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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]]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]]), 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>

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

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

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

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>

 

The [[Root Server Operators]]' primary role is to make sure that the operations of the root zone is 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

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

* B - [[Information Sciences Institute]]

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

* 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]]

[[Category:Glossary]]

[[Category:Glossary]]