.nz news & views

	Thursday, 27 February 2003

Xtra added to registrar list The registrar table has been updated based on Xtra connecting to the SRS. They have a curious pricing model compared to the other registrars at the moment. 9:48:18 PM      Like to comment? []

ITU ccTLD workshop paper on .nz I just noticed that the DNC has submitted a paper to the ITU ccTLD workshop. The paper is titled "Management of .nz" is in mainly about the SRS and the main policy areas of .nz. 3:02:43 PM      Like to comment? []

Xtra connects to SRS The DNC has announced today that Xtra and Domain Directors have been authorised as .nz Registrars. As well as Xtra being authorised they have also connected to the SRS today. This means that they must have been connected to the SRS test system for some time. Should we expect TelstraClear to be authorised soon? 2:54:35 PM      Like to comment? []

	Wednesday, 26 February 2003

Sortable table of authorised .nz registrars added I have finally finished creating my list of authorised .nz registrars. I plan to update this as often as required to keep it up to date. Each column can be used to sort the data in ascending or descending order (as desired). I am currently recording the following: SRS Status Reseller program One time and on going charges General notes This is the first public 'release' of the page. The details are accurate as of this week but the figures listed should not be assumed to be accurate. If you use this chart please check with the registrars on their current service offering. 11:53:39 PM      Like to comment? []

	Tuesday, 25 February 2003

ITU ccTLD DNS survey ITU has released a survey on the DNS infrastructure of all ccTLD's. Between 14th and 17th of February all ccTLD's root servers were queried. The resulting name servers were in turn queried. The results make an interesting read. 2:27:09 PM      Like to comment? []

	Monday, 24 February 2003

NBR on .geek.nz The NBR had a story last week on .geek.nz. It's not a site I normally check out for .nz related stories and therefore the lateness in the link. 12:32:06 AM      Like to comment? []

	Friday, 21 February 2003

.nz official logo The official registrar logo seems to have been released. It is being used on three Registrar sites (5StarNet, Godzone and The Packing Shed) and I am linking to 5StarNet's use. I thought about embedding in this page but decided against it. 9:45:22 PM      Like to comment? []

2LD WG to meet The first meeting of the 2LD Review working group (which I am a member of) is on March the 6th. 12:02:54 AM      Like to comment? []

	Thursday, 20 February 2003

.nz names total at 121,668 .nz domain name figures per 2LD have been released. Total names at end of January are 121,668, monthly growth of only 835 names. DNC notes these totals exclude names in the pending release status. I must say the level of detail of the .nz newsletter is very high. Wonder if market share details will be released, or even the Domain non Domainz market share percentage will become public? 11:03:34 PM      Like to comment? []

Details on the Domainz srs.net.nz mistake The newly released .nz newsletter has details on the Domainz 'opps I pulled srs.net.nz from the zone file' mistake. Seems that a field was case sensitive and the default setting is that names should NOT go into the zonefile. Guess it makes sense if you use Domainz Logic. Also has a comment about registrars MUST release UDAI's (Unique Domain Authentication ID) to registrant and this can not be held back for any reason. Wonder if this is also Domainz related? 10:57:16 PM      Like to comment? []

	Wednesday, 19 February 2003

Cerf admits ICANN was acting stupid Vint Cerf was in Wellington this week and gave several talks. IDG has reported on this with the following quote about ICANN demanding access to the ccTLD zonefile: Though well-intentioned "that was basically a stupid mistake," Cerf says. "We just wanted to make sure everything was well structured." I wonder when this will become a formal ICANN statement. I think almost everyone involved in TLD goverance issues will agree ICANN has been acting stupid. The only real debate is has it acted in any other manner... ever. 8:19:13 AM      Like to comment? []

	Tuesday, 18 February 2003

geek.nz vote opens soon. Voting for geek.nz straw poll starts at midnight tonight. Online voting at vote.internetnz.net.nz and it runs for two weeks. 4:17:05 PM      Like to comment? []

	Monday, 17 February 2003

Dumeeenz - Swedish for Domainz? I ran into one of the many 'translator' websites the other day and ran it on this website for the fun of it. The funniest thing which the writing about the 'Domainz fubar' reminded me was of the Swedish Chef translator. It turned Domainz into Dumeeenz (with the standard Bork Bork Bork! attached ) which in turn reminded me of this Domainz variation which came about after the DRS implementation. 6:17:01 PM      Like to comment? []

DNC under own control... names wise anyway Because of the mistake of Domainz pulling 'infrastructure names' from the zonefile. The DNC has been approved to become a 'closed registrar' so vital SRS names can be maintained by it. I translate this as DNC speak for 'I can not afford Domainz screw up on the important things again'. Your translation may vary :-) I wonder what other names they pulled by mistake, knowing Domainz nothing happens in ones. 6:03:04 PM      Like to comment? []

Domainz removes srs.net.nz form zonefile...by mistake. From the "it would be funny if it was not true" department. The minutes from the recent NZOC meeting have the following: "An incident recently highlighted a risk with names directly associated with the operation of the SRS. Domainz is currently the registrar of various names associated with the SRS, including srs.net.nz. Last week Domainz accidentally set the delegate flag to 'no' meaning that the domain srs.net.nz was not included in the zone push. Registrars not working off cache were then unable to access the SRS. The issue was identified, the delegation amended to 'yes' and a further zone push undertaken so that the SRS could operate." A whois on srs.net.nz shows the record was last updated on February 12th. I guess Domainz has trouble understanding that you cant 'play with' the names anymore and they cant hide their mistakes like in the past. 5:57:15 PM      Like to comment? []

	Saturday, 15 February 2003

Correction on proposed zone file changes A previous post commented that NZRS was thinking of going from 2 to 4 zone files pushes a day. Well, that is incorrect; I should have said increasing the existing 2 zone files pushes a day by four. This would of course mean it would be a total of 6. Sorry about that, I cant recall the last time I needed two hands to count something and thus the error :-) 2:31:16 PM      Like to comment? []

	Friday, 14 February 2003

2LD working group members Yesterday the DNC sent out the list of the members in the 2LD review working group. They are: Debbie Monahan WG Chair (DNC) Andy Linton (PIR Board member, former InternetNZ councillor) Karaitiana Taiuru (Former NZMIS President) Mark Harris (.govt.nz moderator, former InternetNZ councillor) Roger Hicks (NZOC representative, former InternetNZ councillor) Steven Heath (former SRS WG ("Hine Report") member, former InternetNZ councillor/Treasurer and nznews.org.nz writer) I had missed this until now as it seems it only went to those that were subscribed to the HTML version of DNC newsletters. 3:13:02 PM      Like to comment? []

	Thursday, 13 February 2003

Proposed changes to zone file updates NZRS is proposing to move from 2 zone file updates to 4 zone files updates a day. A call has been made to comment on this to NZNOG and DNC related mailists. 6:37:05 PM      Like to comment? []

12 live registrars A total of 12 registrars now are connected to NZRS and have been approved to update the .nz register. Another 12 have been approved by the DNC but not yet connected to the registry. 12:11:40 PM      Like to comment? []

IDG on the 2LD WG IDG has a story today on the members of the newly formed 2LD Review Working Group. 7:28:27 AM      Like to comment? []

	Wednesday, 12 February 2003

voting for .geek.nz announced The DNC has just announced the voting period for the .geek.nz 2LD application. Voting will open on February 18th and close on March 4th. To be able to vote you will have to have a valid email address and a New Zealand located postal address. I would assume that normal InternetNZ website for voting will be used and an email 'ballot'. 2:17:19 PM      Like to comment? []

	Tuesday, 11 February 2003

2LD Working group forming Well it seems the NZOC must have met in the last few days. Two interesting things about this is that it seems yet again no agenda or even announcement was made of this meeting and secondly I received the following email this morning: Thank you for your expression of interest in the Second Level Domain review working group. NZOC are aware of your previous efforts in this area and are keen for you to be involved. Your contribution to the review will be very valuable. I am still in the planning mode so will be in touch shortly to arrange an initial meeting of the group. Thanks again for your interest. I look forward to working with you. Regards Debbie Monahan Domain Name Commissioner 9:48:10 AM      Like to comment? []

	Tuesday, 4 February 2003

Word has filtered out that Jordan Carter has accepted a full time position with the Office of the DNC starting in a month or so. I understand that Jordan resigned as a councillor of InternetNZ when he accepted this position. Jordan should do an good job as he understands the issues around the history of the SRS and has some good ideas going forward in the 'new order' (he being former President of Young Labour would have been a good introduction to InternetNZ :-). While he does not seem to have any DNS technical knowledge I am sure he could pick it up quickly if it is needed. 3:13:08 PM      Like to comment? []

	Monday, 3 February 2003

Domainz increases prices Domainz has on Feb 1st increased it retail prices as well as listing extra services of being a Domainz customer called 'Domainz Ad-oNZ' (catchy name eh?). Domainz is doing an excellent job increasing prices as it will drive further business to new registrars. 10:34:53 PM      Like to comment? []

	Sunday, 2 February 2003

IANA tender notice issued Anyone interested in bidding on the "Operation of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) function"? The notice of intent has been issued. Wonder how much interest will be in a (quote) "no-cost purchase order". Those interested in taking a key part of ICANN away please form an ordely line to the right and no pushing please. 10:33:22 PM      Like to comment? []