Signposts in Cyberspace: The Domain Name System and Internet Navigation [Paperback]

Committee on Internet Navigation and the Domain Name System: Technical Alternatives and Policy Implications (Author), National Research Council (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 8, 2005

The Domain Name System (DNS) enables user-friendly alphanumeric names and domain names to be assigned to Internet sites. Many of these names have gained economic, social, and political value, leading to conflicts over their ownership, especially names containing trademarked terms. Congress, in P.L. 105-305, directed the Department of Commerce to request the NRC to perform a study of these issues. When the study was initiated, steps were already underway to address the resolution of domain name conflicts, but the continued rapid expansion of the use of the Internet had raised a number of additional policy and technical issues. Furthermore, it became clear that the introduction of search engines and other tools for Internet navigation was affecting the DNS. Consequently, the study was expanded to include policy and technical issues related to the DNS in the context of Internet navigation. This report presents the NRC's assessment of the current state and future prospects of the DNS and Internet navigation, and its conclusions and recommendations concerning key technical and policy issues.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

The Domain Name System (DNS) enables user-friendly alphanumeric names—domain names—to be assigned to Internet sites. Many of these names have gained economic, social, and political value, leading to conflicts over their ownership, especially names containing trademarked terms. Congress, in P.L. 105-305, directed the Department of Commerce to request the NRC to perform a study of these issues. When the study was initiated, steps were already underway to address the resolution of domain name conflicts, but the continued rapid expansion of the use of the Internet had raised a number of additional policy and technical issues. Furthermore, it became clear that the introduction of search engines and other tools for Internet navigation was affecting the DNS. Consequently, the study was expanded to include policy and technical issues related to the DNS in the context of Internet navigation. This report presents the NRC’s assessment of the current state and future prospects of the DNS and Internet navigation, and its conclusions and recommendations concerning key technical and policy issues.

About the Author

Committee on Internet Navigation and the Domain Name System: Technical Alternatives and Policy Implications, National Research Council

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: National Academies Press; 1 edition (July 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0309096405
• ISBN-13: 978-0309096409
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,911,311 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a backbone of the Internet, September 13, 2005

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This review is from: Signposts in Cyberspace: The Domain Name System and Internet Navigation (Paperback)

Much of the Web would be useless without the domain name system. This is one of the core backbones of the Internet. The book explains how the infrastructure has stood up against massive expansion since the dawn of the Web.

Considerable effort went into reinforcing the redundancy and quick response of DNS. For those interested in such details, and in the commercial jockeying between the various DNS Registrar companies, you can turn to this book.

As for the future, an exhaustion in IPv4 addresses looms. Eventually, we will have to migrate to 128 bits addresses in IPv6. While the domain names can remain constant, lots of behind the scenes twiddling needs to be done for a successful transition.