Re: [twuug] Interesting Info from a Slashdot thread

[Leah G <ldg@xxxxxxxx>]

On Thursday 31 October 2002 01:20 am, Shannon wrote:
> One issue I've been curious about is a future where you end up
> subscribing to a DNS service. It's easy to see competing TLDs blocking
> access to non-members. You end up paying for sections of the namespace,
> instead of getting it all as you do now.

I'm curious about your statement.  Am I reading it correctly?  How would a TLD 
holder block access if the nameservers are in the root?  It's the root 
manager who determines what access you have to TLDs.  The USG root does not 
include thousands of TLDs that are available, so you are correct in that 
sense of your statement.  I don't use the USG root, so I can access all 8,000 
or so TLDs on the pacificroot and a couple thousand or so on ORSC.  There are 
a few others that have fewer TLDs included, but all include the ones in the 
USG root (although .BIZ is still in contention there).

Now, if an ISP or DNS provider (such as ULTRADNS) decides to block a user from 
using his own DNS, then you would be correct.  However, anyone can run BIND 
or equivalent and access any root he desires or create his own.  I've yet to 
see an ISP prevent a user from bypassing their DNS servers, but I suppose it 
could happen. 

OTOH, if a TLD is "restricted" in the sense that the TLD nameservers actually 
allow only certain IP's or domains to access it, it could shut out 
non-members I suppose.  Why would you worry about that, though?  A TLD that 
is so restricted would not be very populated, would it?  

With roots popping up all over the world, there will always be an accessible 
root that offers access without a user having to create one of his own.

BTW, I would watch what is going on with ICANN.  Now that they have eliminated 
elections for board members and control IP allocations, we can probably 
expect to see some real fights over IP addresses and domain names.  They are 
demanding more money per registration from registries as well, so the price 
of domains will most likely go up as well and there will be more problems 
with Intellectual Property owners going after domains they have no legitimate 
right to.  

Interesting times are coming for those who deal with the net.

Leah



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