This need a little investigation and response ..
On Thu, 7 Oct 1999, Greg Skinner wrote:
> At 08:24 AM 10/2/99 -0700, Richard Sexton wrote:
> > Vixie is an extremist. Back when the birth of news:alt was the bigest
> > mess on the net he was the only backbone cabal memebr that thought this
> > would be the death of the net (or so I'm told). There are root server
> > operators that take the opposite extreme view from Paul. On average
> > though they're a resonable bunch by anybodys standards.
>
> Well, Vixie has shown that he can be an activist on issues that he feels
> are important and threaten the net. Look at the work he has done on
> RBL. Also note the considerable support he has gotten from the Internet
Vixie is not an activist. Vixie, like any other individual is motivated
strictly by self interest. The recent RBL vs. NSI struggle was a clear
indication Vixie can, like anyone else, impose his views on the world.
Hitler had the same sweeping powers, and not much came of that.
I say that not to detract from Vixie's accomplishments. Those
accomplishments are recognized, but easily tainted when power is abused.
> community -- particularly the ISP community (the very people whose
> support is necessary to make alternative root servers visible on a
> netwide scale).
Your confusing support from the internet community with the status quo.
Vixie did at one time have considerable support from the ISP community.
That support has dropped considerably over the last five years and Vixie
knows this. His support is now localized to a core group of ISP's, pre
1995 era.
If Vixie wants to make a difference, the best solution would be that Vixie
distance himself from the DNS wars. My recommendation is as follows.
1. Delete the root.cache file that is distributed with bind,
which now contains the default USG root servers.
.
2. Include a README root.cache file explaining how it works
and provide directions on where to get the USG root files and alternative
root server caches.
> Legal actions may be taken against them, yet they are
> willing to follow his lead, because they believe in what he is doing.
Could you explain this. The only legal action I know of that Vixie has
been treatened with these days was an NSI action regarding thier mass
mailing to contacts. It's my understanding Vixie saw the light and
appropriately backed down. Is this what your referring too, or something
else.
Cheers
Joe Baptista
--
Planet Communication & Computing Facility 1.212.894.3704 ext 1033
Public Access Internet Research Publisher 1.419.821.8581 fax
