[81885] in North American Network Operators' Group
re: NTIA will control the root name servers?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Frank Coluccio)
Fri Jul 1 18:55:59 2005
From: Frank Coluccio <frank@dticonsulting.com>
To: nanog@merit.edu
Reply-To: frank@dticonsulting.com
Date: Fri, 01 Jul 2005 17:54:22 -0500
Errors-To: owner-nanog@merit.edu
I received the following from a fellow forum member who happens to be livin=
g in=0D
Germany after I posted the same story, elsewhere:=0D
=0D
http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=3D21469219=0D
=0D
ORSN (European Open Root Server Network)=0D
http://www.orsn.net/=0D
=0D
The Open Root Server Network (ORSN) is working on the task of guaranteeing =
the=0D
internet supply in form of an additional DNS server network with a legacy r=
oot=0D
zone for ISP networks in Europe.=0D
=0D
The network coordinated by the ICANN, consisting of 13 root servers distrib=
uted=0D
among almost the entire world, is as far as we are concerned a high-quality=
and=0D
sure solution. However, the locations of the separate Root server systems a=
re (on=0D
the basis of the development history of the Internet) very dependent on the=
=0D
U.S.A. Thus, everybody living in Europe depends on the fact that the connec=
tions=0D
to the Root servers are available and reachable for the name resolution.=0D
=0D
The failure of one or more systems in the U.S.A already shows problems with=
the=0D
name resolution: DNS inquiries are substantially delayed and the still atta=
inable=0D
Root servers have to process these inquiries as well. The operators (ISC) o=
f=0D
f.root-servers.net describe on their web page the servers load with the fol=
lowing=0D
words: F answers more than 272 million DNS queries per day, making it one o=
f the=0D
busiest DNS servers in the world.=0D
=0D
A complete blackout of this network is virtually impossible but completely=
=0D
different problems appear as well: for example in the case of political con=
flicts=0D
in the Near East or in Europe. The U.S.A (under the current or any future=
=0D
administration) are theoretically and practically able to control "our" acc=
ess to=0D
contents of the Internet and are also able to limit them. A manipulation of=
the=0D
Root zone could cause that the whole name space .DE is not attainable any m=
ore=0D
for the remaining world - outside from Germany.=0D
=0D
We are convinced that such a power is not acceptable in any way even if the=
re has=0D
not been such a case (at least not officially). This project does not repre=
sent=0D
an isolation from the "American" Internet, however, it is supposed to limit=
the=0D
influence and control of the U.S.A substantially. Further a weight distribu=
tion=0D
on the ORSN network would have positive effects (speed) for everyone in the=
Internet.=0D
=0D
Right now the ORSN root servers are attainable in the German Internet area =
and=0D
therefore localized closer to the common Internet user in Germany and Europ=
e than=0D
a DNS inquiry to the U.S.A or Japan etc.=0D
=0D
http://european.de.orsn.net/about.php=0D
=0D
Network=0D
http://european.de.orsn.net/network.php=0D
Operators=0D
http://european.de.orsn.net/members.php=0D
=0D
------=0D
=0D
Frank=0D
=0D
=0D
---------Deepak wrote:=0D
=0D
Is this operational or dross?=0D
=0D
Basically it sounds like the U.S. Gov't (NTIA)/U.S. Dept of Commerce=0D
will take back control of the root name servers from ICANN at some=0D
point. I suppose they might just contract operation of them to ICANN,=0D
but its unclear to me.=0D
=0D
I'm hesitant to post because if this were a huge deal I would have=0D
expected someone to beat me to the punch. But then again, its a holiday=0D
weekend in the U.S.=0D
=0D
Deepak=0D
=0D
=0D
=0D
=0D
Frank A. Coluccio=0D
DTI Consulting Inc.=0D
212-587-8150 Office=0D
347-526-6788 Mobile=0D
=0D
=0D
=0D
