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RFC 1956 INFORMATIONAL DNS · DOMAIN REGISTRATION

MIL Domain Registration: Registration in the MIL Domain

Rules for military organizations to register under the .mil domain.

On rfc-editor.org ↗
PUBLISHED
June 1996
AUTHORS
D. Engebretson, R. Plzak
STREAM
Legacy
DOMAIN ADMINISTRATOR
US Department of Defense
ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS
US military services and DoD commands
MINIMUM NAME SERVERS
2, in separate networks
PREFERRED DOMAIN NAME LENGTH
12 characters or less
DOI
10.17487/RFC1956

RFC text

Contents
Original text · RFC Editor View on rfc-editor.org ↗ 
Network Working Group                                     D. Engebretson
Request for Comments: 1956                                      R. Plzak
Category:  Informational                                         DoD NIC
                                                               June 1996


                     Registration in the MIL Domain

Status of this Memo

   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  This memo
   does not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of
   this memo is unlimited.

Introduction

   This RFC describes the policy for the registration of second level
   domains under the ".MIL" domain.

Policy

   A.  The ".MIL" domain is delegated from the root authority to the US
   Department of Defense (DoD).  Only US military services, unified or
   specified commands, and operating agencies of the DoD which do not
   report through military service chains can be registered as a second
   level domain under the ".MIL" domain.  All other DoD organizations
   will register through their respective second level domain
   administrators using the registration procedures established by those
   offices.  The ".MIL" domain is administered by the DoD Network
   Information Center (NIC).

   B.  The domain names under the ".MIL" will be descriptive of the
   organization they will service.  The domain name length is preferred
   to be 12 characters or less, and must be unique (first come first
   serve if duplicates occur).

   C.  Each second level domain under the ".MIL" domain will be
   supported by at least two name servers.  Preferably these servers
   will be located in two separate networks.  All DNS servers supporting
   subdomains of the ".MIL" domain must be in the ".MIL" domain.

   D.  Prospective second level domain administrators in the ".MIL"
   domain will request registration using the template provided by the
   DoD NIC.  The templates are available via anonymous FTP or
   interactively via the DoD NIC World Wide Web Homepage.  The domain
   request template shall be submitted to the DoD NIC hostmaster
   (hostmaster@nic.ddn.mil).  The DoD NIC hostmaster will only accept
   domain registration templates from registered ".MIL" users.

Security Considerations

   Security issues are not discussed in this memo.

Authors' Addresses

   D.W. Engebretson
   DISA/D343
   11440 Isaac Newton Square
   Reston, VA 22090

   Phone: +1 703 735 8065
   EMail:  engebred@ncr.disa.mil


   Raymond Plzak
   Department of Defense Network Information Center
   14200 Parkridge Drive Suite 200
   Chantilly, VA 22021

   Phone: +1 800 365 3642
   EMail: plzak@nic.ddn.mil

AI ELI5

On this page
PROBLEMThe .MIL domain needed clear rules for which organizations could register domain names and how they would be managed.
MECHANISMThis RFC establishes that only US military services and DoD commands can register directly under .mil; other DoD organizations register under their service's domains. The DoD NIC manages all registrations and requires at least two DNS servers.
MILITARY DOMAIN POLICYThe policy ensures the .mil namespace remains controlled and properly configured for military Internet operations.

§1Military Domain Policy

RFC 1956 describes the policy for registering second-level domains under the .MIL domain, which is delegated from the Internet root authority to the US Department of Defense. This RFC ensures proper governance of a critical namespace used exclusively for military Internet operations.

This RFC explains the rules for the .mil domain, which is used only by the US military.

§2Who Can Register

Only US military services, unified or specified commands, and DoD operating agencies that do not report through military service chains can register directly as second-level domains under .MIL. All other DoD organizations must register through their respective military service's second-level domain, not directly under .MIL.

The DoD Network Information Center (DoD NIC) administers the entire .MIL domain and processes all registration requests.

Only the main military branches and top DoD commands can have their own .mil domains. Other military offices must use their branch's domain.

§3Registration Requirements

Domain names under .MIL must be descriptive and preferably 12 characters or less. Names are unique on a first-come-first-served basis. Each domain must be supported by at least two name servers located in separate networks. Critically, all DNS servers supporting .MIL subdomains must themselves be located in the .MIL domain.

Applicants must submit a registration template to the DoD NIC hostmaster at hostmaster@nic.ddn.mil, and only registered .MIL users are accepted as domain administrators.

Every .mil domain needs at least two backup name servers, and domain names should describe what organization they serve.