[ARIN-consult] Call for Community Consultation - Automated Template Submission and Testing

[Member Services]

In response to Suggestion 2008.5: Testbed for Checking ARIN Template 
Syntax, ARIN would like additional community input regarding 
expectations for format/delivery and test/validation of automated templates.

ARIN is creating a new provisioning system for its customers as part of 
the Secure Login initiative. In upcoming releases, many of the templates 
that are currently submitted via e-mail will be available for online 
submission. However, there are a few templates that are currently 
delivered to ARIN via e-mail in an automated fashion. These forms do not 
lend themselves easily to manual web-based template submission system.

As ARIN is updating our provisioning systems, we would like community 
feedback on alternative methods and/or formats for delivery templates 
that are automated by our customers. There are several options under 
consideration: maintaining the current submission format for automated 
forms; providing a secure, authenticated conduit for these same forms; 
offering an XML format using a RESTFUL interface; or some other option, 
like using EPP. For example LACNIC is in the development stages of 
creating an EPP interface for their customers.


ARIN would also like input on what the community wants in terms of 
testing and validation.  Connection-oriented solutions such as RESTFUL 
HTTP and EPP are more readily integrated into test frameworks and 
validation suites than e-mail templates. ARIN would know your 
expectations for both format/delivery and test/validation for automated 
templates.

Discussion on this list will close at 5:00 PM ET 30 January 2009. ARIN 
may decide to conduct a poll on the topic during the following week 
depending on the volume and diversity of the discussion. Participation 
in the poll will be limited to arin-consult mail list subscribers who 
are registered at the time the poll opens.

The ARIN Consultation and Suggestion Process documentation is available at:
http://www.arin.net/about_us/corp_docs/acsp.html.

We welcome community-wide participation.  Please address any process 
questions to info at arin.net.

Regards,

Member Services
American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)


2008.5
Submitted 4 February 2008
ARIN should deploy a testbed for checking the syntax in ARIN templates. 
This would allow users to test the template before submitting it. It 
would allow new users to practice in a non-production environement. It 
would allow organizations who automate template generation to test 
changes, before putting them into production.
RIPE has a tool that could be used as an example: http://www.ripe.net/tools/