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SWIP - Using the Shared WHOIS Project

SWIP (the Shared WhoIs Project) is the process where Class-C assignments appear in InterNic's whois database. Xodiax will participle in the Shared WhoIs Project (SWIP) and will ASSIGN or ALLOCATE IP netblocks equal to or shorter than a /29 to our end customers. This is done in accordance to the Internet Engineering and Task Force (IETF) RFC 2050 http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2050.txt.

The determining factor of whether to ASSIGN or ALLOCATE IP netblocks to the end customer is based upon the business model of the customer. If the customer provides Internet access (e.g. dial-up modems, DSL, cable modems), then the Xodiax IP netblock will be ALLOCATED to the end customer. If the customer provides content (e.g. ASPs, Web hosting, Email services), the Xodiax IP netblock will be ASSIGNED to the end customer.

If a customer has been ALLOCATED an IP netblock from Xodiax, it is expected to see them SWIP any of their customer IP assignments before requesting more IP space from Xodiax.

The purpose of using SWIP:

  • To accurately keep track of assigned IP space.
  • To expedite new CIDR requests from ARIN.
  • To allow the Internet-public to contact the correct netblock holder(s).
  • To point in-addr.arpa requests to customer equipment rather than Xodiax’s DNS servers.

Definitions:

  • ARIN: American Registry of Internet Numbers. IP address assignment in North America. ( http://www.arin.net)
  • Netblock: A block of IP addresses
  •  ASSIGN: To give IP addresses to end customers. The customer is not allowed to further SWIP the IP addresses to their end customers.
  • ALLOCATE: To give IP addresses to end customers. The customer is allowed to further SWIP the IP addresses to their end customers

The Importance of SWIP

Xodiax supports and enforces InterNic's SWIP policy which is stated at ftp://rs.internic.net/policy/internic-ip-1.txt  

Below is an excerpt of part of that document which states, in part:

Subsequent allocations of CIDR block addresses will be based on need; this need will be demonstrated based on the number of assignment actions that have been transmitted to the InterNic Registry. Assignment information is to be forwarded to the InterNic within 7 days of the assignment so that the "whois" may be maintained efficiently. Transmission of assignment information is also necessary for the following reasons:

a) To ensure that a provider has exhausted, or is about to exhaust its current CIDR allocation such that an additional allocation is justified.

b) To allow operational people to see which organization is using the assigned address space and whom to contact in the event of operational/security problems, etc.

c) To assist in the IP allocation studies.

Assignment actions can be submitted by utilizing the database exchange format defined by the SWIP project. Information regarding SWIP may be obtained via anonymous FTP from rs.internic.net. The files may be found under the /pub/swip directory.

ALL ISP's, regardless of where they receive their CIDR blocks should either SWIP the assignment information or establish an RWHOIS server. If SWIP is the chosen method, ISP's should register with the InterNic as an ISP to receive a maintainer ID necessary to SWIP the assignment information.

Briefly stated: this means that if Xodiax customers do not SWIP, it could hamper Xodiax's ability to obtain more Class-C address space for it's customers. Every customer with a full /24 IP address space is required to SWIP.

Help with SWIP

The information below is not a replacement for the InterNic's SWIP documentation, but only a supplement. You should still read that information before proceeding with your SWIP process.

Here's an example of a properly completed SWIP template for an example customer who is using SWIP to ASSIGNing space to one of his customers:
 

WDB_version: 1.4
---

(N)ew (M)odify (D)elete: N
(A)llocate A(S)sign: S
---
ntsnum:10.10.220.0
ntenum:
ntname:SDF-10-10-220
org:Example System Services
street:PO Box 123
city:Louisville
state:KY
zipcode:40202
cntry:US
maint:XODI
---
hname:NS.EXAMPLE.NET
ipaddr:10.10.220.1
---
hname:NS2.EXAMPLE.NET
ipaddr:10.10.220.2
---
nichandl:BUBB223
lname:
fname:
mname:
org:
street:
city:
state:
zipcode:
cntry:
phne:
mbox:
END OF FILE
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(N)ew assignment: If this Class-C address space is currently un-SWIPped.

(M)odify Assignment: If the information on the current SWIP is no longer accurate and you want to correct it, choose the (M)odify option.

(D)elete Assignment: If the information on the current SWIP is no longer accurate and the Class-C space is no longer used, you will want to choose the (D)elete option.

(A)llocate: (A)llocation is an assignment that can be reassigned to other customers. (If your customer has customers of his own, space should be Allocated.)

A(S)sign: A(S)signed space stays with the person it's assigned to.

ntsnum: This is the lowest address in the Class-C assigned-block.

ntenum: This is the highest address in the block.

ntname: SDF-10-10-220: Create a unique name for the address space. Only use letters, numerals, or dashes. Do not use domain names, as periods are not acceptable characters.

org: The Company Name

street, city, state and zipcode: The Company Address

cntry: The 3-letter code for where the company is located.

maint: The maintainer ID. (A full list of maintainer IDs is available at ftp://rs.internic.net/ pub/swip/maintainer.list.
If you don't have a maintainer ID, email hostmaster@internic.net and ask for one.

Leave the following spaces blank. Nameservers responsible for reverse mapping have already been established.
hname:

ipaddr:

hname:

ipaddr:


nichandl: Put the NIC handle of the company's technical contact here ("XODI" for Xodiax). Skip the rest of the template.

Do not put END OF FILE after each template in a submission, but only after the last template. You can mail any number of templates to reassign@internic.net in one message. Separate templates with the CUT HERE line.
 

If you have any questions, please call Xodiax Network Operations at 502.315.6015

   
       
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