Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!porthos.rutgers.edu!pleasant From: pleasant@porthos.rutgers.edu (Mel Pleasant) Newsgroups: news.config Subject: Re: Unregistered-but-referenced sites (was Re: deleted UUCP sites) Message-ID: Date: 4 Jan 90 04:36:11 GMT References: <4195@convex.UUCP> <30273@mcdchg.chg.mcd.mot.com> <43496@improper.coherent.com> Distribution: news Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 33 After seeing all of this discussion on site names for which there aren't any map entries, I thought I might tell you what the official policy is. This is the way it is suppose to hapen across the country and indeed around the world. Mileage varies but, as far as I can tell, the regional co-ordinators attempt to follow the process when possible. When the process isn't or can't be followed there's lot of communication and, hopefully, a reasoned solution for the special situation, to wit: If a site name appears on a #N line it is considered to be permanently registered. If pathalias generates a path to a site for which there isn't a map entry, the sitename is considered to be conditionally registered. What's the difference? Well, a conditionally registered site may hold on to its name for as long as no one else wants it and remain without a map entry for that period of time. However, should some other site want the name *and* is willing to register it with a map entry *and* insists upon attempting to steal it, the conditionally registered site is first offered the opportunity to upgrade its registration to permanent status. We do this because conditionally registered sites may have picked up quite a few connections over time. Generally, it is much easier for the new guy on the block to pick a new name. If the conditionally registered site refuses to upgrade, we blow'em away and accept the new registration. The procedure has worked for quite some time now. I'm always open to suggestions for change but I'd like to see them backed by some fairly strong arguments. By the way, I recognize that this procedure causes additional work for the regional co-ordinators but it also avoids the gnashing of teeth that prevailed before the procedure was put into place. I'd like to have as friendly a procedure as possible and I think this is about as friendly as one can get and still maintain some semblance of order. -- Mel Pleasant {backbone}!rutgers!pleasant pleasant@rutgers.edu mpleasant@zodiac.bitnet