Who handles the Domain Names

[tkdaim]

Hello,

Can someone tell me who handles all the domain names in the online world? Seems like there should be one organization that keeps track of and "manages" the domain names / ip addresses. Is it Network Solutions?

Thanks...

Mr. Just Wondering

[dkadave]

it's a company called icann I believe.

[jason]

Each country has a two letter code, set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These codes are used for a lot of things besides domain names, but each country is basically free to use their code as the base for domain registrations. Some do it interally, others license the right to companies such as Verisign to make their names attractive to an international market (.tv and .cc are examples of this).

ICANN is the governing authority for the non-country code domains, such as .com, .net, .org, .info, and the like. They deligate a company to be the authority for each of of the top level domains that they offer (currently Verisign for .com and .net, I believe). These companies maintain the top level DNS servers for those TLD's as well as the whois servers. In addition, ICANN licenses registrars that can sell these domains. A portion of each registration price goes to the company that maintains the registry for that TLD.

It isn't really quite this simple, but that's the basic gist of how it works. If you were to buy a domain through AletiaNic, JPC's registry, you would be registering it from Enom. Enom is one of the registrars licensed by ICANN to sell domain names. AletiaNic is an Enom reseller. Once you register the name, Enom gives the details of the registration, such as your DNS servers, to Verisign who updates the top level DNS so that you can be found.

I hope this answers your question clearly enough.

--Jason

[XtremeCarAudio]

to add to that

.us and .biz are maintaines by Neustar.
.com and .net are Verisign (network solutions)
.name is The Global Name Registry
.org is The Internet Society
.info is Afilias

Did i forget any?

[jason]

.museum is MuseDoma and .edu is Educause, but since those aren't TLD's aren't open to the public, it's probably not important here. There is alos RegistryPro for .pro addresses (doctors, lawyers, and accountants), although those aren't too popular yet.

An easy way to find the company responsible for the new TLD's and sometime some of the ccTLD's (cc=country code) is to use www.nic.<TLD>. This won't work with older domains like .com, .net, .org, or .edu, but it should work with all of the newer ones. for example, to get to Afilias for info about .info, you can go to www.nic.info.

--Jason