Re: Network Solutions is now in the wringer

[Sean Donelan <SEAN () SDG DRA COM>]

pceasy () norfolk INfi NET (Dean Robb) writes:
> While not a network operator, I think it would be most prudent to consider
> and discuss (among those who ARE netops) what do to if, say, the root
> server were suddenly comletely unaccessible for several days/permanently
> for *whatever* reason.  

Duh, isn't that why there is more than one root server in the world?

Remember various root servers have/are/will be unavailable for varying
periods of time.  Except for people who track these things closely,
very few of these incidents have any noticeble impact on the Internet.
The loss of any one (or even two, three, or four) root servers is not
much of a crisis.

However I feel some people confuse the data in the root servers, with
the databases used to generate those zone files.  There is a subtle, but
important difference.  And why simply copying the zone files is not
sufficient.

> Does anyone know if NSI even has an off-site mirror running?  Or are all
> the eggs in one basket?

Without actually confirming they exist myself, NSI has reported in various
forums including NANOG they have off-site backups.  The GTLD's generally
have much better backup, and diversity than most country TLD's, many
US subdomains and ISP delegations.
-- 
Sean Donelan, Data Research Associates, Inc, St. Louis, MO
  Affiliation given for identification not representation