Internet Architecture Board G. Huston, Editor
Internet Draft April 2001
Document: draft-iab-arpa-00.txt
Category: BCP
Management Guidelines & Operational Requirements for
the Internet Infrastructure Domain ("ARPA")
Status of this Memo
This document is an Internet-Draft and is in full conformance with
all provisions of Section 10 of RFC2026 [4].
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Abstract
This memo describes the management and operational requirements for
the "ARPA" domain. The "ARPA" domain is used to support a class of
infrastructural identifier spaces, providing a distributed database
that translates elements of a structured name space derived from a
protocol family to service names. The efficient and reliable
operation of this DNS space is essential to the integrity of
operation of various services within the Internet. The Internet
Architecture Board has the responsibility, in cooperation with the
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, to manage the
domain name "ARPA". This document describes the principles used by
the IAB in undertaking this role.
1. Introduction
The Domain Name System (DNS) [1] [2] is predominately used to
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translate a structured textual identifier into a protocol-specific
value. It uses the structure embedded within a hierarchical
identifier space to create a distributed database, where every node
within the database corresponds to a node within the name structure.
The most prevalent role of the DNS is to store a set of name to
address translations, allowing a domain name to be translated to an
IP address. The DNS is also used to store a number of other
translations from hierarchically structured identifier spaces into
target values of various types.
The DNS is also capable of supporting a translation in the opposite
direction, from protocol values to the names of service entities.
One approach in using the DNS in this fashion has been to transform
protocol values into a hierarchically structured identifier space,
and then use these transformed protocol value names as a DNS lookup
key into the appropriate DNS name hierarchy. The most common use of
this mechanism to date has been the reverse of the name to address
lookup, allowing for an IPv4 address to be used to look up a
matching domain name. The domain name hierarchy used to hold these
number-to-name mappings is placed into the DNS name hierarchy is the
name location "in-addr.ARPA". The resolution of protocol objects
into service names is used by a number of applications to associate
services with a particular protocol object. The correct and
efficient operation of these applications is dependent on the
correct and efficient operation of the associated "ARPA" domain name
servers.
2. The "ARPA" domain
The Internet Architecture Board (IAB), in cooperation with the
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), is
currently responsible for undertaking the role to manage the Top
Level Domain (TLD) name "ARPA". This arrangement is documented in
Appendix A. This domain name provides the root of the name hierarchy
of the reverse mapping of IP addresses to domain names. More
generally, this domain name undertakes a role as a limited use
domain for Internet infrastructure applications, by providing a name
root for the mapping of particular protocol values to names of
service entities. This domain name provides a name root for the
mapping of protocol values into lookup keys to retrieve
operationally critical protocol infrastructure data records or
objects for the Internet.
The IAB may add other infrastructure uses to the ARPA domain in the
future. Any such additions or changes will be documented in an RFC.
This domain is termed an "infrastructure domain", as its role is to
support the operating infrastructure of the Internet. In particular,
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the ARPA domain is not to be used in the same manner (e.g. for
naming hosts) as other generic Top Level Domains are commonly used.
The operational administration of this domain, in accordance with
the provisions described in this document, shall be performed by the
IANA under the terms of the MoU between the IAB and ICANN concerning
the IANA. [3]
2.1 Criteria for "ARPA" Sub-domains
"ARPA" sub-domains are used for those protocol object sets defined
as part of the Internet Standards Process [4], and are recommended
to be managed as infrastructure protocol objects. The recommendation
is to be made in the "IANA Considerations" section of the Internet
Standard protocol specification. The recommendation should include
the manner in which protocol objects are to be mapped into lookup
keys, and recommendations to IANA concerning the operation of the
"ARPA" sub-domain in conjunction with the recommendations concerning
the operation of the protocol object registry itself.
The progress of the protocol standard from internet-draft to
Proposed Standard shall include consideration of the IANA
Considerations section and a recommendation to the IAB to request
the IANA to add the corresponding protocol object sub-domain domain
to the "ARPA" domain, in accordance with RFC 2860 [3], with
administration of the sub-domain undertaken in accordance with the
provisions described in this document.
2.2 "ARPA" Name Server Requirements
As this domain is part of the operationally critically
infrastructure of the Internet, the stability, integrity and
efficiency of the operation of this domain is a matter of importance
for all Internet users.
The "ARPA" domain is positioned as a top level domain in order to
avoid potential operational instabilities caused by multiple DNS
lookups spanning several operational domains that would be required
to locate the servers of each of the parent names of a more deeply
nested infrastructure name. The maximal lookup set for "ARPA" is a
lookup of the name servers for the "ARPA" domain from a root server,
and the query agent is then provided with a list of authoritative
"ARPA" name servers.
The efficient and correct operation of the "ARPA" domain is
considered to be sufficiently critical that the operational
requirements for the root servers apply to the operational
requirements of the "ARPA" servers. All operational requirements
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noted in RFC 2870 [5] as they apply to the operational requirements
of the root servers shall apply to the operation of the "ARPA"
servers. Any revision to RFC2870 in relation to the operation of the
root servers shall also apply to the operation of the "ARPA"
servers.
The servers that are authoritative for the root zone (or the "."
zone) also currently serve as authoritative for the "ARPA" zone. As
noted in RFC 2870 [5], this arrangement is likely to change in the
future.
3. Delegation of "ARPA" Sub-Domains
As of the time of the preparation of this document, the ARPA domain
is used for the sub-domains "in-addr.ARPA" and "e164.ARPA". While
the decision as to which protocol elements are loaded into the ARPA
domain, and the hierarchical structure of such protocol elements,
remains within the role of the IAB, the role of managing the sub-
domain may be delegated by the IAB to an appropriate protocol
management authority.
The IAB shall only recommend the creation of "ARPA" sub-domains
corresponding to protocol entities in the case that the delegation,
and the hierarchical name structure is described by an IETF
Standards Track document [4], and this inclusion within the "ARPA"
domain is explicitly recommended in the "IANA Considerations"
section of that document.
If the appropriate protocol management authority is willing and able
to operate a set of name servers that are in conformance with the
requirements described in this document, the IAB MAY request the
IANA to delegate the sub-domain to that authority. If the delegated
authority is not in a position to operate a set of name servers in
conformance with these requirements, the IAB shall designate a
server operator to undertake this function, and shall instruct the
server operator to undertake further sub-delegation of protocol
elements in accordance with the instructions of the delegated
authority.
4. Current Status of "ARPA"
Currently, the "ARPA" zone is located on the same set of servers as
the root servers, and the zone in managed in accordance with these
specifications.
The IPv4 reverse address domain, "in-addr.ARPA" is delegated to the
IANA. The "in-addr.ARPA" zone is currently located on the same set
of servers as the root servers. Sub-delegations within this
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hierarchy are undertaken in accordance with the IANA's address
allocation practices.
The process to undertake sub-delegations of the "e164.ARPA" domain
are described in Section 4 of RFC 2916 [6], which notes the
provision that names within this zone are to be delegated to parties
according to ITU recommendation E.164.
5. Infrastructure domains elsewhere in the DNS tree
Any infrastructure domains that are located elsewhere in the DNS
tree than as sub-domains of "ARPA", for historical or other reasons,
SHOULD adhere to all of the requirements established in this
document for sub-domains of "ARPA".
6. Security Considerations
The security considerations as documented in RFC2870 [5], and any
successors to that document shall apply to the operation of the
"ARPA" servers.
The security considerations specific to the E164 subdomain are
documented in Section 5 of RFC 2916 [6].
Any new subdomain delegation MUST adequately document any security
considerations specific to the information stored therein.
7. IANA Considerations
As noted in Section 3, the IAB MAY request the IANA to delegate the
sub-domains of "ARPA" in accordance with the "IANA Considerations"
section of an IETF Standards Track document. This request falls
under the scope of Section 4 of the the MoU between the IETF and
ICANN concerning the IANA. [3]
Acknowledgements
This document is a document of the IAB, and the editor acknowledges
the contributions of the members of the IAB in the preparation of
the document.
References
[1] Mockapetris, P., "Domain names - concepts and facilities",
STD13, RFC 1034, November 1987.
[2] Mockapetris, P., "Domain names - implementation and
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specification", STD 13, RFC 1035, November 1987.
[3] Carpenter,B., Baker, F., Roberrts, M., "Memorandum of
Understanding Concerning the Technical Work of the Internet
Assigned Numbers Authority", RFC 2860, June 2000.
[4] Bradner, S., "The Internet Standards Process -- Revision 3",
BCP9, RFC2026, October 1996.
[5] Bush, R., Karrenberg, D., Kosters, M., Plzak, R., "Root Name
Server Operational Requirements", BCP 40, RFC 2870, June 2000.
[6] Falstrom, P., "E.164 number and DNS", RFC 2916, September 2000.
Author
Internet Architecture Board
Geoff Huston, Editor
iab@iab.org
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Appendix A
April 28, 2000
Mr. Louis Touton
Vice-President, Secretary, and General Counsel
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
4676 Admiralty Way, Suite 330
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
Re: Purchase Order No. 40SBNT067020:
Administration of the ARPA Top Level Domain
Dear Mr. Touton:
As noted in your organization's quotation of February 2, 2000, the ARPA
Top Level Domain (TLD) exists in the root zone of the domain name
system as a limited use domain currently consisting of one record, in-
addrARPA. On April 14, 2000, the Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency (DARPA), formerly known as the Advanced Research Projects Agency
(ARPA), officially signaled its disassociation with the ARPA domain and
its understanding the domain would be used by the Internet Corporation
for Assigned Names (ICANN) and Numbers and the Internet Architecture
Board (IAB) for additional Internet infrastructure uses.
In keeping with the DARPA understanding, we believe that the ARPA
domain should be made available for this specific, limited purpose.
The Department of Commerce considers this an Internet Assigned Numbers
Authority (IANA) function and has requested that the WHOIS entry for
the ARPA domain reflect IANA as the registrant.
Purchase Order No. 40SBNT067020 provides that "[ICANN] will perform
other IANA functions as needed upon request of DOC." As such, the
Department of Commerce requests that, as part of the IANA functions,
ICANN undertake administration of the ARPA TLD in cooperation with the
Internet technical community under the guidance of the IAB, as a
limited use domain for Internet infrastructure applications, including
the migration of Internet infrastructure applications that currently
reside in the .int TLD. Further, as indicated by DARPA, the ARPA TLD
string should be given a different expansion such as "Address and
Routing Parameter Area" to avoid any implication that DARPA has
operational responsibility for the domain.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Karen Rose
Purchase Order Technical Representative
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