[db-wg] Phasing out the LIR Portal object editors

Dear colleagues,

Over the last year the RIPE NCC has been making a considerable amount of incremental changes to the RIPE Database user interface. Especially the implementation of streamlined authentication using RIPE NCC Access has put us in a position where we can further improve the user experience in other areas. 

As the next step in this process, we intend to phase out the so-called LIR Portal object editors. Currently, the object editors are necessary to allow you to make changes to particular attributes of RIPE Database objects that are maintained by the RIPE NCC. For example, you can use them to change the tech-c and admin-c in the inetnum object for the allocation that you hold. 

This system has always been the cause of much confusion. User data that you expect to be able to change in the RIPE Database can only be changed through the LIR Portal, whereas other information can be edited in the RIPE Database itself. Our plan is to bring all of this to the place where it belongs and where users expect it, the RIPE Database.

The way we intend to do this involves a couple of steps. The first step is to use business rules to determine which attributes you can change, and which ones can only be changed by the RIPE NCC. For example, in an inetnum for an allocation only the RIPE NCC can change the range, but you can change the admin-c and tech-c. 

The second step is setting the authorisation for the attributes that you control. The RIPE NCC already has a maintainer on the allocation, RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT. In the system we envision, we would allow you to select an additional maintainer, to authorise changes over the attributes that you are authoritative for. You will be able to select this maintainer in the LIR Portal. We will place this maintainer on all existing and new objects that have joint responsibility: allocations for IP resources and the Organisation object. 

It is important to note that none of these changes have a fundamental impact on the RIPE Database itself. We are only making changes to the business rules and the way you determine authorisation. 

We look forward to your feedback!

Kind regards,

Alex Band
Product Manager
RIPE NCC