Hello Kenneth,

> Gee Whiz... Sounds like the .com/.net/.org system...
> A system that *works*.

It is similar, but actually closer to the ".info" and ".biz" structure.

Note that in the com/net/org system there is no centralised WHOIS, each
registrar is responsible for storing and providing a public WHOIS service
for the domains under its management.  This leads to a situation where the
WHOIS formats within the com/net/org space vary widely, as does the accuracy
of the information.  It also creates problems for authentication.  It was
the view of the designers of ".biz" and ".info", as well as those on the
"au" competition panel, that it is better to maintain a centralised WHOIS
for each 2LD, and if necessary maintain a central WHOIS for all of ".au".

The com/net/org registry also uses a legacy protocol called RRP to
communicate with Registrars.  AusRegistry will use a protocol based on EPP
to communicate with registrars, which is used in both ".info" and ".biz"
domains, and will also be used in future for ".name".

Regards,
Bruce Tonkin