FAQ table of contents

        
           FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RIPE DATABASE
           ==================================================


The answer to these questions can be found at the RIPE website:

http://www.ripe.net/ripencc/faq/database
 


GENERAL QUESTIONS

       What is the RIPE Database? 

       Where can I get more information about the RIPE Database?

       What is acceptable use of the RIPE Database? 

       What is a netname?

       What is a nic-hdl?

       What is a tech-c and what is an admin-c?

       Can I register a domain in the RIPE Database? 

       Can I enter several contacts in one database object?

       Someone has created a person object with my name, address,
       telephone number, etc. in the RIPE Database. Why did they
       do this? 

       My information in the database is not correct, can you please
       update my object(s)? 

       I received a message with the subject "Notification of RIPE
       Database changes", but I didn't do anything and don't
       understand the message. What is it? 

       Why does my phone number appear in the RIPE Database??? 

       Can I download the RIPE Database software? 

       Can I download the RIPE Database? 

       Can I gather e-mail addresses or personal information from
       the RIPE Database to send spam, or other types of
       commercial messages? 

HOW TO FIND OBJECTS IN THE RIPE DATABASE

       I cannot find any information about a network in the RIPE
       Database. Can I look somewhere else? 

       Can I gather e-mail addresses or personal information from
       the RIPE Database to send spam, or other types of
       commercial messages? 

       When one uses the RIPE NCC whois client, is it necessary to
       specify"-h whois.ripe.net" or is that pre-set by default?

HOW TO PUT OBJECTS IN THE RIPE DATABASE
(CREATING, UPDATING AND DELETING OBJECTS)

       How do I register a person/role object in the RIPE Database? 

       How do I update an object in the RIPE Database?

       What are the authorisation rules for route object creation?

       I cannot creat a route object because the origin AS refers 
       to an aut-num object that does not exist in the RIPE 
       Database. What should I do?

       My update failed. Please explain why it failed. 

       Is the  "changed" line updated automatically? 

       Can I use a nic-handle from another Regional Internet
       Registry in the RIPE Database? 

       How do I delete an object from the RIPE Database ?

PROTECTING YOUR OBJECTS IN THE RIPE DB

       I have objects in the RIPE Database. How can I protect
       them?

       How do I create a maintainer (mntner) object in the
       RIPE Database ?

       I have only one person object in the RIPE Database.
       Can I create a mntner object to protect it?

       We lost the password of our mntner. Can you please change 
       it to xxxx?

       My mntner password does not work. Why not ?

       How can I encrypt a password for my mntner using CRYPT-PW?

       What encryption algorithm should be used for the crypted 
       password in the "auth:" attribute of a mntner object ?

       How to use the MD5-PW auth scheme in my mntner ?

       Why is the crypted-password published in the RIPE Database ? 
       Why not keep it secret ?

       What software do I need to use PGP?

       How can I use PGP with my mail software?

       Getting started with PGP in RIPE Database

       What is a key-cert object, and how can I create it?

       How should I modify my maintainer to use PGP?

       How can I sign my update with PGP and send it?

       How can I put two or more signatures in a message?

       Can I create a maintainer with only PGP authentication?

       What is the size of PGP key that can be used in a key-cert object 
       in the RIPE Database?

ADVANCED USE OF THE RIPE DATABASE

       How do I register reverse-delegations in the RIPE Database? 

       I want to have an IP->country conversion table; from where
       can I get it? 

       I want to peer with an AS. How do I do this? 

LIR-PARTITIONED: THE NEW "STATUS" ATTRIBUTE VALUE

       What is "LIR-PARTITIONED"?

       When would the LIR-PARTITIONED "status:" value be used?

       How is such an object created in the RIPE Database?

       How can I protect an LIR-PARTITIONED object?

       Do I have to seek approval from the RIPE NCC before entering an LIR-PARTITIONED
       object into the RIPE Database?

       Can I request reverse delegation for an LIR-PARTITIONED inetnum object?

       Can I use the LIR-PARTITIONED "status:" value in an inet6num object?

SPAM, ABUSE AND THE RIPE DATABASE

       What is the RIPE NCC Copyright statement? 

       I have evidence that someone is using a computer with the IP
       address x.x.x.x  to send Unsollicited Commercial E-mail
       (UCE, so-called "spam") or is otherwise acting in an
       iresponsible manner. Can you stop him? (or how can I stop
       him?) 

       Can I gather e-mail addresses or personal information from
       the RIPE Database to send spam, or other types of
       commercial messages?