Authorized Routing Administrators: During the past months, we've been developing a scalable approach to the configuration of the NSFNET/ANSnet backbone as part of our continued effort to provide and maintain accurate routing information and a high level of service. To this end, Merit is pleased to announce - a new NACR (version 7.0), and - a new service, a NACR server, available via telnetting to merit.edu for filling out the new NACR. WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? ===================== We need this new NACR and server, and your help in converting to these, in order to expedite processing of your NACRs through: - enhancing validation of information _upon entry_ and aid in correcting it at that time, - reducing unnecessary mail, - providing for automatic 'cc'-ing of appropriate ASs, - allowing for parsing of consistent NACRs, - and more! This move is necessary in order to provide you with a reasonable level of service and to provide Merit with a scalable, less resource-intensive method of providing the configuration service. NEW NACR ======== The new NACR is available via anonymous ftp: nic.merit.edu:nsfnet/announce.networks/template.net with helpful information in: nic.merit.edu:nsfnet/announced.networks/template.net.README. *** NOTE: Merit will *only* accept v7.0 templates after 1 July 1993. *** NEW NACR SERVER =============== Some of the good points of this service are presented above; because we expect it to improve the accuracy and turnaround of your NACRs, we strongly urge you to try out this service, and work with us to improve it so that you will use it. (Many thanks to Bill Manning for being our guinea pig!) If you'd like to use this, we need to set you up with an account, password, etc.; please send email to: autonacr@merit.edu or call: Steve Richardson at (313) 747-4813 (voicemail is supported) These topics will be discussed at the Regional Techs' Meeting next week in Washington, D.C. Thanks! Merit Configuration Operations