Re: ROOT64.NET now online.

["Donald E. Eastlake 3rd" <dee@cybercash.com>]

On Fri, 3 Jan 1997, John Palmer wrote:

> Date: Fri, 3 Jan 97 18:58:50 EST
> From: John Palmer <jp@PalmerOwns.The.Earth>
> To: iahc-discuss@iahc.org, newdom@vrx.net
> Subject: ROOT64.NET now online.
> 
> ROOT64.NET now contains a list of progressive name servers
> which are not tied to IANA or IAHC.
.
> At this time, we have 6 servers listed. Folks are working on
> getting many more servers and invite those who would like to 
> operate a root server to apply. We would like to see some 
> international participants as this would make DNS more robust. 

I can't conceive of why the numbers of servers is so low unless it is
intended as an artificially low base so artificially high "growth"  figures
can be reported.  By claiming only 6 now, if there are 12 a month from now
you could boast of 100% growth. 

Then again, maybe root64 is really such a total failure that you can only
find 6 server. 

> ROOT64 name servers use the ALTERNIC root cache which contains
> the extended gTLD set. Users  whose ISP's point to root64
> name servers can offer their customers thousands of more sites
> that are not available when using IANA-controlled name servers.

I don't know what you consider a site but if you are talking about
real hosts, I don't believe you.  Only those who are willing to be 
acessible from only a tiny fraction of the Internet population in return 
for whatever psychic reward they get for supporting the Alternic agenda 
and those who have been mislead would set themself up so they are only 
accessible via non-IETF top level domains.

> The recent horrific proposal by the so-called "Ad-Hoc" committee
> issued on Black Thursday (Dec-19-1996) must be challenged. Root64
> servers provide a way to bypass the socialist-controlled servers
> and access all network sites.

I don't like everything in the proposal either but it does break the NSI 
monopoly and provide for more top level domains.

> TRANSLATED FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON:
> 
> You are only getting access to a portion of the sites available on
> the internet as the people who control the root name servers (which
> control which sites you can see or not see) are limiting the ISP
> community in their ability to provide you with access to the full
> set of resources on the internet. ROOT64 is an organization that
> thinks that this is not right. We are a group of small ISP's who 
> are dedicated to keeping the internet free from the control of 
> these kinds of people. We have set up a network of root name servers
> which include listing of ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES. For more info,
> see the web site listed below. 

Translated for the average person:  Mr. Palmer and various others have a
revolutionary "progressive" political agenda which seems to involve fighting
any authority.  There are probably a tiny number of web pages and that like
that have been deliberately set up so they are only accessible via the
assorted top level domains they wand to add.  But anyone serious about being
accessible on the net has an address within the IETF top level domains. 

> If your ISP won't use progressive name servers, perhaps you should
> look for another ISP. In the meantime, hop over to
>       http://alternic.net
> 
> to obtain instructions on how to adjust your connection settings to
> maximize your access to network sites. 

And maximize the chance that URL's, email addresses, etc., that you give 
to others won't work.

I can understand someone not liking the status quo in top level domains
and lusting for revolution/profits/whatever but you should be honest and 
say that is what you are doing instead of blowing all this bogus smoke 
about inacessible sites.
 
Donald
=====================================================================
Donald E. Eastlake 3rd     +1 508-287-4877(tel)     dee@cybercash.com
   318 Acton Street        +1 508-371-7148(fax)     dee@world.std.com
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