Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 3/23/84; site cbosgd.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!we13!ihnp4!cbosgd!mark
From: mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton)
Newsgroups: net.mail.headers
Subject: Re: observation
Message-ID: <1260@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 12-Apr-84 17:32:01 EST
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.1260
Posted: Thu Apr 12 17:32:01 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 13-Apr-84 21:12:41 EST
References: <459@hou3c.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Lines: 16


	What gives the domain "DEC" legitimacy?

DEC is as legitimate a domain as any of the others (UUCP, CSNET)
that are currently being used.  ARPA is not recognizing any domains
other than ARPA right now, although they have published dates by
which they are willing to consider them.  However, these domains
exist and are being used, whether or not ARPA recognizes them.

That particular message header you showed had the DEC domain entirely
hidden on the LHS, e.g.
    From: covert%castor.DEC@Purdue-Merlin.ARPA
This is entirely within 822 guidelines even if DEC is not known on ARPA,
as long as Purdue-Merlin knows how to gateway it.  From all appearances,
the gateway is doing fine.

	Mark Horton