INTERNET-DRAFT                                                A. Costanzo
draft-costanzo-dns-gl-03.txt                   AKC Computer Services Corp.
Expires: December 2000                                       June    2000



                   Definition of the DNS GL Resource Record
                     used to encode Geographic Locations





 1. Status of this Memo

This document is an Internet-Draft and is  in full conformance  with all
provisions  of Section 10 of  RFC2026 except that  the right to  produce
derivative works is not granted.

Internet-Drafts are  working  documents of the Internet Engineering Task
Force (IETF), its areas, and its working groups.  Note that other groups
may  also  distribute  working documents as Internet-Drafts.

Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum  of  six  months
and  may  be  updated,  replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any
time.  It is inappropriate to use  Internet-Drafts as reference material
or to cite them other than as "work in progress."


     The list of current Internet-Drafts can be accessed at
     http://www.ietf.org/ietf/1id-abstracts.txt

     The list of Internet-Draft Shadow Directories can be accessed at
     http://www.ietf.org/shadow.html.


To learn the current status of  any  Internet-Draft,  please  check  the
"1id-abstracts.txt"  listing  contained  in  the Internet- Drafts Shadow
Directories   on   ftp.is.co.za   (Africa),   nic.nordu.net    (Europe),
munnari.oz.au (Pacific Rim), ftp.ietf.org (US East Coast, or ftp.isi.edu
(US West Coast).

Distribution of this memo is unlimited.


2. Abstract

This document defines the format of a new Experimental Resource Record (RR)
namely GL for the Domain Naming System (DNS), and reserves a corresponding
DNS type mnemonic and numerical code XX (decimal). This definition deals
with associating geographical host location mappings to host names within
a domain.


The key words "MUST", "MUST  NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL  NOT",
"SHOULD", "SHOULD  NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY"  and "OPTIONAL" in this
document are to be interpreted as described in RFC-2119.



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3. Introduction

   The ideal way to manage and maintain a database of information, such as
   geographical location of Internet hosts, is to delegate responsibility
   to local domain administrators.

   This document resolves the problem of relating host information within
   the DNS to geographical locations. This definition has been designed to
   be easy for the person who administrates DNS for a domain. The author
   hopes that the lack of requiring longitude, latitude and elevation
   information and merely being able to enter address information, as you
   would address a postal letter, will mean broad acceptance and use of the
   GL resource record.

   The availability of geographical location information will immediately be
   able to benefit applications in network management, which would enhance
   and supplement various network tools which currently exist.

   The Domain Name System is ideally suited to provide geographic location
   information.  The information we desire to make available globally needs
   to be maintained and updated locally (perfect for DNS).

   Although several other attempts by various authors have attempted to
   created resource records that would allow location information on host to
   be stored and distributed, none, to the authors knowledge, have either
   gained acceptance on a wide scale or made allowance for location information
   that is not within the confines of the planet Earth.

4. The GL format

   GL has the following format:

      <owner> <ttl> <class> GL <Rdata>


4.1 Rdata Format

  Rdata has the following format:

   <string> <string>

   The format of the RDATA field is two varying length strings separated by
   a space character. The first, the hierarchical locator, then an address
   string. Each is quoted (like all strings) only when it has spaces in it,
   which will never be true for the first string, and almost always for the
   second.








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4.1.1 The Hierarchical Locator

The Hierarchical Locator contains the following components (each separated
by a period "."):

  Astronomical Location -                          (Required)
           A coded field defining the heavenly body within
           the known Universe, where the machine resides.  The most common
           entry, "S3" is the planet Earth and is the only currently
           defined location.

           Man-made devices (Space Stations, Rockets, Probes, etc.) not residing
           on planet Earth may have Astronimical Locations defined as well.

           New locations MUST be registered with the Internet Assigned Numbers
           Authority (IANA).  Refer to section 6 for additional information.

  Country Code -                                    (Required)

          The country code specifies the country the host computer resides
          in. The code is a two character fixed length string and may only
          be included within the Astronimical Location 'S3'.  These codes
          are defined in document ISO 3166-1 and are listed in Appendix A
          for easy reference.

   Postal Zone -                                    (Optional)

          This rdata component supplies the postal code (Zip Code) for the
          location the host computer resides. For countries that have a
          multi-segmented postal coding system, the segments should be
          separated by period(s) ".".

          This field may be omitted only if the country in which the host
          machine resides does not use a postal coding system.

          When all three Hierarchical Locator components exist for an DNS
          entry, the position being defined is considered to be a "precise
          position".


 4.2 The Quoted String

  This string should be entered as you would enter an address on
  a postal letter within the country specified by the Hierarchical
  Locator. The country code information should not be included within
  the quoted string. This string is always required and must be
  present in the RDATA field.

  The quoted string may be used for both visual reference of the
  physical address as well as by a software application to help
  determine a more precise location of the host machine (if the
  Hierarchical Locator lacks sufficient precision).



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  The only instance in which any application should attempt to
  interpret the quoted string is in a case where the country
  code defines a country that does not use, or has not implemented
  a postal code system.

  No software or application should attempt to override a precise
  position defined by the Hierarchical Locator with information
  defined within the quoted string data.


 5. Example(s)

     Example 1 (with a postal zone defined):

            donuts A 192.188.192.1
               GL S3.US.45420.1910 "1425 Arbor Avenue, Dayton OH"

        Example 2 (no postal zone):

           lorinda A 129.122.1.1
               GL S3.SR "Marthastrasse 64, Shawproject, Uitvlug, Parimaribo"

     Example 3

; Authoritative data for akc.net.
;
; note in this example:
;    uspring, diana and martha (even though the complete postal code was
;    not entered) are precisely defined
;
;    lorinda, resides in the country of SURINAME, which has not implemented
;    a postal coding system.
;
;    THIS IS ONLY AN EXAMPLE
;
@     IN    SOA     forme.akc.net. postmaster.akc.net.
                (
                        99071100        ; Serial (yymmddnn)
                        10800           ; Refresh (3 hours)
                        3600            ; Retry (1 hour)
                        3600000         ; Expire (1000 hours)
                        86400           ; Minimum (24 hours)
                )

                IN      NS      ns.akc.net.

uspring         IN      A       192.188.192.2
                IN      MX      5       mail
                IN      HINFO   Vax VMS
                IN      GL S3.US.45420.1910 "1425 Arbor Avenue, Dayton OH"
ftp             IN      CNAME   uspring



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diana           IN      A       192.188.192.3
                IN      MX      5       mail
                IN      HINFO   Vax VMS
                IN      GL S3.US.07204.1367 "808 Chestnut Street, Roselle
Park, NJ"
www             IN      CNAME   diana

martha          IN      A       192.188.192.4
                IN      MX      5       mail
                IN      HINFO   Vax VMS
                IN      GL S3.US.07204 "815 Chestnut Willis Place, Roselle
Park, NJ"

lorinda         IN      A       129.122.1.1
                IN      GL S3.SR "Marthastrasse 64, Shawproject, Uitvlug,
Parimaribo"


6. Registering New Astronomical Location(s)

   New Astronomical Locations (ALs)  MUST be registered with the Internet
   Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).  IANA acts as a central registry for
   these values. IANA may reject or modify the Astronomical Location
   registration request if it does not meet the criteria as specified in
   section 4.1.1.

   Registration requests should be sent via electronic mail to IANA as
   follows:

             To:  IANA@iana.org
             Subject:  Registration of a new Astronomical Location

   The mail message must specify the proposed AL. Documentation defining
   the AL and its proposed purpose must be included.  The documentation must
   either reference an external non-Internet standards document or an existing
   or soon to be RFC.  If applicable, the documentation should contain a
   draft version of the future RFC.  The draft must be submitted as a
   RFC according to the normal procedure within a reasonable amount of
   time after the AL registration has been approved.

   IANA will not register a new Astronmical Location until an actual
   computer requiring GL data in the DNS resides or will soon reside on a
   heavenly body other than Earth.










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7. Notes To Implementors:

7.1 Defining New Astronimical Locations

  The astronomical location 'S3' is intended to be Sol-Three (i.e. the Earth).
  The Earth is the 3rd large planet in the solar system. The Sun would be S0
  (not that we'd have a computer there), but a solar observatory in orbit might
  be S0-001. Our moon would be S3-1. Other letters and such for catalogued
  objects. Additionally, the ISS and Mir space stations could use S3-001 (Mir),
  S3-002 (ISS) now,   if they get connected on IP.

  This document only defines 'S3' however the authors strongly suggest that the
  above nomenclature be followed.


7.2 Other possible uses for GL

  The use of postal codes also is exactly what is needed for credit card address
  authentication. Sites could (quietly) compare GL info provided on entries from
  ISPs to what someone enters for additional verification purposes.





































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8. Appendix A: ISO 3166-1 Country Codes

   The ISO country codes are merely listed here for easy reference and may
   become out-of-date in this document.  Any changes in the ISO specification
   supercede this appendix and the ISO specification must be followed.


AFGHANISTAN                                     AF
ALBANIA                                         AL
ALGERIA                                         DZ
AMERICAN SAMOA                                  AS
ANDORRA                                         AD
ANGOLA                                          AO
ANGUILLA                                        AI
ANTARCTICA                                      AQ
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA                             AG
ARGENTINA                                       AR
ARMENIA                                         AM
ARUBA                                           AW
AUSTRALIA                                       AU
AUSTRIA                                         AT
AZERBAIJAN                                      AZ
BAHAMAS                                         BS
BAHRAIN                                         BH
BANGLADESH                                      BD
BARBADOS                                        BB
BELARUS                                         BY
BELGIUM                                         BE
BELIZE                                          BZ
BENIN                                           BJ
BERMUDA                                         BM
BHUTAN                                          BT
BOLIVIA                                         BO
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOWINA                          BA
BOTSWANA                                        BW
BOUVET ISLAND                                   BV
BRAZIL                                          BR
BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY                  IO
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM                               BN
BULGARIA                                        BG
BURKINA FASO                                    BF
BURUNDI                                         BI
CAMBODIA                                        KH
CAMEROON                                        CM
CANADA                                          CA
CAPE VERDE                                      CV
CAYMAN ISLANDS                                  KY
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC                        CF
CHAD                                            TD
CHILE                                           CL
CHINA                                           CN
CHRISTMAS ISLAND                                CX


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COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS                         CC
COLOMBIA                                        CO
COMOROS                                         KM
CONGO                                           CG
COOK ISLANDS                                    CK
COSTA RICA                                      CR
COTE D'IVOIRE                                   CI
CROATIA                                         HR
CUBA                                            CU
CYPRUS                                          CY
CZECH REPUBLIC                                  CZ
DENMARK                                         DK
DJIBOUTI                                        DJ
DOMINICA                                        DM
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC                              DO
EAST TIMOR                                      TP
ECUADOR                                         EC
EGYPT                                           EG
EL SALVADOR                                     SV
EQUATORIAL GUINEA                               GQ
ERITREA                                         ER
ESTONIA                                         EE
ETHIOPIA                                        ET
FALKLAND ISLANDS (MALVINAS)                     FK
FAROE ISLANDS                                   FO
FIJI                                            FJ
FINLAND                                         FI
FRANCE                                          FR
FRANCE, METROPOLITAN                            FX
FRENCH GUIANA                                   GF
FRENCH POLYNESIA                                PF
FRENCH SOUTHERN TERRITORIES                     TF
GABON                                           GA
GAMBIA                                          GM
GEORGIA                                         GE
GERMANY                                         DE
GHANA                                           GH
GIBRALTAR                                       GI
GREECE                                          GR
GREENLAND                                       GL
GRENADA                                         GD
GUADELOUPE                                      GP
GUAM                                            GU
GUATEMALA                                       GT
GUINEA                                          GN
GUINEA-BISSAU                                   GW
GUYANA                                          GY
HAITI                                           HT
HEARD AND MC DONALD ISLANDS                     HM
HONDURAS                                        HN
HONG KONG                                       HK
HUNGARY                                         HU


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ICELAND                                         IS
INDIA                                           IN
INDONESIA                                       ID
IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF)                      IR
IRAQ                                            IQ
IRELAND                                         IE
ISRAEL                                          IL
ITALY                                           IT
JAMAICA                                         JM
JAPAN                                           JP
JORDAN                                          JO
KAZAKHSTAN                                      KZ
KENYA                                           KE
KIRIBATI                                        KI
KOREA, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF          KP
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF                              KR
KUWAIT                                          KW
KYRGYZSTAN                                      KG
LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC                LA
LATVIA                                          LV
LEBANON                                         LB
LESOTHO                                         LS
LIBERIA                                         LR
LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA                          LY
LIECHTENSTEIN                                   LI
LITHUANIA                                       LT
LUXEMBOURG                                      LU
MACAU                                           MO
MACEDONIA, THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF      MK
MADAGASCAR                                      MG
MALAWI                                          MW
MALAYSIA                                        MY
MALDIVES                                        MV
MALI                                            ML
MALTA                                           MT
MARSHALL ISLANDS                                MH
MARTINIQUE                                      MQ
MAURITANIA                                      MR
MAURITIUS                                       MU
MAYOTTE                                         YT
MEXICO                                          MX
MICRONESIA (FEDERATED STATES OF)                FM
MOLDOVA, REPUBLIC OF                            MD
MONACO                                          MC
MONGOLIA                                        MN
MONTSERRAT                                      MS
MOROCCO                                         MA
MOZAMBIQUE                                      MZ
MYANMAR                                         MM
NAMIBIA                                         NA
NAURU                                           NR
NEPAL                                           NP
NETHERLANDS                                     NL
NETHERLANDS ANTILLES                            AN
NEW CALEDONIA                                   NC


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NEW ZEALAND                                     NZ
NICARAGUA                                       NI
NIGER                                           NE
NIGERIA                                         NG
NIUE                                            NU
NORFOLK ISLAND                                  NF
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS                        MP
NORWAY                                          NO
OMAN                                            OM
PAKISTAN                                        PK
PALAU                                           PW
PANAMA                                          PA
PAPUA NEW GUINEA                                PG
PARAGUAY                                        PY
PERU                                            PE
PHILIPPINES                                     PH
PITCAIRN                                        PN
POLAND                                          PL
PORTUGAL                                        PT
PUERTO RICO                                     PR
QATAR                                           QA
REUNION                                         RE
ROMANIA                                         RO
RUSSIAN FEDERATION                              RU
RWANDA                                          RW
ST. HELENA                                      SH
SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS                           KN
SAINT LUCIA                                     LC
ST. PIERRE AND MIQUELON                         PM
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES                VC
SAMOA                                           WS
SAN MARINO                                      SM
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE                           ST
SAUDI ARABIA                                    SA
SENEGAL                                         SN
SEYCHELLES                                      SC
SIERRA LEONE                                    SL
SINGAPORE                                       SG
SLOVAKIA                                        SK
SLOVENIA                                        SI
SOLOMON ISLANDS                                 SB
SOMALIA                                         SO
SOUTH AFRICA                                    ZA
SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS    GS
SPAIN                                           ES
SRI LANKA                                       LK
SUDAN                                           SD
SURINAME                                        SR
SVALBARD AND JAN MAYEN ISLANDS                  SJ
SWAZILAND                                       SZ
SWEDEN                                          SE
SWITZERLAND                                     CH
SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC                            SY


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TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA                       TW
TAJIKISTAN                                      TJ
TANZANIA, UNITED REPUBLIC OF                    TZ
THAILAND                                        TH
TOGO                                            TG
TOKELAU                                         TK
TONGA                                           TO
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO                             TT
TUNISIA                                         TN
TURKEY                                          TR
TURKMENISTAN                                    TM
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS                        TC
TUVALU                                          TV
UGANDA                                          UG
UKRAINE                                         UA
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES                            AE
UNITED KINGDOM                                  GB
UNITED STATES                                   US
UNITED STATES MINOR OUTLYING ISLANDS            UM
URUGUAY                                         UY
UZBEKISTAN                                      UZ
VANUATU                                         VU
VATICAN CITY STATE (HOLY SEE)                   VA
VENEZUELA                                       VE
VIET NAM                                        VN
VIRGIN ISLANDS (BRITISH)                        VG
VIRGIN ISLANDS (U.S.)                           VI
WALLIS AND FUTUNA ISLANDS                       WF
WESTERN SAHARA                                  EH
YEMEN                                           YE
YUGOSLAVIA                                      YU
ZAIRE                                           ZR
ZAMBIA                                          ZM
ZIMBABWE                                        ZW


9. Acknowledgments

 The author would like to thank

James Sears -    for his continual editing effort
Robert Ullmann - for his input

and the members of the namedroppers mailing list for both their support and
criticism of this document.

10. Author's Address

Al Costanzo
AKC Computer Services Corp.
 P.O. Box 4031, Roselle Park, NJ 07204-0531
 www.AKC.com
Phone: +1 908 298 9000
Email: AL@AKC.COM

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