Re: The root nameservers will be replaced August 1st

[bmanning () isi edu (Bill Manning)]

> If the information in the following message means what I think it means in
> then somebody is colocating an entire new set of root nameservers at
> exchange points within the USA if not internationally.
>
> Can they do this? Or are they bluffing?

        They can buy connections from ISPs and connections at some exchanges.
        With these connections they may choose to deploy machines that
        run their version of nameservice.  It still does not affect those
        people who use authorized root servers and the bind code as distributed.

        Note that some exchanges prohibit this type of service from being 
        offered and there is the other, minor problem of annoucing the exchange
        prefix.  These issues were discussed in the IEPG meeting that was
        held just prior to IETF.

        There is a plan to do a couple of interesting things with the authorized
        root servers which includes relocating them for better coverage.

        I will also note, yet again, that there are real, technological constraints
        on the number of root servers. If you buy into the utility of the DNS,
        then you must abide by these constraints.  If you choose to build an
        alternative universe and you have the cash, you are certainly able, the
        tools are there.  If you simply have a gripe with the IANA and wish to
        usurp the root by the use of an alternative cache file, you split the
        Internet into fragments... so much for the fiction of a globally useful
        activity.  Or there is the intent to "chop off" the root and simply 
        coordinate a TLD file distribution, which leads to the HOSTS.TXT madness.

        Of course this presumes content and clients for the parallel universe.

        
-- 
--bill
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