ASCII text file of hostnames
Announcement of the NIC's official ASCII host-name file.
Kudlick, M.D. and E.J. Feinler, "ASCII text file of hostnames", RFC 627, DOI 10.17487/RFC0627, March 1974, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc627>.
@misc{rfc627,
series = {Request for Comments},
number = 627,
howpublished = {RFC 627},
publisher = {RFC Editor},
doi = {10.17487/RFC0627},
url = {https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc627},
author = {M.D. Kudlick and E.J. Feinler},
title = {{ASCII text file of hostnames}},
pagetotal = 1,
year = 1974,
month = mar,
} RFC text
Network Working Group Mike Kudlick (SRI-ARC)
RFC # 627 Jake Feinler (SRI-ARC)
NIC # 22360 March 25, 1974
ASCII TEXT FILE OF HOSTNAMES
The online ASCII text file of official hostnames as defined in RFCs 606
and 608 is now available at OFFICE-1 (Hostaddr. 43 decimal) with
pathname <NETINFO>HOSTS.TXT. Currently the file includes hostname, host
address, and host status. We hope to be adding additional attributes
soon. This file will be maintained by the NIC, and all hosts are
encouraged to use these hostnames in their monitors. Changes or
additions will be added on a weekly basis. Each network host will be
responsible for accessing this file via FTP for new information.
Presently no nicknames are included in this file. However, if any site
wants to register one official nickname, it may do so. Nicknames will
be added to the <NETINFO>HOSTS.TXT file as they are received, and
systems with name-to-address translation are encouraged, but not
required, to use them.
Although hostname changes and nicknames are perfectly valid in
principle, as a practical consideration we would like to ask hosts to
chose their official hostnames carefully, so that changes and nicknames
can be kept to a minimum.
If you have changes, additions, corrections, or comments please direct
them to:
Jake Feinler (415) 329-0742
Network Information Center Feinler @SRI-ARC
Stanford Research Institute IDENT=JAKE
Menlo Park, Calif. 94025
If any host wishes to maintain a secondary copy of this database (See
RFCs 623 and 625) please let us know.
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ISO Plain Language
On this page
§1Where to Find the Host-Name File
The official ASCII host-name file defined in RFCs 606 and 608 is available at OFFICE-1, host address 43 decimal, under pathname <NETINFO>HOSTS.TXT. The NIC maintains the file and encourages all hosts to use its names in their monitors.
The NIC makes the official host-name file available at OFFICE-1. The announcement gives its address and pathname.
§2File Contents and Updates
The file currently contains a host name, host address and host status. The NIC hopes to add more attributes. It says changes and additions will be made weekly and that each network host is responsible for accessing the file through FTP to obtain new information.
The file lists host names, addresses and status. The NIC plans weekly changes, and each host is responsible for fetching new information using FTP.
§3Official Names and Nicknames
The file did not yet include nicknames. A site could register one official nickname, which would be added as received; systems with name-to-address translation were encouraged but not required to use nicknames. The NIC asks hosts to choose official names carefully so that changes and nicknames remain limited.
The RFC invites corrections, additions and comments to the NIC and asks hosts interested in keeping a secondary copy to contact it.
A site could ask the NIC to add one nickname, but nicknames were optional. The NIC asks sites to choose official names carefully and invites volunteers to keep a secondary copy.