Network Solutions is now in the wringer
Best to be aware of what is now coming down on Network Solutions. The following is an excerpt from this article: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/990325/ny_asensio_1.html The following is being issued by Asensio & Company, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, CRD number 31742: Investors may be buying Network Solutions, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: NSOL - news) stock believing the company possesses some market advantage, recurring income or proprietary technology that has allowed it to create, and will allow it to grow, its Internet domain name registry and registrar business. We found no reasonable basis for these beliefs. NSOL's domain name business has been and remains totally reliant on a 7-year-old U.S. federal government contract, which is expiring and will not be renewed. We believe that NSOL's management has purposely disseminated misleading information, and failed to disclose material negative information, that has led investors to believe that the expiration of this contract will be postponed or that it cannot be entirely and easily terminated. Investors have also been led to believe that even if the contract is terminated, NSOL's business value will continue to grow. These expectations are baseless and false. If their house of cards collapses too quickly it could have some serious operational impacts. And we all do realize that it is a house of cards, don't we? -- Michael Dillon - E-mail: michael@memra.com Check the website for my Internet World articles - http://www.memra.com
At 06:40 PM 3/25/99 -0800, Michael Dillon wrote:
If their house of cards collapses too quickly it could have some serious operational impacts. And we all do realize that it is a house of cards, don't we?
This is a request for consideration of a technical and operations question. Although it pertains to a political topic, I am only asking for consideration of a matter that is clearly relevant to nanog. In particular, what are the 'serious operational impacts' that could develop? There is a long-standing claim that services of the type offered by NSI are fine left without special handling (oversight, assistance). To the extent that problems to such a company can have far-reaching impact on Internet operations, it would be extremely helpful to understand them before the fact. This might permit consideration of methods to avoid such fall-out. d/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dave Crocker Tel: +1 408 246 8253 Brandenburg Consulting Fax: +1 408 273 6464 675 Spruce Drive <http://www.brandenburg.com> Sunnyvale, CA 94086 USA <mailto:dcrocker@brandenburg.com>
On 03/25/99, Dave Crocker <dcrocker@brandenburg.com> wrote:
This is a request for consideration of a technical and operations question. Although it pertains to a political topic, I am only asking for consideration of a matter that is clearly relevant to nanog.
I vehemently agree. There are other lists for politics.
In particular, what are the 'serious operational impacts' that could develop? There is a long-standing claim that services of the type offered by NSI are fine left without special handling (oversight, assistance). To the extent that problems to such a company can have far-reaching impact on Internet operations, it would be extremely helpful to understand them before the fact. This might permit consideration of methods to avoid such fall-out.
Well, let's take the most extreme case, where NetSol suddenly ceases performing the services of the InterNIC. In such an instance, we would hope that the root servers would continue to function as they are, without any changes being made until a new "A" server comes into being and is accepted by the root server operators. This is probably what Jon Postel's fear-inspiring experiment a few months back was intended to test. But, would it really go that smoothly? How long can the root servers last without an A? ---------========== J.D. Falk <jdfalk@cybernothing.org> =========--------- | "How come two middle-aged hippies in L.A. can completely | | determine the fate of the global networking infrastructure? | | Because we've got the bomb." -- Todd Graham Lewis | ----========== http://www.cybernothing.org/jdfalk/home.html ==========----
This is probably what Jon Postel's fear-inspiring experiment a few months back was intended to test.
Yes... and he was killed by the wet team from the black helicopter squadron. NetSol varies their "services" without regard to their "clients", that being us. As their client, I have sent a request for a list of all domains served by my server (or one of them). When they fail to respond, I will see them in court. After all, I am paying for a service, and that service is now being curtailed/withdrawn with no contract changes, no refund, etc. Ehud ObSquatter: If they prepay, it's not squatting, it's legitimate. ObRandy: whinewhinewhinewhinewhinewhinenothingconstructivewhinewhinewhine
But, would it really go that smoothly? How long can the root servers last without an A?
---------========== J.D. Falk <jdfalk@cybernothing.org> =========--------- | "How come two middle-aged hippies in L.A. can completely | | determine the fate of the global networking infrastructure? | | Because we've got the bomb." -- Todd Graham Lewis | ----========== http://www.cybernothing.org/jdfalk/home.html ==========----
At 11:35 PM 3/25/99 -0800, J.D. Falk wrote:
On 03/25/99, Dave Crocker <dcrocker@brandenburg.com> wrote:
In particular, what are the 'serious operational impacts' that could develop? There is a long-standing claim that services of the type offered by NSI are fine left without special handling (oversight, assistance). To the extent that problems to such a company can have far-reaching impact on Internet operations, it would be extremely helpful to understand them before the fact. This might permit consideration of methods to avoid such fall-out.
Well, let's take the most extreme case, where NetSol suddenly ceases performing the services of the InterNIC. In such an instance, we would hope that the root servers would continue to function as they are, without any changes being made until a new "A" server comes into being and is accepted by the root server operators.
This is probably what Jon Postel's fear-inspiring experiment a few months back was intended to test.
Check your calendar, it was over 12 months ago.
But, would it really go that smoothly? How long can the root servers last without an A?
About half the Internet would keep on chugging along, on local copies of the root.zone. This could continue indefinitely. The other half would shortly follow. It would not take long for a new root.zone repository to appear. Maybe even a new TLD registry. ___________________________________________________ Roeland M.J. Meyer - e-mail: mailto:rmeyer@mhsc.com Internet phone: hawk.lvrmr.mhsc.com Personal web pages: http://staff.mhsc.com/~rmeyer Company web-site: http://www.mhsc.com ___________________________________________________ KISS ... gotta love it!
At 23:35 3/25/99 -0800, Randy Bush wrote:
If their house of cards collapses too quickly it could have some serious operational impacts.
yup. so could a metor strike. in other words, gordon cook does not need competition, please. or, in other words, don't we have real operational things to worry about?
While not a network operator, I think it would be most prudent to consider and discuss (among those who ARE netops) what do to if, say, the root server were suddenly comletely unaccessible for several days/permanently for *whatever* reason. Does anyone know if NSI even has an off-site mirror running? Or are all the eggs in one basket? What's going to happen to the ISPs if suddenly everyone of their client's domains are toast? Better to have a plan and not need it than need it and not have it. It's called 'contingency planning'. And a very good idea no matter the endeavor. "Small minds can only contemplate small ideas".....Unknown Dean Robb Owner, PC-EASY (757) 495-EASY [3279] On-site computer repair, upgrades and consultations Read my game reviews/columns in SimOps on WWW.TheGamers.Net
participants (7)
-
Dave Crocker -
Dean Robb -
Ehud Gavron -
J.D. Falk -
Michael Dillon -
Randy Bush -
Roeland M.J. Meyer