________________________________________________________________________ prop-037-v001: Deprecation of email updates for APNIC Registry and whois data ________________________________________________________________________ Author: Terry Manderson, APNIC Version: 1 Date: 7 August 2006 Introduction ------------ There are two ways to update data in the APNIC registry (which includes whois data). The first is to use interfaces on the certificate-secured MyAPNIC web site. The second is to send plain text updates by email to (for whois objects only). This is a proposal to phase out email updates. Problem summary --------------- Security: The mechanisms for securing the contents of an email and validating the identity of the author of the update are weak by modern standards. Although there are ways of improving the use of email for secure transactions, these are not considered sufficiently scaleable. Unsolicited mails (spam): The destination for email updates, , suffers from the same set of problems as any other email address on the Internet. Despite the APNIC Secretariat's best efforts to reduce the impact of spam and email-borne viruses, the system constantly receives irrelevant emails, which can affect the system's ability to efficiently process legitimate updates. It has also been observed that members' mail servers often reject automated replies from as spam. This frequently interferes with the update process, causing confusion for users and avoidable work for the APNIC Helpdesk. Service development: APNIC registry services are becoming more complex and their requirements are growing beyond the capabilities of the email update system. For instance, the provisions for protecting the privacy of customer data (Policy prop-007-v001) require an interactive feedback cycle that would be difficult and complex in an automated email transaction. At present these privacy provisions are supported only in MyAPNIC. It is also doubtful that an email-based process will be able to support the likely future implementation of routing security using RFC3779 and related mechanisms. Proposal summary ---------------- The APNIC Secretariat will phase out email-based updates to registry data 12 months after adoption of the policy. Implementation stages: To ensure that enough time is given to APNIC members to familiarise themselves with alternative ways of updating registry records, we propose the following schedule: - 4 months after adoption: Stop accepting email updates for domain objects - 8 months after adoption: Stop accepting email updates for inetnum, inet6num, and aut-num objects - 12 months after adoption: Stop accepting email update for the remaining object types At every stage, the Secretariat will actively inform those who are still using email updates to change to the alternative method. Situation in other RIRs ----------------------- LACNIC currently does not accept any updates to registry via email. All updates are via a web-based interface. ARIN only accepts modifications to registry data via email. RIPE-NCC primarily accepts modifications to registry data via email; however, a web portal 'LIR Portal' has been developed to augment the management of registry data. AfriNIC currently accepts modifications to registry data via email. A web based 'MyAfriNIC' portal is being developed. Details of this proposal ------------------------ Before deprecating email updates, the APNIC Secretariat will provide an alternative mechanism that is suitable for automated and secured registry transactions. It is expected that this mechanism will be based on web services (XML/REST), delivering atomic transactions via a certificate-secured HTTPS layer, as presented in the APNIC 21 DNS operaterions SIG. During the process of email update deprecation, MyAPNIC functionality will remain unaffected. The following steps are proposed to ensure a smooth migration for members using email updates. - Deploy evaluation web services technology to allow registry record update using automated tools - Target: 2 months after adoption - Provide a test system with its own URL for users to safely test their scripts - Provide example command line Unix tools to aid in members' automation efforts - Deprecate domain object email updates - Target: 4 months after adoption - Public and members announcement 1 month prior to cut-off date - Monitor and actively inform users who are still sending updates via email - Deprecate inetnum, inet6num, aut-num objects email updates - Target: 8 months after adoption - Public and members announcement 1 month prior to cut-off date - Monitor and actively inform users who are still sending updates via e-mail - Deprecate all remaining objects email updates - Target: 12 months after adoption - Public and members announcement 1 month prior to cut-off date - Monitor and actively inform users who are still sending updates via email - The APNIC Secretariat will present progress reports at APNIC 23 and APNIC 24. Advantages and disadvantages of adopting the proposed policy ------------------------------------------------------------ The web services system will provide immediate feedback on the success or failure of an update to registry data (within the TCP session). All updates to APNIC registry will be encrypted in transit, and the identity of the author verified and authorised by APNIC certificates. All future data submitted to the APNIC Secretariat will be in an XML structured syntax. The XML schema will be publicly available for members' own development use. The APNIC Secretariat will only support strong encryption and authentication mechanisms for managing registry data. Effect on APNIC members ----------------------- - Members currently using automated email procedures for managing APNIC data should prepare in advance for the deprecation. - Members using simple email methods for managing their registry data should evaluate their process and be prepared to implement new methods. Effect on NIRs -------------- NIRs should consider their data management procedures with APNIC and modify their manual and automated systems as appropriate. References ---------- RFC3779: X.509 Extensions for IP Addresses and AS Identifiers http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3779.txt DRAFT: A Profile for X.509 PKIX Resource Certificates draft-ietf-sidr-res-certs-01.txt http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-sidr-res-certs-01.txt DRAFT: Profile for Resource Certificate Repository Structure draft-huston-sidr-repos-struct-00.txt http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-huston-sidr-repos-struct-00.txt APNIC Policy: Privacy of customer assignment records http://www.apnic.net/policy/proposals/prop-007-v001.html APNIC Presentation: APNIC reverse DNS management roadmap http://www.apnic.net/meetings/21/docs/sigs/dns/ dns-pres-terry-revdns-roadmap.pdf