DNS TF meeting

    The Domain object *is* a burden. All the information
    that is really important already is in the DNS.
    That's why the domain object at european level is
    never updated. Drop this thing PLEEEAAASEEE.
Thanks for your support, Jose.

However, I want to be more precise: the Domain
object *in the RIPE database* is a burden and
should be dropped. A domain "entity" as such
is not only useful, but by its very nature is
something that is already well-maintained and
therefore very up-to-date: by the top level
domain registrar.
Direct 'whois' access to that information is
and stays useful, because not *everything* is
in DNS; it can't even be without overloading
[cache/memory] of nameservers and hosts all
over the Internet. The current RIPE 'whois'
access however is well-established, which is
why I've suggested to drop all Domain objects
except for a special one ("*td") for the top
level domains, which would then contain an
attribute ("*ws") pointing to the whois server
for that top level domain. RIPE's whois server
can than act as a "forwarder" for requests for
<domain>.<top_level_domain> (much like DNS!),
thus keeping the current whois service, but
resulting in far more up-to-date and reliable
information. Besided, the whois servers that
located where the top level domain itself is
administered can serve more purposes, like
immediately notifying the maintainer of any
inconsistencies between the administration
and the top level zone file.


	Piet