The Domain Name System
Ziv Schneider | Understanding Networks | ITP 2015
DNS – Domain Name System
A set of specialized servers that serve as a database, �connecting IP addresses with corresponding �human readable domain names.
These servers are called Name Servers. �Every domain consists of at least two parts:
For example, “.bz” is the TLD of Belize �and the “domain” part is a domain name �I chose for my site ziv.bz
Who assigns Domains?
The domain name registry is a database of all domain names and the associated registrant information in the Top Level Domains of the Domain Name System.
Most registries operate on the top-level and second-level of the DNS. �The registry maintains �all administrative data �of the domain and generates a zone file which contains the addresses of the name servers for each domain.
Each registry is an organization that manages the registration of domain names within the domains for �which it is responsible.��Domain names are managed under a hierarchy headed �by IANA – the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, �a department of ICANN, a non profit private American corporation, which oversees global IP address allocation, autonomous system number allocation, root zone management in the Domain Name System (DNS).
I want my own TLD! how do I apply?
Applying for a new TLD is not simple. �It is a process that takes time and money.
�For example - Donuts is a company whose sole focus is on applying for new TLD’s and in a very meta way decided to apply �for a .donuts TLD.
Some of the applicants for TLDs have their application documented in a video, here are a few example applications:
Using the command line �to learn about the ownership of a domain
The command line allows us to access information about the entity that owns a domain name. �With simple commands, �we can learn about the person behind a url.
Open your terminal window and type in:
Whois ___________._______ (example: whois tigoe.net)
WHOIS
Thick Lookup
A Whois lookup �that gives you
personal
information
about the
owner of the
domain.
Thin Lookup
a lookup where can only get
to information about the registry
Registry Registrant ID:
Registrant Name: Ziv Schneider
Registrant Organization:
Registrant Street: Eidelson 13
Registrant City: Tel Aviv
Registrant State/Province:
Registrant Postal Code: 64110
Registrant Country: Israel
Registrant Phone: 972-(0)546980363
Admin Email: TIGOE.NET@PROXY.DREAMHOST.COM
Registry Tech ID:
Tech Name: PRIVATE REGISTRANT
Tech Organization: A HAPPY DREAMHOST CUSTOMER
Tech Street: 417 ASSOCIATED RD #324
Tech Street: C/O TIGOE.NET
Tech City: BREA
Tech State/Province: CA
Tech Postal Code: 92821
WHOIS has generated policy issues in the United States federal government, issues also tied to free speech and anonymity.
However, WHOIS is an important tool for law enforcement officers investigating violations like spam and phishing �to track down the holders of domain names.
The Expert Working Group (EWG) of ICANN �recommended in June 2013 that �WHOIS should be scrapped. �
It recommends that WHOIS be replaced with a system that keeps information secret from most Internet users, �and only discloses information for “permissible purposes.”
�Although WHOIS has been a key tool of journalists in determining who was disseminating certain information on the Internet, the use of WHOIS by the free press is not included in ICANN’s proposed list of permissible purposes.
�ICANN is now in the “process of re-inventing WHOIS,” �working on “ICANN WHOIS Beta.”
The future of WHOIS