JPNIC Translated Document Source document: JPNIC REPORT 1 Date of the source: September 1993 Date of the last update of this translation: October 28, 1995 This is a translation of a JPNIC document. JPNIC provides this translation for convenience of those who can not read Japanese. But it may contain mis-translations, and is by no means official. One should consult the source document written in Japanese for detail. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The first General Meeting of JPNIC was held at the University of Tokyo, computer centre on April 9th, 1993. The participants were related to 20 networks organizations that are the members of JPNIC. It was a new step for the information center which is meant to be a place where experts related to Computer networks of Japan would be able to share information. Why, and for what purpose? The e-mail address used for sending e-mail on the Internet (at the same time it is often checked that whether the e-mail address is correct or not) have a standard format and its uniqueness is guaranteed. It means that there is no overlapping and it is the fundamental condition for sending a mail to a specified address correctly. The same thing can be said about the work stations or personal computers that are connected to the Internet through TCP/IP. While setting IP addresses on one's own, overlapping of IP addresses within the same organization can be prevented by paying attention. However, when connected to wide area networks, while networking with other networks through TCP/IP, it is necessary to make sure that the networking partner is not having the same IP address. Apart from the case of wide area networks, if by accident it becomes the case that two related companies are having the same IP address (for example, the IP address set for both of the systems when they were supplied) then it would cause serious troubles. In addition, the advancement of wide area networks has made it possible to communicate with a number of organizations, and at the same time it has caused the necessity to have online information services as well as navigation services for knowing a specific organization's domain name (for example kyushu-u.ac.jp) or IP address (for example 133.5.0.0). Telephone directory or the 104 information service provided by NTT can be thought as examples. These are common problems among computer networks, organizations connected to the network as well as users of the network. So this problem is not to the service of a specific voluntary, network organizations or university. Allocation of common resources like addresses and the management of these information is a common need for the persons concerned with computer networks and therefore it has to be carried out in a in fair and uniform manner. The steps related to the inauguration of the center However, for realizing an information center like JPNIC, devotion and effort of other related organization can not be neglected. For this it is necessary to go back to the period when JUNET did a rapid improvement. During that period, the domain name for composing a mailing address has to be allocated to all intercontinental organizations with the help of the voluntary administration group of JUNET named as junet-admin. JUNET used to use the domain names that end with ".junet", but latter in 1989 it was changed to ".jp". The jp domain name represents the computer networks of Japan, and from that period, apart from JUNET (IP networks like WIDE, TISN, JAIN etc. and BITNET was active during that time), other network organizations were also allowed to use the domain name. But as there were no substantial mechanism for assigning domain names, JUNET continued to allocate domain names to other network organizations. On the other hand, although applications had to be made directly to SRINIC for intercontinental IP address allocation, from February, 1989 network address coordination committee took the responsibility for this task. However, as the administration of the secretariat was to be carried out by university professors who themselves had many other things to do, the response was far from quick. This situation continued until the inauguration of JNIC. During that period the technology of networks developed in a rapid speed and because of the great importance of networks, the work load for the administration of IP address and domain name allocation reached the peak. The delay in the process of allocation was starting to slow down the development of networks. At that time, JCRN(Japan Committee for Research Network) which was formed by the representatives of all network organizations and conferences, started JNIC in December, 1991 with the cooperation of each of the network organization. This JNIC was the former form of the present JPNIC. The role of JPNIC was to prevent the delay for allocation, clarify the necessary services and methods for providing the same, and to prepare for a new organizational structure. From 6/1992, JPNIC took the responsibility for the allocation and administration of IP addresses. In case of JPNIC, as the steering committee was formed by the members who were selected from each of the network organization, unbiased service was guaranteed. With the help of the volunteers the problem of delay in processing was solved and a certain amount of improvement was achieved. However, as there were no government foundation for supporting the developing computer networks world, it became necessary to organize JPNIC in some form. At the same time, as commercial networks were to appear in near future, it had to think that how to correspond with networks other than the research networks. Inauguration of JPNIC The JNIC steering committee was considering this matter and by seeking advice from each of the network organization, it established a voluntary organization with the network project of each organization as its member. At present the work is in progress and its content is also satisfactory. As it has been mentioned earlier, with the cooperation of University of Tokyo, computer centre, the secretariat is placed within the centre and from April, 1993 Japan Network Information Center started its activities. JPNIC should provide the IP addresses that it is in charge of, and other information to the persons who are related to computer networks, and it should act as a fair organization. Therefore, the membership fee is neither a tax nor a fee for acquiring an address. A center is established for performing the common works of the member networks and the membership fee is to be utilized for the administration of the center. Apart from that, the minutes of the JPNIC meetings are made public and the meeting itself (like a court room, if the number of seat for spectators is limited then there might be a lottery and apart from the cases where it is necessary to keep the privacy of the applicant) is generally open to anyone. Although the formal name is the same in both Japanese and English, there is a specific reason for changing "JNIC" to "JPNIC". If Japan is represented with the letter "J" then it would be difficult to classify it from other countries (Jamaica or Jordan) that start with the same letter. As a first step towards internationalization the two ISO code letter "JP" is placed at the beginning and the name is changed to JPNIC. JPNIC is in cooperation with the InterNIC which was inaugurated on April,1993 as the Network Information Center of international Internet (it took over the work from DDN NIC) and RIPE NCC of Europe, and it is on the move to form an internationally cooperative organization under IANA. JPNIC is recognized by the international Internet community as a country NIC and at the same time it is responsible for providing information to different countries in the world. Structure and activities of JPNIC As it has been said earlier, the objective of JPNIC is to contribute for the smooth development of computer networks by providing the necessary registrations and information. Allocation of domain names and IP addresses, administration of name server and providing, collecting network information are very important for supporting the administration and development of networks. At the same time, activities in respect to the society, and international cooperation is a must for a sound administration and development of JPNIC. In order to achieve the goal JPNIC has its general meeting, board of trustees, steering committee and a secretariat. Here, the general meeting is formed by the representatives of the member networks, board of trustees is formed by the trustees, auditors who are elected during the general meeting, and the steering committee is formed by the committee members who are appointed by the board of trustees. The substantial activities of JPNIC is discussed by the steering committee ( 18 members at present ) and they are executed by the staff and the secretariat. The steering committee has the following working groups and it is involved in several tasks like distributing work to each committee member. Working group name Role ------------------- --------------------------------------------------- DOM Allocation of JP domain name IP Allocation of IP address DB-IN Collect information related to network DB-OUT Provide information related to network DNS Administration of name server PUB Public relations RES Administration of managing resources SOC Investigation of social problems FUTURE Investigation of the future of JPNIC CHARGE Investigation of the charge of JPNIC RULE Investigation of the rules and regulations of JPNIC APNIC Cooperation with Asia-pacific NIC (As of September, 1993) It can be thought that the foundation of JPNIC was necessary for the development of networks. If compared to the period of JUNET, there has been a great improvement and at present it is continuing the administrative works with the support and cooperation of other organizations. Unfortunately, at present the membership fees can only meet the expenses of the administrative works. For a proper maintenance and a sound development, it is necessary to understand the role of JPNIC for networks, government support, and knowledge and advice in respect to networks technology. Above all, the cooperation and participation of responsible volunteer and staff is very important. (Masaki Hirabaru, Kyushu University) Members list of Japan Network Information Center, as of July 7, 1993 Regional Internet Connection-Tsukuba Committee (RIC-Tsukuba) Tohoku internet (TiA) Chugoku-Shikoku Internet Council (CSI) Tokai Regional Network Dynamics (TRENDY) International Science Network (TISN) IIJ Internet (IIJ) Tohoku Open Internet Community (TOPIC) Japan Academic Inter-university Network (JAIN) Dai 5 chiku Network Community (NCA5) JUNET Society (JUNET) WIDE Internet (WIDE) Japan Organized InterNetwork (JOIN) "Because It's Time" Network in JaPan (BITNETJP) Gakujyutu jyouhou center (NACSIS) Zaidan houjin Denki. Densijyouhougakujyutusinkouzaidan West InterNetwork Complex (WINC) Kyushu Area Regional Research Network (KARRN) Osaka Regional Information & Open Network System (ORIONS) Tokyo Regional Academic Inter-Network (TRAIN) Network Organization for Research and Technology in Hokkaido (NORTH) Spin Project (Spin) Board and Steering Committee Members of Japan Network Information Center, as of July, 1993 President : Jun Murai Vice President : Mizuho Mori Trustees : Shouichiro Asano Haruhisa Ishida Tuneyoshi Kamae Shoichi Noguchi Jun Murai Mizuho Mori Shin Yoshimura Auditors : Koki Higashida Naomasa Maruyama Chair of the Steering Committee : Masaki Hirabaru Vice Chair of the Steering Committee : Hiroaki Takada Steering Committee Members: Akiko Aizawa Akira Kato Kazue Kamiyama Yukio Karita Kazunori Konishi Kunio Goto Shigeki Goto Nobuhiro Sakai Susumu Sano Jun'ichi Nakamura Masaya Nakayama Koki Higashida Jun Matsukata Naomasa Maruyama Jun Murai Shin Yoshimura Secretary-general : Masaya Nakayama Secretariat : Japan Network Information Center c/o Computer Centre, University of Tokyo 2-11-16, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan