Request for monitor host table updates
Update network host tables as NIC services move to OFFICE-1
Ferguson, B., "Request for monitor host table updates", RFC 620, DOI 10.17487/RFC0620, March 1974, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc620>.
@misc{rfc620,
series = {Request for Comments},
number = 620,
howpublished = {RFC 620},
publisher = {RFC Editor},
doi = {10.17487/RFC0620},
url = {https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc620},
author = {B. Ferguson},
title = {{Request for monitor host table updates}},
pagetotal = 1,
year = 1974,
month = mar,
} RFC text
Network Working Group Bill Ferguson (SRI-ARC)
Request for Comments: 620 Mar 1974
NIC # 21993
Request for Monitor Host Table Updates
The ARC/NIC group has successfully been running OFFICE-1 for several
weeks now. Our NIC users have been transferred to that site, and are
receiving all their computation from TYMSHARE. In conjunction with
this change, we would like all sites to change their monitor HOST
tables, effective Friday, March 8, 1974.
The net change we wish to accomplish is the following:
1) Site 53 (octal) is OFFICE-1
2) Site 2 is SRI-ARC
3) The nickname for site 2 is ARC (not NIC)
4) The nickname for site 53 is NIC
Please note that now that NIC services are available from
OFFICE-1, they rather than SRI-ARC should be accessed over the
network as "NIC".
To effect this change, each TENEX site's monitor host table should be
updated in the following manner. The actual host name section should
contain the following entries (they may already be present).
CC.(2,SR1-ARC,USER!SERVER!TENEX)
CC.(253,TYMSHARE-TIP,USER!TIP)
CC.(53,OFFICE-1,USER!SERVER!TENEX)
Further, the NICKNAME table should contain the following entries.
The entry for NIC should be changed to refer to site 53 (octal), and
a new entry for ARC should be added. Specifically, they are:
CC.(2,ARC,NICKNAME!SERVER!USER!TENEX)
CC.(53,NIC,NICKNAME!SERVER!USER!TENEX)
Other Network sites, not running TENEX, should make these changes in
a manner consistent with their operating system.
As mentioned above, these changes are effective on March 8. We will
inform all our users to use the nickname NiC in reference to OFFICE-1
as of this date. Thank you for your co-operation.
AI ELI5
On this page
§1NIC Relocation
The Network Information Center (NIC) had been operating at SRI-ARC but was moving to a new facility called OFFICE-1. To ensure network users could reach NIC services, all sites needed to update their monitor host tables, which map host names to network addresses.
The change was to take effect on Friday, March 8, 1974. RFC 620 specifies exactly what entries should be added or modified in these tables.
When the NIC moved to a new computer, everyone on the network had to update their address books.
§2Table Updates
TENEX sites should update their host tables to contain three entries: one for SRI-ARC at site 2, one for OFFICE-1 at site 53 (octal), and one for TYMSHARE-TIP at site 253. The nickname section should be updated so that 'ARC' refers to SRI-ARC and 'NIC' refers to OFFICE-1.
Non-TENEX sites should make equivalent changes using their own system's conventions for host management.
Each computer needed to change its list so that 'NIC' pointed to the new building, not the old one.
§3Service Continuity
With these changes, NIC users would be automatically directed to OFFICE-1 when accessing services by the 'NIC' hostname. The ARC nickname would now refer to the remaining services at SRI-ARC for those who needed them.
After the change, asking for 'NIC' got you to the new building, where all the services now were.