult are "!%@:: A Directory of Electronic
` Mail Addressing and Networks" by Donnalyn Frey and Rick Adams;
` "The User’s Directory of Computer Networks", by Tracy LaQuey; and
` "The Matrix: Computer Networks and Conferencing Systems
` Worldwide", by John Quarterman.
`
` In addition, it is possible to find some information about
` Internet sites in the WHOIS database maintained at the DDN NIC at
` SRI International. The DDN NIC (Defense Data Network, Network
` Information Center) provides an information retrieval interface to
` the database that is also called WHOIS. To use this interface,
` TELNET to NIC.DDN.MIL and type "whois" (carriage return). No
` login is necessary. Type "help" at the whois prompt for more
` information on using the facility. WHOIS will show many sites,
` but may not show every site registered with the DDN NIC (simply
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` for reasons having to do with how the program is set up to search
` the database).
`
`4. Questions About TCP/IP
`
` What is TCP/IP?
`
` TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) [4,5,6]
` is the common name for a family of over 100 data-communications
` protocols used to organize computers and data-communications
` equipment into computer networks. TCP/IP was developed to
` interconnect hosts on ARPANET, PRNET (packet radio), and SATNET
` (packet satellite). All three of these networks have since been
` retired; but TCP/IP lives on. It is currently used on a large
` international network of networks called the Internet, whose
` members include universities, other research institutions,
` government facilities, and many corporations. TCP/IP is also
` sometimes used for other networks, particularly local area
` networks that tie together numerous different kinds of computers
` or tie together engineering workstations.
`
` What are the other well-known standard protocols
` in the TCP/IP family?
`
` Other than TCP and IP, the three main protocols in the TCP/IP
` suite are the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) [8], the File
` Transfer Protocol (FTP) [3], and the TELNET Protocol [9]. There
` are many other protocols in use on the Internet. The Internet
` Activities Board (IAB) regularly publishes an RFC [2] that
` describes the state of standardization of the various Internet
` protocols. This document is the best guide to the current status
` of Internet protocols and their recommended usage.
`
`5. Questions About the Domain Name System
`
` What is the Domain Name System?
`
` The Domain Name System (DNS) is a hierarchical, distributed method
` of organizing the name space of the Internet. The DNS
` administratively groups hosts into a hierarchy of authority that
` allows addressing and other information to be widely distributed
` and maintained. A big advantage to the DNS is that using it
` eliminates dependence on a centrally-maintained file that maps
` host names to addresses.
`
` What is a Fully Qualified Domain Name?
`
` A Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) is a domain name that
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` includes all higher level domains relevant to the entity named.
` If you think of the DNS as a tree-structure with each node having
` its own label, a Fully Qualified Domain Name for a specific node
` would be its label followed by the labels of all the other nodes
` between it and the root of the tree. For example, for a host, a
` FQDN would include the string that identifies the particular host,
` plus all domains of which the host is a part up to and including
` the top-level domain (the root domain is always null). For
` example, PARIS.NISC.SRI.COM is a Fully Qualified Domain Name for
` the host at 192.33.33.109. In addition, NISC.SRI.COM is the FQDN
` for the NISC domain.
`
`6. Questions About Internet Documentation
`
` What is an RFC?
`
` The Request for Comments documents (RFCs) are working notes of the
` Internet research and development community. A document in this
` series may be on essentially any topic related to computer
` communication, and may be anything from a meeting report to the
` specification of a standard. Submissions for Requests for
` Comments may be sent to the RFC Editor, Jon Postel
` (POSTEL@ISI.EDU).
`
` Most RFCs are the descriptions of network protocols or services,
` often giving detailed procedures and formats for their
` implementation. Other RFCs report on the results of policy
` studies or summarize the work of technical committees or
` workshops. All RFCs are considered public domain unless
` explicitly marked otherwise.
`
` While RFCs are not refereed publications, they do receive
` technical review from either the task forces, individual technical
` experts, or the RFC Editor, as appropriate. Currently, most
` standards are published as RFCs, but not all RFCs specify
` standards.
`
` Anyone can submit a document for publication as an RFC.
` Submissions must be made via electronic mail to the RFC Editor.
` Please consult RFC 1111, "Instructions to RFC Authors" [10], for
` further information. RFCs are accessible online in public access
` files, and a short message is sent to a notification distribution
` list indicating the availability of the memo. Requests to be
` added to this distribution list should be sent to RFC-
` REQUEST@NIC.DDN.MIL.
`
` The online files are copied by interested people and printed or
` displayed at their sites on their equipment. (An RFC may also be
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` returned via electronic mail in response to an electronic mail
` query.) This means that the format of the online files must meet
` the constraints of a wide variety of printing and display
` equipment.
`
` Once a document is assigned an RFC number and published, that RFC
` is never revised or re-issued with the same number. There is
` never a question of having the most recent version of a particular
` RFC. However, a protocol (such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP))
` may be improved and re-documented many times in several different
` RFCs. It is important to verify that you have the most recent RFC
` on a particular protocol. The "IAB Official Protocol Standards"
` [2] memo is the reference for determining the correct RFC to refer
` to for the current specification of each protocol.
`
` How do I obtain RFCs?
`
` RFCs can be obtained via FTP from NIC.DDN.MIL, with the pathname
` RFC:RFCnnnn.TXT or RFC:RFCnnnn.PS (where "nnnn" refers to the
` number of the RFC). Login using FTP, username "anonymous" and
` password "guest". The NIC also provides an automatic mail service
` for those sites which cannot use FTP. Address the request to
` SERVICE@NIC.DDN.MIL and in the subject field of the message
` indicate the RFC number, as in "Subject: RFC nnnn" (or "Subject:
` RFC nnnn.PS" for PostScript RFCs).
`
` RFCs can also be obtained via FTP from NIS.NSF.NET. Using FTP,
` login with username "anonymous" and password "guest"; then connect
` to the RFC directory ("cd RFC"). The file name is of the form
` RFCnnnn.TXT-1 (where "nnnn" refers to the number of the RFC). The
` NIS also provides an automatic mail service for those sites which
` cannot use FTP. Address the request to NIS-INFO@NIS.NSF.NET and
` leave the subject field of the message blank. The first line of
` the text of the message must be "SEND RFCnnnn.TXT-1", where nnnn
` is replaced by the RFC number.
`
` Requests for special distribution should be addressed to either
` the author of the RFC in question, or to NIC@NIC.DDN.MIL. SRI
` International operates NIC.DDN.MIL and has a hardcopy subscription
` service for RFCs as well as several publications which incorporate
` a selection of RFCs defining Internet standards. Unless
` specifically noted otherwise on the RFC itself, all RFCs are for
` unlimited distribution.
`
` How do I obtain a list of RFCs?
`
` The NIC maintains a file that is an index of the RFCs. It lists
` each RFC, starting with the most recent, and for each RFC provides
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` the number, title, author(s), issue date, and number of hardcopy
` pages. In addition, it lists the online formats (PostScript or
` ASCII text) for each RFC and the number of bytes each such version
` is online on the NIC.DDN.MIL host. If an RFC is also an FYI, that
` fact is noted, with the corresponding FYI number. (There is a
` parallel FYI Index available). Finally, the Index notes whether
` or not an RFC is obsoleted or updated by another RFC, and gives
` the number of that RFC, or if an RFC itself obsoletes or updates
` another RFC, and gives that RFC number. The index is updated
` online each time an RFC is issued.
`
` This RFC Index is available online from the NIC.DDN.MIL host as
` RFC:RFC-INDEX.TXT. The FYI Index is online as FYI:FYI-INDEX.TXT.
` It is also available from the NIC in hardcopy for $10, as are
` individual RFCs. Call the NIC at 1-800-235-3155 for help in
` obtaining the file.
`
` Which RFCs are Standards?
`
` See "IAB Official Protocol Standards" (currently, RFC 1140) [2].
`
` What is an Internet Draft? Are there any guidelines available for
` writing one?
`
` Internet Drafts (I-D’s) are the current working documents of the
` IETF. Internet Drafts are generally in the format of an RFC with
` some key differences:
`
` - The Internet Drafts are not RFC’s and are not a numbered
` document series.
`
` - The words INTERNET-DRAFT appear in place of RFC XXXX
` in the upper left-hand corner.
`
` - The document does not refer to itself as an RFC or as a
` Draft RFC.
`
` - An Internet Draft does not state nor imply that it is a
` proposed standard. To do so conflicts with the role of
` the IAB, the RFC Editor, and the Internet Engineering
` Steering Group (IESG).
`
` An Internet Drafts Directory has been installed to make available,
` for review and comment by the IETF members, draft documents that
` will be submitted ultimately to the IAB and the RFC Editor to be
` considered for publishing as an RFC. The Internet Drafts
` Directories are maintained primarily at the NSFNET Network Service
` Center (NNSC). There are several "shadow" machines which contain
`
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` the IETF and Internet Drafts Directories. They are:
`
` NSF Network Service Center: nnsc.nsf.net
` DDN NIC: nic.ddn.mil
` Pacific Rim: munnari.oz.au
` Europe: nic.nordu.net (192.36.148.17)
`
` To access these directories, use anonymous FTP. Login with
` username, "anonymous", password, "guest". Once logged in, change
` to the directory, "cd internet-drafts". Internet Draft files can
` then be retrieved.
`
` For further information on the Internet Drafts of the IETF, or if
` you have problems with retrieving Internet Draft documents,
` contact Megan Davies (mdavies@nri.reston.va.us) or Greg Vaudreuil
` (gvaudre@nri.reston.va.us) for assistance.
`
` How do I obtain OSI Standards documents?
`
` OSI Standards documents are NOT available from the Internet via
` anonymous FTP due to copyright restrictions. These are available
` from:
`
` Omnicom Information Service
` 501 Church Street NE
` Suite 304
` Vienna, VA 22180 USA
` Telephone: (800) 666-4266 or (703) 281-1135
` Fax: (703) 281-1505
`
` However, the GOSIP specification which covers the use of OSI
` protocols within the U.S. Government is available from the NIC and
` from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
` The final text of GOSIP Version 2 is now available from both
` sites. Version 2 is expected to become a Federal Information
` Processing Standard (FIPS) in early 1991.
`
` Online sources:
`
` Available through anonymous ftp from osi.ncsl.nist.gov
` (129.6.48.100) as:
`
` ./pub/gosip/gosip_v2.txt -- ascii
` ./pub/gosip/gosip_v2.txt.Z -- ascii compressed
` ./pub/gosip/gosip_v2.ps -- PostScript
` ./pub/gosip/gosip_v2.ps.Z -- PostScript compressed
`
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` Available through anonymous ftp from nic.ddn.mil (192.67.67.20)
` as:
`
` PROTOCOLS:GOSIP-V2.TXT -- ascii
` PROTOCOLS:GOSIP-V2.PS -- PostScript
` Hardcopy sources:
`
` Standards Processing Coordinator (ADP)
` National Institute of Standards and Technology
` Technology Building, Room B-64
` Gaithersburg, MD 20899
` (301) 975-2816
`
` Network Information Systems Center
` SRI International, Room EJ291
` 333 Ravenswood Ave.
` Menlo Park, CA 94025
` 1-800-235-3155
`
`7. Questions about Internet Organizations and Contacts
`
` What is the IAB?
`
` The Internet Activities Board (IAB) is the coordinating committee
` for Internet design, engineering and management [7]. IAB members
` are deeply committed to making the Internet function effectively
` and evolve to meet a large scale, high speed future. The chairman
` serves a term of two years and is elected by the members of the
` IAB. The current Chair of the IAB is Vint Cerf. The IAB focuses
` on the TCP/IP protocol suite, and extensions to the Internet
` system to support multiple protocol suites.
`
` The IAB performs the following functions:
`
` 1) Sets Internet Standards,
`
` 2) Manages the RFC publication process,
`
` 3) Reviews the operation of the IETF and IRTF,
`
` 4) Performs strategic planning for the Internet, identifying
` long-range problems and opportunities,
`
` 5) Acts as an international technical policy liaison and
` representative for the Internet community, and
`
` 6) Resolves technical issues which cannot be treated within
` the IETF or IRTF frameworks.
`
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` The IAB has two principal subsidiary task forces:
`
` 1) Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
`
` 2) Internet Research Task Force (IRTF)
`
` Each of these Task Forces is led by a chairman and guided by a
` Steering Group which reports to the IAB through its chairman. For
` the most part, a collection of Research or Working Groups carries
` out the work program of each Task Force.
`
` All decisions of the IAB are made public. The principal vehicle
` by which IAB decisions are propagated to the parties interested in
` the Internet and its TCP/IP protocol suite is the Request for
` Comments (RFC) note series and the Internet Monthly Report.
`
` What is the IANA?
`
` The task of coordinating the assignment of values to the
` parameters of protocols is delegated by the Internet Activities
` Board (IAB) to the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).
` These protocol parameters include op-codes, type fields, terminal
` types, system names, object identifiers, and so on. The "Assigned
` Numbers" Request for Comments (RFC) [1] documents the currently
` assigned values from several series of numbers used in network
` protocol implementations. Internet addresses and Autonomous
` System numbers are assigned by the Network Information Center at
` SRI International. This responsibility has been delegated by the
` IANA to the DDN NIC which serves as the Internet Registry. The
` IANA is located at USC/Information Sciences Institute.
`
` Current types of assignments listed in Assigned Numbers and
` maintained by the IANA are:
`
` Address Resolution Protocol Parameters
` ARPANET and MILNET X.25 Address Mappings
` ARPANET and MILNET Logical Addresses
` ARPANET and MILNET Link Numbers
` BOOTP Parameters and BOOTP Extension Codes
` Domain System Parameters
` IANA Ethernet Address Blocks
` Ethernet Numbers of Interest
` IEEE 802 Numbers of Interest
` Internet Protocol Numbers
` Internet Version Numbers
` IP Time to Live Parameter
` IP TOS Parameters
` Machine Names
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` Mail Encryption Types
` Multicast Addresses
` Network Management Parameters
` Point-to-Point Protocol Field Assignments
` PRONET 80 Type Numbers
` Port Assignments
` Protocol and Service Names
` Protocol/Type Field Assignments
` Public Data Network Numbers
` Reverse Address Resolution Protocol Operation Codes
` TELNET Options
` Terminal Type Names
` Unix Ports
` X.25 Type Numbers
`
` For more information on number assignments, contact IANA@ISI.EDU.
`
` What is a NIC? What is a NOC?
`
` "NIC" stands for Network Information Center. It is an
` organization which provides network users with information about
` services provided by the network.
`
` "NOC" stands Network Operations Center. It is an organization
` that is responsible for maintaining a network.
`
` For many networks, especially smaller, local networks, the
` functions of the NIC and NOC are combined. For larger networks,
` such as mid-level and backbone networks, the NIC and NOC
` organizations are separate, yet they do need to interact to fully
` perform their functions.
`
` What is "The NIC"?
`
` "The NIC" is the Defense Data Network, Network Information Center
` (DDN NIC) at SRI International, which is a network information
` center which holds a primary repository for RFCs and Internet
` Drafts. The host name is NIC.DDN.MIL. Shadow copies of the RFCs
` and the Internet Drafts are maintained by the NSFNET on
` NIS.NSF.NET.
`
` The DDN NIC also provides various user assistance services for DDN
` users; contact NIC@NIC.DDN.MIL or call 1-800-235-3155 for more
` information. In addition, the DDN NIC is the Internet
` registration authority for the root domain and several top and
` second level domains; maintains the official DoD Internet Host
` Table; is the site of the Internet Registry (IR); and maintains
` the WHOIS database of network users, hosts, domains, networks, and
`
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` Points of Contact.
`
` What is the IR?
`
` The Internet Registry (IR) is the organization that is responsible
` for assigning identifiers, such as IP network numbers and
` autonomous system numbers, to networks. The IR also gathers and
` registers such assigned information. The IR may, in the future,
` allocate the authority to assign network identifiers to other
` organizations; however, it will continue to gather data regarding
` such assignments. At present, the DDN NIC at SRI International
` serves as the IR.
`
` What is the IETF?
`
` The Internet has grown to encompass a large number of widely
` geographically dispersed networks in academic and research
` communities. It now provides an infrastructure for a broad
` community with various interests. Moreover, the family of
` Internet protocols and system components has moved from
` experimental to commercial development. To help coordinate the
` operation, management and evolution of the Internet, the IAB
` established the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).
`
` The IETF is chaired by Phill Gross and managed by its Internet
` Engineering Steering Group (IESG). The IETF is a large open
` community of network designers, operators, vendors, and
` researchers concerned with the Internet and the Internet protocol
` suite. It is organized around a set of several technical areas,
` each managed by a technical area director. In addition to the
` IETF Chairman, the area directors make up the IESG membership.
`
` The IAB has delegated to the IESG the general responsibility for
` making the Internet work and for the resolution of all short- and
` mid-range protocol and architectural issues required to make the
` Internet function effectively.
`
` What is the IRTF?
`
` To promote research in networking and the development of new
` technology, the IAB established the Internet Research Task Force
` (IRTF).
`
` In the area of network protocols, the distinction between research
` and engineering is not always clear, so there will sometimes be
` overlap between activities of the IETF and the IRTF. There is, in
` fact, considerable overlap in membership between the two groups.
` This overlap is regarded as vital for cross-fertilization and
`
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` technology transfer.
`
` The IRTF is a community of network researchers, generally with an
` Internet focus. The work of the IRTF is governed by its Internet
` Research Steering Group (IRSG). The chairman of the IRTF and IRSG
` is David Clark.
`
`8. Questions About Services
`
` How do I find someone’s electronic mail address?
`
` There are a number of directories on the Internet; however, all of
` them are far from complete. The largest directories are the WHOIS
` database at the DDN NIC, the PSInet White Pages, and KNOWBOT.
` Generally, it is still necessary to ask the person for his or her
` email address.
`
` How do I use the WHOIS program at the DDN NIC?
`
` To use the WHOIS program to search the WHOIS database at the DDN
` NIC, TELNET to the NIC host, NIC.DDN.MIL. There is no need to
` login. Type "whois" to call up the information retrieval program.
` Next, type the name of the person, host, domain, network, or
` mailbox for which you need information. If you are only typing
` part of the name, end your search string with a period. Type
` "help" for a more in-depth explanation of what you can search for
` and how you can search. If you have trouble, send a message to
` NIC@NIC.DDN.MIL or call 1-800-235-3155. Bug reports can be sent
` to BUG-WHOIS@NIC.DDN.MIL and suggestions for improvements to the
` program can be sent to SUGGESTIONS@NIC.DDN.MIL.
`
` How do I become registered in the DDN NIC’s WHOIS database?
`
` If you would like to be listed in the WHOIS database, you must
` have an electronic mailbox accessible from the Internet. First
` obtain the file NETINFO:USER-TEMPLATE.TXT. You can either
` retrieve this file via anonymous FTP from NIC.DDN.MIL or get it
` through electronic mail. To obtain the file via electronic mail,
` send a message to SERVICE@NIC.DDN.MIL and put the file name in the
` subject line of the message; that is, "Subject: NETINFO USER-
` TEMPLATE.TXT". The file will be returned to you overnight.
`
` Fill out the name and address information requested in the file
` and return it to REGISTRAR@NIC.DDN.MIL. Your application will be
` processed and you will be added to the database. Unless you are
` an official Point of Contact fo