North American Network Operators Group
 | |
| Type: | Non Profit |
| Industry: | Internet |
| Founded: | 1994 |
| Founder(s): | Elise Gerich Mark Knopper |
| Country: | USA |
| Website: | www.nanog.org |
| Key People | |
| Steve Feldman, Steering Committee Chairman | |
NANOG (North American Network Operators Group) is an educational and operational forum dedicated to promoting discussions between individuals about the development, maintenance and operation of Internet Protocol networks.
Background[edit | edit source]
NANOG was founded by Elise Gerich and Mark Knopper in 1994. It was developed from the National Science Foundation Network's (NSFNET) Regional Techs Meeting. The original funding for NANOG was provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of the NSFNET Backbone Service and the Routing Arbiter projects of Merit Network, Inc. with NSF. Since then, the activities, staff, logistical coordination, registration services, and financial management of NANOG was provided by Merit Network, Inc., a non-profit member owned organization managed by Michigan public universities.[1]
In 2005, the NANOG charter was ratified and the organization was re-structured as a self-governance non-government organization and the Steering Committee, Program Committee, Communications Committee, and Marketing Working Group were created. The transition plan of NANOG as a new entity was supported by Merit, which stated that it would maintain its relationship with NANOG.[2] [3]
In October, 2010, the NANOG community supported the amendment of its Charter during the 50th meeting of the organization in Atlanta, Georgia. The transition of NANOG to the newly formed organization NewNog, Inc., which will handle the responsibility to continue NANOG's activities took effect after the NANOG51 on Fenruary 2011.[4]
On February 1, 2011, NewNog, Inc. and Merit Network Inc. signed an agreement transferring the ownership of the trademark, meeting archives and the (nanog.org) domain name to the newly formed organization.[5]
Mission[edit | edit source]
Its objective is create a forum to exchange technical information and discuss specific issues relevant to network providers such asexperiences with new protocols and backbone technologies, implications of routing policies on the Internet as a whole, measurement techniques and measurements of Internet health and performance wherein cooperation and coordination is needed. It also serves as a connection between internet providers and other technical communities to implement specific policies, solution to problems and ensure the over-all stability of services offered to network users. It also aimed to promote and coordinate in interconnection of networks within North America and to other continents as well as to conduct three regular meetings every year.[6]
Leadership[edit | edit source]
- Steve Feldman, Steering Committee Chair
- Patrick W. Gilmore, SC member
- Sylvie LaPerrière, SC member
- Joe Provo, SC member
- Robert Seastrom, SC member
- Duane Wessels, SC member
- David Meyer, Program Committee chair
- Tom Daly, Program Committee Vice-chair
Scholarships[edit | edit source]
NANOG supports the advancement of education in networking and engineering by supporting scholarships which include:[7]
- Postel Network Operator's Scholarship, a scholarship that was created in memory of Jon Postel and his lifetime contribution to the development of internet.
- Abha Ahuja Scholarship, a scholarship fund created in Abha's name after his sudden death which will students of the University of Michigan College of Engineering. Her work had great influence in the areas of ISP coordination, routing, statistical analysis, and performance measurement and she was an active participant of ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, AfNOC, the Internet Society and other internet related organizations.
- ARIN Fellowship Program
NANOG and ARIN[edit | edit source]
In 2002, NANOG and American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN), one of Regional Internet Registries (RIRs)conducted a back to back public policy and members meeting to gain additional network operator input to the public policy discussion of IP address issues. Subsequently in 2003, participants in the NANOG meetings were given the opportunity to vote in the election of a representative from the ARIN Region to the Numbers Resource Organization (NRO) Number Council.[8]
NANOG and ICANN[edit | edit source]
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers through its representatives attend the meetings organized by NANOG.