Root servers receive inquiries of the Domain Name System of computers from all world in the Internet and reroute these to the autoritativen DNS servers of the desired Top level Domain.

Root servers stand hierarchically seen in highest place in the Domain Name System. you by different institutions are operated, the ICANN coordinate the enterprise.

There are 13 root servers in the Internet ("“A"” to "“M"”, coordinated of the ICANN). This represents a maximum, since only 13 root servers with their addresses fit into a UDP answer package on an SOA inquiry. The DNS permits UDP packages only to 512 to byte, over it must the resources-more intensive TCP be used.

Some root servers do not consist however of one, but several computers, which is united to a logical server. These computers (Nodes) are at different locations around the whole world and are attainable by Anycast over the same IP address. At present six root servers use this technology. The root server "“F"” operated by the ISC consists of 33 computers, which are distributed on the whole world. "“K"”, claimant by the RIPE, consists of 16 computers.

The root server "“A"”, which stands in Herndon, Virginia and like the root server "“J"” is operated by VeriSign, has a central role. It contains the database for all root servers, which will transfer from there twice daily to the other root servers.

Criticism

Before Anycast was used, the predominant majority of the root servers for historical reasons was in the USA. This was criticized, since it made the Domain Name System, which represented a substantial component of the Internets, for physical attacks more vulnerable.

Today some judge it for problematic that all root servers their volume of data of "“A"” operated by VeriSign - root servers synchronize and that the US Ministry of Trade has influence on the enterprise of the same. Changes in the root zone require a lengthy licensing procedure by this.

Among other things therefore alternative root server networks developed like the European open root server network.

Related links

• http://root-servers.org/
• ORSN, open root server network
• http://public-root.com/
• http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/43814 - press release for the start-up of the German location of the "“K"” - of root server

Articles in category "Root server"

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Related Websites

We found here 5 related websites.

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