root server

One of several domain name system (DNS) servers on the Internet that contain the IP addresses of the top-level domain (TLD) registry organizations that maintain the global domains (.com, .net, .gov, etc.) and country code domains (.uk, .ca, .fr, etc.). The first point of entry for resolving a domain name, there are currently 34 root servers throughout the world operated by government agencies and private organizations, all of which contain the same data. The original 13 root servers (named A through M), came under a denial-of-service (DoS) attack in late 2002, and some of them were temporarily knocked out of service. Subsequently, additional servers were deployed.

ISPs and other institutional organizations routinely download copies of the root server tables so that name resolution can be performed locally. There are thousands of these "resolver" computers throughout the Internet that keep the main root servers from becoming overloaded. See DNS and Anycast.

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References in periodicals archive

The most relevant work involves measurement studies on the DNS traffic at root servers [4], analysis of DNS resource records time-to-live (TTL) values at authoritative DNS server to balance DNS query rate at the desired level [5], and the effect of DNS caching perceived by Internet users [3].

Analysis of DNS cache effects on query distribution

'Establishing a root server in Bahrain makes this country part of the global Internet's critical infrastructure.

Key Internet deal boost for Bahrain users

The Beijing deployment will be another mirror of the 'J' root server, a spokesperson said.

VeriSign Deploys Root Server in China

Paul Vixie, chief of the Silicon Valley root server Internet Software Consortium, added: "The only hope is if somebody turns somebody in."

FBI HUNT MEGAHACKERS WHO BLITZED INTERNET

Your mail server knows it isn't part of the NEWSINC.NET domain, so it asks the root server for NET for NEWSINC's address (this works the same for COM, EDU, GOV and all the others).

NEW(S) MEDIA Metadirectories are key to keeping tabs on who's where "Time-sharing introduced the first hint of the madness that was to come"

These exist outside the root server run by Network Solutions, the company with a monopoly on ICANN-approved addresses, so you have to reconfigure your computer to reach them.

Unsanctioned Webs

Under arrangements made by various players in the domain name space through the late 1990s, NSI administered the key root server, known as the "A" root server, but policy authority over the contents of the "A" root rested with Jon Postel and IANA.(62) It was Postel who was responsible for deciding whether a new country code domain should be added to the root zone and which entity should be responsible for administering that domain.(63) It was Postel and IANA who were in the end responsible for resolving disputes over the allocation of IP addresses.(64)

ICANN and the problem of legitimacy

Since its inception in October 1998, ICANN has been responsible for coordinating the Domain Name System (DNS), assigning protocol parameters, allocating Internet Protocol address space, and managing the root server system.

Deliberating on ICANN

The organization was formed to take over responsibility for the IP address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment, domain name system management, and root server system management functions now performed under US government contract by IANA and other entities.

ICANN SELECTS NATIONAL ARBITRATION FORUM TO RESOLVE CYBERSQUATTING DISPUTES

The US could decide to delete a country from the master root server at anytime.

Cyberspace Domination: Overcoming the US Hegemony

* The root server replies with a delegation, meaning roughly: "I don't know the IP address of www.wikipedia.org, but I do know that the DNS server at 204.74.112.1 has information on the org domain."

Domain Name System