OpenNIC

OpenNIC is an alternate network information center/alternative DNS root which lists itself as an alternative to ICANN and its registries.

As of 2006^[update] users of the OpenNIC DNS servers are able to resolve all existing ICANN top-level domains as well as their own.

Like all alternative root DNS systems, OpenNIC-hosted domains are unreachable to the vast majority of the Internet. Only specific configuration in one's DNS resolver makes these reachable, and very few Internet service providers have this configuration.

History

On June 1, 2000, an article was posted on kuro5hin.org advocating a democratically governed domain name system. By the end of July, OpenNIC root servers were operating and several top-level domains had been introduced as well as peering of the AlterNIC namespace. In March 2001 peering began of Pacific Root and in September a search engine was announced which was dedicated to the OpenNIC namespace.

OpenNIC restructured its architecture to improve scalability and avoid single-point-of-failure issues. Each TLD has its own policies regarding acceptable use. New TLDs may be created subject to OpenNIC stated policies.

Top Level Domains

Currently, OpenNIC supports the following TLDs:

.bbs

aimed toward (Telnet style) bulletin board systems and related Web sites.

.bzh

OpenNIC's version of .bzh has been created for Breton community (language and culture).

.dyn

Dynamic IPs.

.fur

Furry fandom-related sites

.free

Run by FreeNIC, the .free tld provides namespace, certificate authority, and other services to encourage the non-commercial use of the internet.

.geek

Chartered for use by geek-oriented sites, including anything of a personal or hobbyist nature. This description is deliberately vague to reflect the huge range of interests that might qualify.

.glue

Internal Architectural, as in root server administration and peering purposes. The only domain names that exist for this TLD are those that are used for each system on the peer.

.gopher

For sites using the Gopher protocol.

.indy

independent news, media, and entertainment

.ing

fun TLD. Further details to be confirmed.

.micro

For micronations and their entities. Recent and not widely used yet.

.null

miscellaneous non-commercial individual sites

.oss

Open-source software

.parody

A venue for non-commercial parody work. Having a TLD designated to works of parody attempts to remove claims that a website could be mistaken for a business site, and thus reduces the possibility of claims of trademark infringement.

Peering

OpenNIC also provides resolution of select other alternative DNS roots. Currently OpenNIC peers with New Nations, providing .ko, .ku, .rm, .te, .ti, and .uu.

Public Access Information

To access the OpenNIC Network fully users need to use (at least one of) their name servers.

For temporary resolution of the above TLDs, i.e. for those who are unable or unwilling to make this kind of change to their system, OpenNIC also provides a proxy server service.

Additional information

At this time, there are no peering arrangements with other alternative DNS root servers. Former peering agreements existed with the long-defunct AlterNIC, in hopes it ever came up, and Pacific Root, which seemed to cease resolution sometime in late 2004.

See also

• DNS Advantage
• OpenDNS
• Google Public DNS
• Open Root Server Network
• RealNames

External links

• Public Access and Information Website
• OpenNIC Public DNS Servers and Migration Instructions
• OpenNIC Wiki

Alt DNS links

See OpenNIC Information Website for access instructions.

• OpenNIC Homepage .glue
• OpenNIC Wiki .glue
• TLD Governing Policy .glue