The WWW & Domain Names
To connect to as system that supports IP, the host initiating the connect must know in advance the IP address of the remote system. An IP address is a 32-bit number that represents the location of the system on a network. The 32-bit address is separated into four octets and a decimal number typically represents each octet. The four decimal numbers are separated from each other by a dot character. Even though four decimal numbers may be easier to remember than thirty two 1 and 0 as with phone numbers, there is a practical limit as to how many IP addresses a person can remember without the need for some sort of directory assistance. The directory essentially assigns host names to IP addressed. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers announced seven new domain names, and they are also seven old domain names before new domain came up.
Domain Defined
A domain name is a part of an Internet addresses. e.g.: http://Domainsww.com the Uniform Resource Locator (URL), a string of information that lets people locate specific is the Internet a URL is unique meaning that no two are exactly alike. It is a description computer’s location on the Internet. A domain name also allows you to receive email customized email address. (example: Info@DomainsWW.com or anyname@DomainsWW.com).
The abbreviation DNS is used to describe two related things: the Domain Name System and the Domain Name Service. The Domain name system is the distributed database responsible for the domain name-to-IP address conversion, while the Domain Name Service, as the name implies, is the service offered by this system.
DNS affects almost every other Internet service, from e-mail, surfing on the Web, to audio conferencing. For instance, when someone enters a domain name (e.g. ‘www.company.com’) into the address field of a browser and sends off the request, they are making use of DNS. Furthermore, DNS servers (also known as name servers) hold information on what mail server that e-mail for a given domain should be delivered to, enabling us to use e-mail addresses in the format ‘username@domain’, which doesn’t specify a particular mail server.
The Top Level Domain (TLD)
TLD’s (Top Level Domains) are the top level in the hierarchy of the Domain Name System. In the example yourcompany.Net the “.Net” is the Top Level Domain.
The three levels of a Domain Names:
· The most common are gTLD’s (generic Top Level Domains), such as .Com, .Net, .Org., and now .Info.
· rTLD’s (restricted Top level Domains) such as .Biz and .Gov only allow those which meet certain criteria to register domain names.
· ccTLD’s (country code Top Level Domains) such as .Tv and .Ws are individually assigned to countries and their dependencies. Each country sets specific registration criteria.
Every TLD Register generic, restricted. or country code has its own prices, policies, and procedures that registrants (name holders) in that Register are subject to. It is important to know and be prepared to accept these before registering names in a particular registry.
The Second Level Domains:
In the Domain Name Systems the next level hierarchy underneath the Top Level Domains are called second level domains. In the example domain name “YourCompany.Net” the “YourCompany” part is the second level domain. Second level domain names are what you register in the Top Level Domains Registry database using the services of the Registrar.
The Third Level Domains:
The Third Level Domain is the part before DomainsWW.com (the second Level Domains) and separate a dot e.g.,
· http://WebDesign.DomainsWW.com
· http://Promotion.DomainsWW.com
Old Domains
Until the early 1980s, the Internet had a manageable network structure, hosting a small number of users. However, the Internet was becoming popular, drawing many new individual, corporation, and organization users. Prior to this time, the Network Information Center at the US Department of Defense administered network addresses. These addresses were all recorded in update the file. Due to the explosion of new users, this method of tracking hosts became impractical. As a result, the Domain Name System was proposed and officially adopted in 1983. In 1985 seven generic top-level domains were created.
.com commercial hosts
.net network hosts
.org non-profit organizations
.edu educational institutions
.int international treaty organizations
.gov government agencies and organizations
.mil US military
The last four have restrictive conditions on who can register in those domains (respectively, four-year degree granting institutions in North America, organizations that were established by international treaty, the US government, and the US military). There are also over 300 top-level country domains. These are designated with two letters, such as .mx for Mexico and .uk for the United Kingdom. The .us domain provides codes for states and country domain rather than the .edu domain.
New Domains
In 1997, as part of the Clinton Administration’s Framework for Global Electronic Commerce, the President directed the Secretary of Commerce to privatize the Administration of the Domain Name System for the purpose of increasing competition and facilitating international participation in its management. Domain name assignments are now the responsibility of ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). Formed in October 1998, with a volunteer broad of directors representing business, technical, academic, and user communities. ICANN is the non-profit corporation responsible for IP address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment, domain name system management, and root server system management function previously performed by the US government.
In November 2000, The ICANN board approved seven additional top-level domains:
.aero air transport industry
.biz businesses
.coop business cooperatives
.info general information
.museum museums
.name individuals
.pro accountants. Lawyers, and physicians
The change in domain name administration and the adoption of new domain names has been controversial. Information about the history of the domain name system is available at Management of Internet Names and Addresses, from the US Department of commerce.
No Social Ramification and Issues
· More companies and people can get the addresses they want.
· New domain means it costs more to cover all the available ones for the domain names. The costs for domain registration depend on the type of TLD being registered, renewal transferred, and length of time chosen (1 year, 2 years, 5 years). Growing the domain name selection will not be easy or cheap, ICANN notes. The organizations posted for public comment dozens of questions about how to go about expanding the choices fairly and without confusion. The group also estimated the cost of conducting an application process for those who want to operate or sponsor new top-level domains could range from $150,000 to $350,000 (US$).
· Cybersquatting is the purchase of a domain name in bad faith. Usually this is done with the intention of reselling that domain name back to the legal copywrite holder, although sometimes there are other seasons. This is considered a violation of the trademark laws. An example of cybersquatting would be if someone purchased the domain name “Mycompany.ws” and then proceeded to attempt to sell it back to Mycompany. It would also be considered a violation of the law if you purchaser put up a web site describing how bad Mycompany product was or commenting on the service.
· Mockapetris, P., “Domain Names –Concepts and Facilities”. STD 13, RFC 1034, November 1987.
(URL: ftp://ftp.isi.edu/in-notes/rfc1034.txt)
(URL:ftp://coast.cs.purdue.edu/pub/tools/unix/tcp wrappers/tcp wrappers 7.6.tar.gz)
(URL: http://www.ietf.cnri.reston.va.us/proceedings/94dec/chaters/dnssec-chater.html