North American Network Operators Group

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Inter-provider communications (Re: nobody @home)

  • From: Sean Donelan
  • Date: Sat Jan 20 19:21:24 2001

On Sat, 20 January 2001, Dan Hollis wrote:
> Youre lucky. Ive noticed an increasing trend that the NOC phone numbers
> listed on corporate web pages come back as disconnected/RNA, and the
> emails bounce "no such user". Real cute, especially when you're being
> ddos'd.
> 
> whois data is even worse. I suspect upwards of 25% of whois contact data
> is worthless.

This is not new, or even an increasing trend.

I used to contact between 80 and 100 different NOCs every six months.  I
would call every NOC contact phone number, and ask them to confirm it
was the correct phone number.  Its amazing how many NOC's didn't know
their own number.  And when I told them what number I had dialed, didn't
know that number was connected to their NOC.

The phone number churn was a consistent 30%, even with contact information
exchanged in accordance with written peer agreements.  Every six months
it would take me almost a week to reach 90 or so NOCs, and get the
current contact information.  In the case of a couple of NOCs, in three
years I was never able to reach anyone at the NOC willing to confirm
the information.

I used to post the results of my "drill" on NANOG.

IOPS set up a contact list for its members, and for a while was doing
monthly drills.  But since IOPS's keeps it a secret, I don't know how
successful they've been.


About two years ago, I proposed to all major providers we set up a set
of permanent, private communication links between all the NOCs.  The "phone
number" would be your ASN(s).  The system would be based on the same
technology used by the NAWAS and NTA.  Which lets you set up an instant
conferences.  I can set up the system so those providers who want to
talk in "private," have conferences as small as two parties or as large
as everyone on the network, while monitoring multiple circuits at
the same time.

10 providers thought it was a good idea, but the two largest providers
never responded to any inquiries.

I can bring the idea out of mothballs again, if folks are interested.