From: mgt@NIC.DDN.MIL (MGT)
Newsgroups: ddn.mgt-bulletin
Subject: MILNET TAC User Validation and Registration
Date: 25 Sep 92 21:13:33 GMT
Reply-To: mgt@nic.ddn.mil
Distribution: ddn
Organization: The Defense Data Network


************************************************************************ 
DDN MGT Bulletin #101             DISA DDN Defense Communications System   
24 September 1992                 Published by: DDN Network Info Center
                                  (NIC@NIC.DDN.MIL)  (800) 365-3642

                        DEFENSE  DATA  NETWORK
                         MANAGEMENT  BULLETIN

  The DDN MANAGEMENT BULLETIN is distributed online by the DDN Network
  Information Center under DISA contract as a means of communicating
  official policy, procedures and other information of concern to
  management personnel at DDN facilities. Back issues may be read
  through the TACNEWS server ("@n" command at the TAC) or may be
  obtained by FTP (or Kermit) from the NIC.DDN.MIL host [192.112.36.5]
  using login="anonymous" and password="guest". The pathname
  for bulletins is ddn-news/ddn-mgt-bulletin-nn.txt (where "nn" is the
  bulletin number).
************************************************************************
 
            MILNET TAC User Validation and Registration

This Management Bulletin provides important information for host and
gateway/concentrator administrators who are authorized to request
TAC Access Cards for their users. This bulletin also provides guidance
regarding the validation and registration process for all MILNET TAC
users. The impending MILNET-wide TAC user registration will involve the
reissue of TAC Access Cards to all authorized users and will ensure that
only currently authorized users can access the MILNET via a TAC.

The following topics will be covered:

1) Validation and registration procedures
2) Importance of timely submission of user registration templates
3) New format for user registration templates
4) Validation and re-registration schedule
5) Amended Authorization Policy
6) DDN NIC contact information


1.  Validation and Registration Procedures
   
    The official validation and registration of all MILNET TAC users is
    about to begin. During this period, the records for all MILNET TAC 
    users will be added, updated, or deleted, as required.
    
    The DDN NIC Registrar will initiate the process by sending each
    authorized host or gateway administrator a host template containing
    the host information that is currently stored in the WHOIS database.
    These host templates will be sent according to the schedule provided in 
    Section 4. Each host and gateway administrator will be required to
    validate the information on the host template, make any necessary
    changes, and return the template to the DDN NIC. Upon receipt of the
    updated host template, the Registrar will prepare a file containing the 
    templates of the users on that host who are currently registered in
    the WHOIS database.


1.1 User Template File Transmission

    Depending on its size, the user template file will be transmitted to
    the appropriate gateway or host administrator via electronic mail or
    made available for downloading via FTP. The NIC will send the majority
    of user template files via e-mail. However, administrators for hosts 
    with a very large number of TAC users will be given instructions for 
    downloading their user templates via FTP. Along with the user template 
    files, the NIC will provide detailed instructions for adding, deleting 
    or modifying the individual user records. 


1.2 Importance of Following Instructions

    It is IMPERATIVE that the administrators adhere to the guidelines and
    instructions provided to them with their user data. Deviations from
    these instructions will result in processing delays and/or rejection
    of the templates. Because the data is automatically parsed from the
    templates by software designed exclusively for that purpose, the standard
    user registration templates must not be altered in any way, and the data
    provided for each template field must be entered in the correct format. 
    User files that are returned to the NIC in an unacceptable format will 
    be sent back to the administrator for correction.


1.3 Transmitting User Files to the NIC

    When returning the updated user templates to the NIC, each 
    administrator should clearly identify the file as "Host/Gateway 
    Re-Registration Information" in the subject line of each message. 
    This will ensure that 1) the files are processed through user regis-
    tration as a re-registration and 2) TAC access for these users will 
    not be interrupted.


1.4 New TAC Card Issuance and Old TAC Card Invalidation

    After the NIC has received all the updated user templates for a host, the 
    file(s) will be reviewed for accuracy and validated. New TAC Cards will
    be generated for each user who has been authorized TAC access by the 
    host or gateway administrator. The entire re-registration process
    (from the submission and receipt of the updated user data to the
    mailing of the TAC Card) is approximately two weeks. The DDN NIC will 
    send electronic mail messages to the host or gateway administrator and 
    to all the associated users notifying them that their new TAC Cards 
    have been mailed.

    Six weeks after new TAC Cards have been mailed, all old TAC cards  
    associated with that host or gateway will be invalidated. This should 
    allow sufficient time for users to receive their new TAC cards or to 
    inform the NIC (via their host or gateway administrator) of any problems 
    regarding their new TAC Cards. Consequently, it is very important that 
    administrators encourage their users to report problems or missing TAC 
    Cards within the six-week time period prior to the invalidation of the 
    TAC Cards.
    

2.  Importance of Timely Submission of User Registration Templates

    All authorized host and gateway administrators will be given a maximum 
    of four (4) weeks from the day they receive their user templates (or 
    notification that their templates are ready for them to download 
    via FTP), to make the necessary additions, deletions and revisions 
    and to resubmit the data to the NIC for processing.

    If the NIC does not receive the updated user templates after four
    weeks have elapsed, the DISA Task Monitor will intervene. The NIC
    staff is fully aware that validation and registration can be a 
    tedious process, especially for those administrators who are
    responsible for a large number of users. If problems are encountered,
    contact the NIC immediately for assistance. The security of the DDN 
    MILNET is at risk when the process is not given appropriate attention.


3.  New Format for User Registration Templates

    A new User Registration Template has been prepared to standardize and
    expedite the validation and registration process. Use of this new 
    template will help to ensure that the NIC receives complete and reliable 
    information about each user in a format that can be processed quickly and 
    accurately by the registration software.  This template is available,
    along with instructions and examples, from the DDN NIC via anonymous
    FTP.  Connect to the NIC and log on with username "anonymous" and 
    password "guest". Change to the <templates> directory and request the 
    file by executing a getfile procedure for filename <user-template.txt> at
    the prompt.

    The NIC will provide the re-registration files to the administrators
    in the new template format. All re-registration user files must be 
    returned to the NIC in this format. However, in an effort to ease the
    transition to the new template, the NIC will accept user files (THAT ARE
    NOT A PART OF A RE-REGISTRATION) in the format of the current user 
    template until 1 January 1993. After this date, only templates that are
    submitted in the new template format will be honored.
    

4.  Validation and Registration Schedule

    The host and user validation (re-registration) schedule has been 
    established alphabetically, by first letter of the official hostname.
    This schema (shown in the chart below) should result in the re-registra-
    tion of approximately the same number of users for each month in the 
    ten month schedule.

    If the host or gateway administrator anticipates difficulties doing the
    re-registration in the month scheduled, a request may be sent to the NIC 
    to reschedule the process (See Section 6).

                    Host/User Registration Schedule
                       (Alphabetical by Hostname)


  | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep |
  |  A  | B-C | D-F | G-H | I-L |M,O-Q|  N  |  R  |  S  | T-Z | --- | --- |


5.  Amended Authorization Policy

    Although DISA formerly required all users on hosts behind gateways 
    and concentrators to register and request TAC Access Cards via their 
    gateway administrators, that requirement has changed. Gateway (or 
    concentrator) administrators may now delegate the authority to request 
    TAC cards to the administrator(s) of any hosts attached to the MILNET 
    via their gateway. In this way, administrators of hosts behind gateways 
    or concentrators will be able to request TAC Cards for their own users 
    and to register those users to their own or "home" hosts. However, 
    administrators of all hosts behind the gateway must have proper 
    delegated authorization (in accordance with the Draft TAC Access Control 
    Policy Circular) from their gateway administrator before the 
    DDN NIC can honor their requests. This authorization should take the 
    form of an e-mail message to REGISTRAR@NIC.DDN.MIL sent directly 
    from the gateway administrators' mailbox.


5.1 Registering Hosts Behind Concentrators/Gateways

    All hosts behind gateways (or concentrators) whose users require TAC
    access MUST be registered in the NIC's WHOIS database before requests 
    for TAC access can be made. This is done by completing a Military Host 
    Registration template and submitting it to the DDN NIC for processing. 
    To retrieve the host registration template via FTP, connect to the NIC 
    host and log on with username "anonymous" and password "guest". Then 
    change to the <templates> directory and request the file by executing a 
    getfile procedure for filename <mhost-template.txt>.

    To avoid unnecessary delays, all hosts should be registered with the
    DDN NIC prior to the re-registration process.


6.  DDN NIC Contact Information

    For general information and template file transmission, send electronic
    mail to
         REGISTRAR@NIC.DDN.MIL:

    or contact the DDN NIC Help Desk at:
         1-800-365-DNIC (within the continental U.S.) or 
         (703) 802-4535 (in the Washington DC metropolitan area or
                         outside the continental U.S.)  

    All re-registration user files should be sent via electronic mail to:
         REREG@NIC.DDN.MIL 

** NOTE **
    
    Whenever you leave a message for one of the contacts listed
    above, please be sure to include a COMMERCIAL phone number if
    possible. The DDN NIC does not have autovon capability.