PGP authentication for the RADB

Thu Sep 7 15:52:31 UTC 1995

The RADB now supports authentication using PGP-based digital signatures.
If you want to use this feature, there are three things you must do:

* Register your public key with the RA.

* Modify your maintainer object to reflect your use of digital
  signatures

* Sign (via PGP) your RADB transactions.

1. Registering your public key with the RA.

You must send your public key to the RA for inclusion onto our PGP
keyring.  Use the "pgp -kxa" command to generate a copy of your public
key suitable for mailing, then mail the resultant file to
db-admin at ra.net.

For example:

    % pgp -kxa smith at ra.net pubkey
    ...
    % mail -s 'please register my public key' db-admin at ra.net < pubkey.asc

You may use one of two methods of verification:

* Fax a copy of a photographic identification (passport or drivers license)
to:

     RADB public key verification
     +1 313 747 3185

  please write your PGP fingerprint and email address on the fax

* Attend an RA sponsored key signing session at NANOG or IETF.  You
  will need to bring a copy of your public key with a PGP fingerprint
  and photo identification.  (This will be verification via the
  identification you bring, rather than having two other people agree
  that you are who you say you are.)

  We will be holding a key signing at NANOG on Monday, September 11 at
  5:00.  If that time is not convenient, you can also accost RA team
  members at random and present them with with the appropriate
  information.

2. Modifications to the maintainer object

There is a new authentication option for the maintainer object.  The
syntax for it is:

    auth:  PGP-FROM {PGP User Id}

For example,

    auth: PGP-FROM John Smith <smith at ra.net>

3. Signing your RADB transactions

You will need to PGP-sign each transaction you send to
auto-dbm at ra.net.  Use the "pgp -sta" command to do this.

For example:

    % pgp -sta -u smith at ra.net routes
    ...
    % mail -s 'route updates' auto-dbm at ra.net < routes.asc