IANA
Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
(See http://www.iana.org/)
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ICANN
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
(See:http://www.icann.org/)
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ICANN/NSI Registry Agreement
An agreement executed on November 10, 1999 between ICANN and Network Solutions. The agreement contains the terms and conditions under which Network Solutions is authorized to be the exclusive registry for all second-level domain names in the .com, .net and .org top level domain names.
(See http://corporate.verisign.com/policy/icanndocnsi/index.html)
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IETF
Internet Engineering Task Force
(See http://www.ietf.org/)
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IFWP
International Forum on the White Paper
(See http://www.ifwp.org/)
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Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
The function that currently oversees registration for various Internet Protocol parameters, such as port numbers, protocol and enterprise numbers, options, codes, and types. The IANA function is currently located at the Information Sciences Institute at the University of Southern California in Marina del Rey, CA and functions under the direction of ICANN. (See http://www.iana.org/)
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Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
An international not-for-profit, private sector organization created to coordinate four key functions for the Internet: the management of the domain name system, the allocation of IP address space, the assignment of protocol parameters, and the management of the root server system. (see http://www.ICANN.org)
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Internet Domain Name
An addressing construct used for identifying and locating computers on the Internet. Domain names provide a system of easy-to-remember Internet addresses, which can be translated by the Domain Name System (DNS) into the numeric addresses (Internet Protocol (IP) numbers) used by the network. A domain name is hierarchical and often conveys information about the type of entity using the domain name. A domain name is simply a label that represents a domain, which is a subset of the total domain name space. Domain names at the same level of the hierarchy must be unique. Thus, for example, there can be only one .COM at the top-level of the hierarchy, and only one networksolutions.com at the next level of the hierarchy.
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Internet Engineering Task Force
An international, voluntary body consisting of network designers, engineers, researchers, vendors, and other interested individuals who work together to address and resolve technical and operational problems on the Internet and develop Internet standards and protocols. The IETF, which was formed by the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), meets three times a year, however the bulk of the collaboration and work takes place on the various mailing lists maintained by its participants. (See http://www.ietf.org/)
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International Forum on the White Paper
A group self-organized in June 1998 for the purpose of creating an international forum that would respond to White Paper recommendations. (See http://www.ifwp.org/)
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Internet Protocol Number (IP address)
A unique, numeric identifier used to specify hosts and networks. Internet Protocol (IP) numbers are part of a global, standardized scheme for identifying machines that are connected to the Internet. Technically speaking, IP numbers are 32 bit addresses that consist of four octets, and they are expressed as four numbers between 0 and 255, separated by periods, for example: 198.41.0.52. IP allocation for the Americas, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa is currently handled by the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN). IP allocation for Europe is currently handled by RIPE (Reseaux IP Europeens). IP allocation for the Asia/Pacific region is currently handled by the Asia-Pacific Network Information Center (APNIC).
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InterNIC
Internet Network Information Center. InterNIC is a registered service mark of the U.S. Department of Commerce. InterNIC was the name given to a project that originated in 1993 under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation (NSF) enabling Network Solutions, Inc. to provide domain name registration services in .com, .net, .org, and .edu. The InterNIC name is no longer used by Network Solutions for its services. The InterNIC is currently the name of a web site provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce (see http://www.interNIC.net/).
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InterNIC Web Site
InterNIC is a registered service mark of the U.S. Department of Commerce. This site is currently being hosted by Network Solutions, Inc. on behalf of the U.S. Department of Commerce. This website has been established to provide the public information regarding Internet domain name registration services. (See http://www.interNIC.net/)
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IP
Internet Protocol (see Internet Protocol Number or IP Addresses)
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IP Address
A unique, numeric identifier used to specify hosts and networks. Internet Protocol (IP) numbers are part of a global, standardized scheme for identifying machines that are connected to the Internet. Technically speaking, IP numbers are 32 bit addresses that consist of four octets, and they are expressed as four numbers between 0 and 255, separated by periods, for example: 198.41.0.52. IP allocation for the Americas, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa is currently handled by the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN). IP allocation for Europe is currently handled by RIPE (Reseaux IP Europeens). IP allocation for the Asia/Pacific region is currently handled by the Asia-Pacific Network Information Center (APNIC).
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Lame Delegation
Listing a host (name server) that does not contain a Start of Authority (SOA) record for a domain name when registering a domain name with a registry or registrar.
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Name Server
Also called a host. A computer that has both the software and the data (zone files) needed to resolve domain names to Internet Protocol (IP) numbers.
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Name Service
Providing individuals or organizations with domain name-to-Internet Protocol (IP) number resolution by maintaining and making available the hardware, software, and data needed to perform this function. Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) operate name servers and provide their customers with name service when they register a domain name. Most individuals are not in a position to operate a name server on their own and will need to make arrangements for name service with an ISP or some other person or organization.
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Names Council
The Names Council (NC) is a part of the Domain Name Supporting Organization (DNSO), one of three supporting organizations for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). It consists of three representatives from each DNSO constituency recognized by the ICANN Board, with the temporary exception of the gTLD Registry Constituency that currently has only one representative. The NC is responsible for the management of the consensus building process of the DNSO.
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National Telecommunications and Information Administration
an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Executive Branch's principal voice on domestic and international telecommunications and information technology issues. NTIA is the agency within DoC that manages the cooperative agreement with Network Solutions and the Memorandum of Understanding with ICANN. (See http://www.ntia.doc.gov/)
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NSI
Network Solutions, Inc. (See http://www.nsol.com)
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NTIA
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (See http://www.ntia.doc.gov/)
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Operational Test and Evaluation
A process in which registrars licensed by the NSI Registry develop client systems and software to register and manage domain names and name servers prior to live operation in the Shared Registration System. The Shared Registration System includes an isolated, shared Operational Test and Evaluation server environment that is used for both initial registrar system development and ongoing registrar development and testing. Prior to operation in the live Shared Registration System, registrars must complete a basic functional evaluation in the Operational Test and Evaluation environment to demonstrate full and correct operation of their client systems. The evaluation must be completed without error before registrars are given access to the live Shared Registration System.
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OT&E
Operational Test and Evaluation
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Primary Server
The name server that will be used first and will be relied upon before any of the other name servers that may be listed when a domain name is registered with the registry. When registering names with the NSI Registry, registrars must provide the name and IP address of a primary server for the name.
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