Publication of New RIPE Database Doc.

Dear Colleagues,

The RIPE NCC is pleased to announce that this week it will publish 
the "RIPE Database Reference Manual" on the RIPE NCC website. The new 
RIPE document is expected to answer many questions of Local Internet 
Registries and other users regarding the migration to version 3.0 of 
the RIPE Database software implemented on 23 April 2001.

The new RIPE document obsoletes two previous documents: “"RIPE 
Database Documentation Update”" (ripe-189) and "RIPE Database 
Documentation”" (ripe-157).

The RIPE Database Reference Manual describes the functionality of the 
new version of the RIPE Database software that now uses the Routing 
Policy Specification Language (RPSL) to represent all database 
objects. RPSL defines an extended syntax for all database objects, 
mainly for the routing registry objects.

Many new features have been implemented in this new version, such as 
Routing Policy System Security (RPSS) support specified in RFC 2725, 
fast IP lookups and automatic access control. RPSS provides 
authorisation mechanisms that enable a higher level of security for 
the Internet Routing Registries.

Although the document is self-contained, it does not have examples of 
usage and illustrations of principles and concepts related to the 
RIPE Database functionality and implementation. This need will be 
filled by the "“RIPE Database User’'s Manual" and the “"RIPE Database 
Operations Manual”" that are scheduled to be written.

For more information and better understanding of the new document, 
the RIPE NCC encourages readers to brush up on RPSL (explained in RFC 
2622), RPSS (explained in RFC 2725) and “"Using RPSL in Practice”" 
(the title of RFC 2650).

Joao Luis Silva Damas, Chief Technical Officer of the RIPE NCC, 
wishes to acknowledge the contributions of past and present 
colleagues in the development of version 3.0 of the RIPE Database 
software: Andrei Robachevsky, Daniele Arena, Marek Bukowy, Engin 
Gunduz, Roman Karpiuk, Shane Kerr, A.M.R. Magee, Chris Ottrey and 
Filippo Portera.


Paul  Rendek
RIPE NCC

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