Task Force Description

RIPE tasks are structured in two ways: time frame and task group.

The task groups will be assigned to task forces, which are groups of individuals having a vital interest to achieve the tasks. The task forces will designate a coordinator whose responsibility it is to make sure progress is made and results will be achieved within the timeframe the task force has agreed on.

Each task will be assigned to a number of task force members. A date for completion and for a first report will be set and agreed by the task force and especially by those to work on the task. Reports are used to monitor a tasks progress and keep other RIPE members interested in it informed.

Reports can be very informal. It is important that the task gets done, not the reports.

Note that the name task force implies that tasks are clearly defined and should be achievable within a set time frame.

The time frames for RIPE tasks are:

• short term (a few weeks to two months)
  
• long term (a few months)
  
• ongoing (this is something that needs to be done continuously, in this case the task force's task is to define a way to do the ongoing activity, get it started and monitor it's progress)

The task groups are:

1. Connectivity and Routing
2. Network Management and Operations
3. Domain Name System
4. Formal Coordination

The outcome of a task force consists of a report with recommendations. The recommendations will be discussed in the RIPE framework, and when concensus has been reached will be implemented.


Task Force 1: Connectivity and Routing
IP connectivity in Europe is not based on a strong backbone network such as NSFnet or EARN. It is not clear whether such a backbone will be feasible in the forseeable future. This makes IP connectivity problems much harder to solve technically, operationally and politically. This task force will be assigned all the tasks relating to the technical and design problems of achieving optimum connectivity.

Quite some input should be generated to task force 2 (Network Management and Operations) so that it can plan how to master the operational problems and can give feedback about problems that can be overcome by a different design. Also input should be generated to task force 4 (Fromal Coordination) on the necessary formal agreements for the use of infrastructures owned by the RIPE member organisations. How to get these agreements is a task of TF 4.

Task 1-1: Make an inventory of international IP connectivity in Europe and from Europe to other continents.
Term: Dec89

Task 1-2: Make an inventory of national IP infrastructures not yet interconnected.
Term: Jan90

Task 1-3: Make a plan for connectivity between IP networks of RIPE members and to other continents.
Term: Mar90, first report Jan90

Task 1-4: Design a routing scheme to be used on the international infrastructure coordinated by RIPE (EGP, BGP ....).
Term: Mar90, first report Jan90

Task 1-5: Monitor the setting up of RIPE coordinated routing and adapt the design if necessary.
Term: ongoing


Task Force 2: Network Management and Operations
European IP traffic is carried by a multitude of different infrastructures. The resulting pan-European IP infrastructure needs to be well managed in coordination with the managements of the underlying infrastructures. Currently this works well enough. With the expected growth a generally agreed management coordination is needed.

This task force should develop a managament framework and collect the necessary management information.

Coordination with all other task forces activities is needed.

Task 2-1: Create and maintain a (`whois') database about RIPE IP networks and their management information.
Term: Ongoing, reports monthly, first Dec89

Task 2-2: Create an infrastructure of operational contacts via various means of communication.
Term: Jan90

Task 2-3: Create a procedure for notification of security relevant problems assuming that the networks itself are unusable.
Term: Jan90

Task 2-4: Develop procedures for common network operations. These can be loosely agreed and need not be formally specified. Topics: Use of SNMP, reciprocal logins for testing purposes etc.
Term: Mid90, first rep Jan90

Task 2-5: Gather operating statistics. Traffic volume. Number of networks, hosts. etc. These are useful for planning and external publicity.
Term: Ongoing, first rep Jan90

Task 2-6: Set up a European NIC which makes available the results of tasks 2-1 to 2-5 to all interested parties.
Term: End90, first rep Mar90

Task 2-7: Maintenance and distribution of sets of common utilities, needed for the execution of the tasks 2-1 to 2-5.
Term: ongoing.

Task 2-8: Create and maintain centers of expertise in certain areas: router hardware and software, NSS, IBM software, etc.
Term: ongoing.


Task Force 3: Domain Name System
Europe needs a set of well coordinated nameservers. Europe also needs a set of nameservers that is resistent to partial loss of connectivity, especially with the US.

Task 3-1: Create a database containing namespace administration data: who administers top level domains and first level subdomains. This is for management purposes.
Term: Jan90

Task 3-2: Coordinate backup nameservers (secondaries) within RIPE and within the Internet.
Term: Jan90

Task 3-3: Design a framework of DNS backup servers within RIPE and get backup for root nameservice to Europe.
Term: Mar90

Task 3-4: Maintain a list of recommended DNS software and known bugs.
Term: ongoing, Jan90

Task 3-5: Study mailrouting and MX records.
Term: ongoing, first report Mar90.

Task Force 4: Formal Coordination
To make IP in Europe work we need formal agreements between the different networks. We also need to represent the RIPE activity to the outside world.

This should be done by a separate task force but in very close coordination with the other RIPE task forces.

Task 4-1: Propose a template agreement on IP cooperation.
Term: Jan90

Task 4-2: Maintain contacts with CCIRN and FRICC directly.
Term: ongoing

Task 4-3: Start formal contacts with other organisations as necessary.
Term: Ongoing

Task 4-4: Investigate and propose a possible legal status for RIPE.
Term: Mar90.


Amsterdam
29 November 1989