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'''Root Zone''' refers to the highest level of the [[DNS|Domain Name System]] (DNS) structure. It contains the names and the numeric IP addresses for all the top level domain names such as the [[gTLD]]s ([[.com]], [[.net]], [[.org]]), including [[new gTLD]]s ([[.xyz]], [[.club]], [[.google]]), as well [[CcTLD|ccTLD]]s ([[.us]], [[.uk]], [[.ar]]) and [[IDN]]s ([[.在线]], [[.عرب]], [[.संगठन]]) in the root zone file.<ref>[http://www.isoc.org/briefings/019/ www.isoc.org]</ref>

'''Root Zone''' refers to the highest level of the [[DNS|Domain Name System]] (DNS) structure. It contains the names and the numeric IP addresses for all the top level domain names such as the [[gTLD]]s ([[.com]], [[.net]], [[.org]], [[.jobs]]), and all the country code top level domains ([[ccTLD]]s), for example ([[.us]], [[.uk]] [[.ph]]), including the entire list of all the root servers.<ref>[http://www.isoc.org/briefings/019/ www.isoc.org]</ref>

The DNS root zone contains only 280 delegations of generic, country code and internationalized [[TLD|top level domain names]] (TLD)s and its size is more or less 80,000 bytes. It also changes slowly and absorbs only one minor change per TLD every year.<ref>

The DNS root zone contains over 1,500 gTLDs, ccTLDs and IDNs that are delegated to the Root Zone Database.<ref>

[http://www.icann.org/en/committees/dns-root/root-scaling-study-report-31aug09-en.pdf Scaling the Root]</ref>

[http://www.iana.org/domains/root/db IANA Root Zone Database]</ref>

==Root Zone Management Process==

==Root Zone Management Process==  

The [[NTIA|National Telecommunications Information Administration]] (NTIA), [[ICANN]], [[Verisign]] and the [[Root Server Operators]] play significant roles in the management and process of the root zone.  

[[ICANN]], [[Verisign]] and the [[Root Server Operators]] play significant roles in the management and process of the root zone.  

NTIA is an agency under the United States [[DOC|Department of Commerce]], which represents the federal government in a contract entered in with ICANN and Verisign, which grants the organizations separate functions in managing the performance of the root zone. NTIA is responsible in reviewing and approving whatever changes that need to be implemented within the root zone.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/committees/dns-root/root-scaling-study-report-31aug09-en.pdf www.icann.org]</ref>

ICANN is the operator of the [[IANA|Internet Assigned Numbers Authority]] (IANA), which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the DNS root zone. IANA assigns the operators of the top level domain and ensures the maintenance and the administrative details of the TLDs.<ref>RFC 1591</ref><ref>[http://www.iana.org/domains/root/ Root Zone Management]</ref> It is also responsible for the coordination of the [[IP|Internet Protocol]] (IP) and [[ASN|Autonomous System Numbers]] (ASN) to the [[RIR|Regional Internet Registries]] (RIR).

ICANN is the operator of the [[IANA|Internet Assigned Numbers Authority]] (IANA), which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the DNS root zone. IANA assigns the operators of the top level domain and ensures the maintenance and the administrative details of the TLDs.<ref>[http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1591 RFC 1591]</ref><ref> [http://www.iana.org/domains/root/ Root Zone Management]</ref> It is also responsible for the coordination of the [[IP|Internet Protocol]] (IP) and [[ASN|Autonomous System Numbers]] (ASN) to the [[RIR|Regional Internet Registries]] (RIR).

Verisign, and formerly [[Network Solutions]], serves as the root zone administrator.

Verisign, and formerly [[Network Solutions]], serves as the root zone administrator under a cooperative agreement entered with the United States government; this has been in effect since 1998.

The [[Root Server Operators]]' primary role is to make sure that the operations of the root zone are always accurate, available, reliable, and secure. There are twelve Root Server Operators in the database of the root zone, which include:<ref>[http://www.isoc.org/briefings/019/ Root Server Operators]</ref>

* A/J - [[Verisign]] Global Registry Services

 

* B - [[University of Southern California – Information Sciences Institute|USC ISI]]

* A - [[Verisign]] Global Registry Services

* B - [[Information Sciences Institute]]

* C - [[Cogent Communications]]

* C - [[Cogent Communications]]

* D - [[University of Maryland]]

* D - [[University of Maryland – ACIGS]]

* E - [[NASA Ames Research Center]]

* E - [[NASA Ames Research Center]]

* F - [[ISC|Internet Systems Consortium, Inc.]]

* F - [[ISC|Internet Systems Consortium, Inc.]]

* G - [[U.S. DOD Network Information Center]]

* G - [[Defense Information Systems Agency]]

* H -[[ U.S. Army Research Lab]]

* H -[[ U.S. Army Research Lab]]

* I - [[Autonomica]]/[[NORDUnet]]

* I - [[Netnod | Autonomica/NORDUnet]]

* K - [[RIPE NCC]]

* K - [[RIPE NCC]]

* L - [[ICANN]]

* L - [[ICANN]]

* M - [[WIDE Project]]

* M - [[WIDE Project]]

==Root Zone Operational Changes==

==Root Zone Operational Changes==  

On February 3, 2009, the [[ICANN Board]] enumerated the upcoming operational changes to be implemented in the [[DNS]] root zone, such as the addition of [[IPv6]] records to the root, new [[gTLD|generic top level domains]] (gTLDs), new [[IDN|Internationalized Domain Names]], and the implementation of [[DNSSEC]]. In connection to the anticipated root zone operational changes, the Board requested  the [[SSAC|Security and Stability Advisory Committee]] (SSAC) and [[RSSAC|Root Server System Advisory Committee]] (RSSAC) to conduct a joint study to analyze its impact to the stability and security to the DNS root server system. Furthermore, the Board requested both the committees to identify the capacity and scaling of the root server system to be able to solve any  technical and operational challenges that might take place when the proposed changes are implemented. Some [[ICANN]] senior technical staff were also to take part in the study.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/prelim-report-03feb09.htm ICANN Special Board Meeting]</ref>

On February 3, 2009, the [[ICANN Board]] enumerated the upcoming operational changes to be implemented in the [[DNS]] root zone, such as the addition of [[IPv6]] records to the root, new [[gTLD|generic top level domains]] (gTLDs), new [[IDN|Internationalized Domain Names]], and the implementation of [[DNSSEC]]. In connection to the anticipated root zone operational changes, the Board requested  the [[SSAC|Security and Stability Advisory Committee]] (SSAC) and [[RSSAC|Root Server System Advisory Committee]] (RSSAC) to conduct a joint study to analyze its impact to the stability and security to the DNS root server system. Furthermore, the Board requested both the committees to identify the capacity and scaling of the root server system to be able to solve any  technical and operational challenges that might take place when the proposed changes are implemented. Some [[ICANN]] senior technical staff were also to take part in the study.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/prelim-report-03feb09.htm ICANN Special Board Meeting]</ref>

==Root Scaling Study Report==

==Root Scaling Study Report==  

The SSAC, RSSAC and ICANN Staff responded to the request of the ICANN Board by creating a Scaling Steering Group to conduct the study. On September 7, 2009, a report entitled: Report on the Impact on the DNS Root System of Increasing the Size and Volatility of the Root Zone was submitted by the Root Scaling Study Team for the Scaling Steering Group with the following findings and recommendations:<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/committees/dns-root/root-scaling-study-report-31aug09-en.pdf Root Scaling Study Report]</ref>

The SSAC, RSSAC and ICANN Staff responded to the request of the ICANN Board by creating a Scaling Steering Group to conduct the study. On September 7, 2009, a report entitled: Report on the Impact on the DNS Root System of Increasing the Size and Volatility of the Root Zone was submitted by the Root Scaling Study Team for the Scaling Steering Group with the following findings and recommendations:<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/committees/dns-root/root-scaling-study-report-31aug09-en.pdf Root Scaling Study Report]</ref>

* Any of the proposed changes has an effect to the growth of the root zone. The study team suggested that it is best to add or make changes to the root zone with a large or sudden impact. Gradual changes can be added at later stages.

* Any of the proposed changes has an effect to the growth of the root zone. The study team suggested that it is best to add or make changes to the root zone with a large or sudden impact. Gradual changes can be added at later stages.

In addition, the team also recommended further study of how to detect the important signs of stress or problems in root zone management, and how to arrange communication between the individuals primary involved in the root zone management system to ensure that  timely intelligence support  and effective cooperative action are available and resolve the effects of discontinuities before causing further problems.

In addition, the team also recommended further study of how to detect the important signs of stress or problems in root zone management, and how to arrange communication between the individuals primary involved in the root zone management system to ensure that  timely intelligence support  and effective cooperative action are available and resolve the effects of discontinuities before causing further problems.

==References==

 

 

 

==References==  

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[[Category:Glossary]]

[[Category:Glossary]]