Q: What is the "Early Registration Transfer Project"?
A: Some AS numbers and address resources were allocated to entities before the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) processes were established. Having been managed by U.S.-based organizations during that period, these resources have since been managed by ARIN.
Many entities now have resource records both in the ARIN database and in the database of their local RIR. When these entities need to make a modification to one of their records or request additional resources, there is often confusion about which RIR needs to be contacted.
Eliminating the need to maintain resource records in two separate databases will reduce the overhead of these entities, and is a goal of the Early Registration Transfer Project.
Additionally, it is often difficult for organizations outside the ARIN region to communicate with the ARIN staff due to considerable differences in time zones.
In response to requests by the community to relocate data management from ARIN to the appropriate regions, the RIRs have have begun the migration of these early registration records.
Q: Which resources will be subject to possible transfer?
A: All Autonomous System numbers as well as the former "Class B" network address space, i.e., 128/2, and selected "Class C" networks, namely 192/8, 196/8 and 198/8.
Q: What if the AS number or block of IP addresses are no longer used? Should these records be transferred?
A: No. Send a message to hostmaster@arin.net to return the resource. It will be returned to the pool of unallocated resources. If you discover that the resources are no longer used after the data has already been relocated, then you can contact the RIR holding the records.
Q: What should I do if I receive notification that a resource is to be transferred, but the country code on the resource is incorrect, and should not be transferred?
A: Complete and submit a template with the corrected postal address to hostmaster@arin.net Before August 9th, use an ARIN Net-Mod template. On or after August 9th, use an ARIN Org-Simple template.
Q: What should I do if the information on the resource, other than the country code, is incorrect?
A: ARIN will be "locking" out any automated changes to the registration records in the final stages of the migration of records to APNIC and RIPE NCC. This will be done in an effort to not lose synchronization of data between the RIRs prior to migration. If you have an urgent need to update your record in the ARIN database during this period of migration, you may do so by contacting ARIN.
After the resource has been transferred to the receiving RIR and you have registered details to gain access to the resource management process, you can change any part of the resource registration record, including maintainers, contact or in-addr.arpa nameserver information.
Q: Will this change cost me or my organization any money?
A: The actual transaction of transferring your registration record from ARIN to APNIC or RIPE NCC is not subject to any fees.
For resources moving to APNIC, there will be no charges of any kind as a result of the relocation at this time. In the future, charges may apply but there is no decision at this time.
For resources moving to the RIPE NCC, subsequent modifications to the data by the user will be subject to the RIPE NCC service agreement conditions. Resource holders who are already members of the RIPE NCC will not see any modification in fees as these resources will not affect the member category. Resource holders who are not already members of the RIPE NCC will need to enter into a RIPE NCC standard service agreement.
If the data relocation process exposes disputes over registration, and use of network resources, your organization may be required to pay non-RIR managed expenses.
For some entities, the benefits of increased efficiency will far outweigh any longer term costs.
Q: We received some IP addresses a long time ago, and have had little to no contact with any of the RIRs. What difference does it make to have my IP addresses registered in ARIN's or another RIR's database?
A: The Early Registration Transfer Project is to benefit the Internet community as a whole. Although you may be required to establish a new relationship with another RIR, there are significant benefits. In the future, you will only deal with your local RIR. This should mean simpler processes, and service in or close to your core working hours.
When applying for more resources, you are required to account for early registration resources. The transfer of these early registrations, should simplify this process, and helps manage all resources through a single source.
Q: How does this change affect my network currently in operation?
A: If nothing in connection with your reverse-DNS has to change during the "lockout" period, then this change in data management should have no impact on deployed services.
If you discover that in transit, changes have been made to your DNS we will of course help resolve this as quickly as possible.
Q: Do I need to become member of an RIR at this time?
A: No, you don't have to become a member at this time. Of course, we encourage resource holding entities to share the community cost for administration of the resources, but there is no obligation at this time. You may in future incur fee for service, but you may have incurred this anyway, irrespective of the relocation of data management to the RIR.
In many cases, you *are* already a member of an RIR in connection with other resources. We welcome you choosing to fold management of these early registration resources into that framework.
Q: Who decides on what information will be in the new object in the RIR database?
A: The information has been created from data held by ARIN. Where new information (e.g. nic-hdl) had to be created, simple processes were used to derive it from details in-hand.
If multiple data sources exist, and these can be found and cross-matched, then more recent data is preferred over older data, and where no clear choice can be made strenuous attempts are made to contact the prime information owner (i.e. you) and clarify.
Additionally all possible efforts will be made to contact your organization to verify the correctness of the details before the transfer. Only in the cases where no reply is obtained within a 30 day period will the synthesized data be registered in the new RIR database.
Q: Will I be able to communicate directly with any RIR from now on?
A: Yes, anybody can communicate directly with any RIR. Some channels for communication are of course restricted to members, and require membership codes, but in principle, all of the RIRs are open to input and communication from all Internet users.
However, we suggest that where your inquiry relates to resources which have been relocated, requests for assistance with management of the resources and associated data be directed at the RIR which now holds the records for your resource. You can expect other RIRs to ask you to primarily use the in-region RIR for communication in this context.
Q: Do I have to move my data? I don't want the bother.
A: If we have misidentified your entity as being outside the ARIN region then you can keep the data with ARIN. If the country code associated with your resource record is in another RIR's region, your resource record will be transferred to that RIR.
Q: What information in the ARIN WHOIS database will be affected?
A: Any AS Number or IP address space that was registered prior to ARIN's existence, with a country code outside of the ARIN region will be affected.
Q: Does this affect my domain name?
A: No. Only network resource information is affected. No WHOIS objects held by any other agency, relating to any other purpose than assignments or allocations of Internet address or AS number resources are affected.
Q: Do I get to keep my XYZ123-ARIN nic-handle?
A: If you retain any resources in the ARIN region, you may keep ARIN nic-handles and data in ARIN WHOIS but in the relocation of data management from ARIN to RIPE NCC and APNIC, it is necessary to have a new nic-handle generated to avoid collisions with existing records, and to conform to RIR regional requirements.
Q: I have never used the new RIR database and do not know how to make updates, what do I do?
A: If your records are being transferred to APNIC, more information can be found at:
APNIC WHOIS Database objects resource guide:
http://www.apnic.net/services/whois_guide.html
If your records are being transferred to RIPE NCC, more information can be found at:
RIPE Database FAQ:
http://www.ripe.net/ripencc/faq/database/index.html
If your records are being transferred to LACNIC, more information can be found at:
Guide of the System
Q: I am not familiar with the new RIR Policies, where can I find more information?
A: If your records are being transferred to APNIC, more information can be found at the following:
Autonomous System number (AS Number) resource guide found at:
http://www.apnic.net/services/asn_guide.html
IPv4 resource guide found at:
http://www.apnic.net/services/ipv4_guide.html
If your records are being transferred to RIPE NCC, more information can be found at:
RIPE NCC - Registration Services at:
http://www.ripe.net/ripencc/mem-services/registration/index.html
If your records are being transferred to LACNIC, more information can be found at:
Registration Services - LACNIC
Q: You mentioned 'domain' as one of the objects in the RIR database. I thought domain names weren't affected?
A: Domain *names* are not affected. APNIC and RIPE use 'domain' *objects* in the management of reverse delegations, e.g. x.y.z.in-addr.arpa .
If the IP addresses that are being transferred, have inaddr nameservers attached, these nameservers are added to the RIR database as domain objects, and are automatically included in the zone reloads.
Q: My reverse delegation has gone away or is incorrect, and it was right before the transfer.
A: For a delegation to be created or modified, the administrators of the parent zone must be informed of the current delegation details. If its not visible, then you probably depended on invalid status data in the ARIN WHOIS database. Of course we're sorry you have had your existing Reverse-DNS affected, the quickest way to correct this is to get access controls on your objects, and update the DNS information.
Q: How do I go about managing my resource with my new RIR?
A: Each RIR has specific methods for authorizing changes and establishing authentication. At the time of transfer, if the contact-of-record does not already have an established means of authentication with the recipient RIR, the RIR will place your records in a 'hold-harmless' state.
You can establish a means of authentication by completing some simple proof of relationship processes to identify yourself. In most cases, readily available information from another authorized person (such as a data center manager, company officer) will suffice. It is recommended that you establish a means of authentication prior to transfer.
Q: I was notified that my records were transferred to APNIC or RIPE, but the records are not visible at whois..net?
A: Please contact the RIR to which the registration was transferred. Be sure to include the affected records and the date of transfer.
Q: I have read all the FAQs, but still have questions. How do I contact the RIR?
A: If you are unable to find the answers to your questions on the RIRs' web sites, e-mail is the best method to contact the RIRs. E-mail will allow the RIR to ticket and correctly track your questions and comments for a more informed response.
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