[ppml] Directory Services - section 3.4.3

[Jeff Williams]

Michael and all,

  I agree with Michael here.  It seems logical and reasonable that
a more open definition of storage media is appropriate.  CD-R's
are "ok" however DVD-R's are more efficient.

Michael.Dillon at btradianz.com wrote:

> > >     >            - Via CDROM to users who complete the bulk data form.
>
> > This isn't vast overspecification. It's better described as a minimum
> > level of service delivery.
>
> When you put a statement like that in policy then you
> are implying that CD-ROM is the only acceptable media.
> What happens if the data won't fit on one CD-ROM. Will
> ARIN staff sit there swapping in CD-Rs, and then do
> it all over again to verify that they are all readable?
> If we simple say
>
> -Via recordable media to users who have signed the bulk data AUP
>
> Then we are not overspecifying the details. ARIN is still
> free to offer the data on a DVD-R with 5 copies of the data
> in different formats for $100 or on CD-R with your choice
> of a single data format for $2,000 dollars. The extra fee
> covers the time spent sitting and swapping disks. People can
> ask ARIN to buy a USB 2.0 or Firewire drive, load the 5 formats
> of the database and mail it to them. Or people can drive up
> to the ARIN offices with a PC containing a DLT drive and
> 100baseT network card to do a high-speed SMB transfer of the
> data onto tape.
>
> These are all details which are not specified in the policy
> and which are not possible if the policy mentions CDROM. That
> is why that phrase is OVERSPECIFICATION.
>
> > Staff
> > could probably figure out on their own if a CD-ROM made sense, but
> > there's no harm in saying "else...CD-ROM".
>
> Yes, there is harm in saying "else...CD-ROM". By doing that we
> usurp the ability of ARIN staff to use their own judgement.
> We are micromanaging. Do you like your boss to tell you in
> detail how to do your daily tasks? Policy is like instructions
> from the boss and good policy should not overspecify in the same
> way that good managers should not micromanage.
>
> --Michael Dillon

Regards,
--
Jeffrey A. Williams
Spokesman for INEGroup LLA. - (Over 134k members/stakeholders strong!)
"Be precise in the use of words and expect precision from others" -
    Pierre Abelard

"If the probability be called P; the injury, L; and the burden, B;
liability depends upon whether B is less than L multiplied by
P: i.e., whether B is less than PL."
United States v. Carroll Towing  (159 F.2d 169 [2d Cir. 1947]
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