FAQ - Glossary
DNS (Domain Name System)
The Internet was built on the notion that any computer on a global
network can be identified by its numeric Internet Protocol (IP) address.
But since people, and not machines, are the primary users of the Internet,
a more people-friendly naming system called the Domain Name System (DNS)
was invented. DNS maps a host name like www.opensrs.org to the IP address
of the machine that hosts the OpenSRS web site. For example, DNS actually
maps the host name www.opensrs.com to the IP address 207.136.98.175
DNS is built upon the notion that some server's are 'authoritative'
(meaning, knows all there is to know) for certain domains.
A distributed name server hierarchy, beginning with the A Root Server
and ending at the thousands of nameservers active on the Internet, ensures
that the naming and directing system works the same from anywhere.
Domain Name
A domain name is essentially a signpost on the Internet. Almost every
website you've ever been to, and every email you've ever composed, has
used a domain name in its address.
People register domain names in order to 'stake a claim' to a particular
name -- whether for business or personal reasons. Once a domain name
is registered to a person or company, it is that person's to use exclusively
as long as they continue to pay the yearly renewal fee and abide by
the terms of use.
Top Level Domain (TLD)
The portion of a traditional domain name that comes after the dot.
So, in opensrs.org, the top level domain is .org. The generic top level
domains (gTLDs) are .com, .net and .org; there are also country code
top level domains (ccTLDs) such as .ca, or .uk.
Second Level Domain (SLD)
The portion of a traditional domain name that comes before the dot.
So, in opensrs.org, the second level domain is opensrs.
Generic Top Level Domain (gTLD)
gTLDs are top level domains that are not associated with any country.
Currently, the only gTLDs in existence are .com, .net and .org. Originally,
the top level domain designation was meant to denote whether the domain
name was being used for business (.com), charity/non-profit (.org),
or for a network (.net). However, with the explosion of the Internet
(and specifically, the world wide web) as a new business medium, the
lines were blurred, and companies and individuals alike started cross-registering
domains (ie. me.com, me.net, me.org) just to protect their interests.
Now, .com, .net, and .org names (the generic Top Level Domains) can
be used for any purpose.
Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD)
Every country (and a few territories) in the world has a reserved,
two letter country code domain that is theirs to use as they see fit.
Some countries run their own ccTLD registry, others outsource it to
a private company, and still others sell rights to their ccTLD to third
parties to run as they see fit.
Examples of ccTLDs are .ca (Canada), .us (United States), and .to (Tonga).
In general, these are registered by businesses with a coincidental link
to the TLD in question.
For example: .to is used more by Torontonians than Tongans and .tv
has more American television content than native Tuvalu culture.
See also, DNS.
Domain Registrar
A "Registrar" (or "Domain Name Registrar") is an
organization like OpenSRS or Network Solutions that has control over
the granting of domains within certain TLDs (top level domains, like
the generic .com/.org/.net or country-specific .ca/.us/.mx etc.).
Domain Registry
The 'Registry' is the system backend that is maintained by the operators
of the TLD. Registrar's write new names to a central registry database,
from which the authoritative root (essentially, a table of all domain
names) is built. In the case of .com, .net and .org, the InterNIC runs
the registry, and qualified registrars have shared access to it. In
the case of many ccTLDs, the registry and registrar functions are combined
within one entity.
Domain Registrant
A registrant is the person or company who registers a domain name.
For example, Jessica Smith (registrant) registers the name jessicasmith.com
through OpenSRS (registrar) who in turn writes the name to the central
database (Registry).
Domain Renewal
gTLDs:
Domains are leased on an annual basis, and need to be renewed once the
current payment for the lease expires. If a domain is registered on
April 15, 2000 and prepaid for one year, it will be due for renewal
on April 15, 2001, at which point the registrant either pays for additional
years, or lets the name expire. Domains can also be pre-paid for multiple
years, up to a maximum of 10 years.
ccTLDs:
The *.uk registry, Nominet, has set registration and renewal periods
for all .uk names at two years.
Domain Transfer
The term 'transfer' has been used to describe various kinds of domain
name transfers. Traditionally, simply changing the nameservers providing
name service for a domain was considered a transfer. Nowadays, such
a modification is more rightly called a modification, and the term 'transfer'
describes the transfer of a domain from one registrar to another.
ICANN
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is
the non-profit corporation that was formed to assume responsibility
for the IP address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment,
domain name system management, and root server system management functions
previously performed under U.S. Government contract by IANA and other
entities.
For more information about ICANN, please visit: http://www.icann.org
InterNIC
The InterNIC maintains the root domain registry, containing nameserver
and registrar information for all .com, .net and .org domains. When
an end user registers a domain name through an OpenSRS RSP, OpenSRS
updates it's own database with the full WHOIS information, and passes
select domain information up to the root registry.
Name Servers
Nameservers (or Domain Name Servers) are the machines that perform
the DNS function, containing zone files listing all the hosts on their
network, and their corresponding IP addresses. If a nameserver is unable
to determine which IP address a given hostname (i.e. www.opensrs.org)
should map to, it will at least be able to point to another nameserver,
which will either contain the information, or pass the request on until
the correct nameserver is found.
Nominet
The Nominet is the registry for all .uk domain names, serving a simlar
function as the NSI registry does for the gTLDs. Tucows is an authorized
Nominet agent.
OpenSRS (Open Shared Registration Sytem)
OpenSRS is a wholesale domain name registration service that uses Open
Source principles to ensure equal participation for as many companies
and individuals as possible. Sponsored by Tucows.com, OpenSRS has been
accredited as a domain registrar by ICANN and recognized by the United
States Government and Network Solutions.
Registration Service Provider (RSP)
Under the OpenSRS model, the Registration Service Provider resells
domain names through OpenSRS and sells them to individuals or businesses.
RSPs are generally Internet based service providers, either running
a domain registration business as a 'value add' to their core business,
or in some cases, as their core business. RSPs also provide all technical
support to domain registrants.
UDRP
The Uniform Dispute Resolution policy is a document which governs how
domain name disputes will be resolved within the gTLD namespace. It
defines the conditions under which a genuine dispute may arise, and
provides guidelines for administrative proceedings to settle the issue,
outside of a court where possible. All registrants registering domains
through OpenSRS (or any other registrar) are bound by the UDRP. The
UDRP can be found at: http://www.opensrs.org/legal/udrp.shtml
Web Hosting
One service often closely associated with domain names is web site
hosting. The World Wide Web is a massive collection of web sites, all
hosted on computers (called web servers) all over the world. Because
of the web's uniquely global nature, a web site should be accessible
24 hours a day, seven days a week. Rather than pay to have a 24/7 dedicated
Internet connection to an in-house webserver, many people opt to host
their sites with a web hosting provider. Web hosting clients simply
upload their web sites to a shared (or dedicated) webserver, which the
ISP maintains to ensure a constant, fast connection to the Internet.
WHOIS
WHOIS databases contain nameserver, registrar, and in some cases, full
contact information about a domain name. Each registrar must maintain
a WHOIS database containing all contact information for the domains
they 'host'. A central registry WHOIS database is maintained by the
InterNIC. This database contains only registrar and nameserver information
for all .com, .net and .org domains.
