Dear Colleagues, The RIPE NCC is pleased to announce that this week it will publish the "RIPE Database Reference Manual" on the RIPE NCC website. The new RIPE document is expected to answer many questions of Local Internet Registries and other users regarding the migration to version 3.0 of the RIPE Database software implemented on 23 April 2001. The new RIPE document obsoletes two previous documents: “"RIPE Database Documentation Update”" (ripe-189) and "RIPE Database Documentation”" (ripe-157). The RIPE Database Reference Manual describes the functionality of the new version of the RIPE Database software that now uses the Routing Policy Specification Language (RPSL) to represent all database objects. RPSL defines an extended syntax for all database objects, mainly for the routing registry objects. Many new features have been implemented in this new version, such as Routing Policy System Security (RPSS) support specified in RFC 2725, fast IP lookups and automatic access control. RPSS provides authorisation mechanisms that enable a higher level of security for the Internet Routing Registries. Although the document is self-contained, it does not have examples of usage and illustrations of principles and concepts related to the RIPE Database functionality and implementation. This need will be filled by the "“RIPE Database User’'s Manual" and the “"RIPE Database Operations Manual”" that are scheduled to be written. For more information and better understanding of the new document, the RIPE NCC encourages readers to brush up on RPSL (explained in RFC 2622), RPSS (explained in RFC 2725) and “"Using RPSL in Practice”" (the title of RFC 2650). Joao Luis Silva Damas, Chief Technical Officer of the RIPE NCC, wishes to acknowledge the contributions of past and present colleagues in the development of version 3.0 of the RIPE Database software: Andrei Robachevsky, Daniele Arena, Marek Bukowy, Engin Gunduz, Roman Karpiuk, Shane Kerr, A.M.R. Magee, Chris Ottrey and Filippo Portera. Paul Rendek RIPE NCC # # #