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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On Tuesday 07 August 2012 01:30 PM,
David Conrad wrote:<br>
</div>
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cite="mid:875CBC93-DF65-4E0D-B6CC-DBE0AD912FE5@virtualized.org"
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<div>snip<br>
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<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">One can suggest that
given the current situation of the Internet, the very same
laudable intention of avoiding capture that informed the
present root server system, when it was instituted,
requires us to change the system. Is it really all that
illegitimate a political demand. What is your response to
this question? </div>
</blockquote>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Illegitimate? No. I've actually made similar arguments
myself on numerous occasions, sometimes in colorful
terminology I'm told.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>However, you seem to be missing/ignoring a core concept: <b>there
is no central control of the root servers</b>. I realize
this is hard for folks inculcated with the ITU/monopoly PTT
worldview to fully grasp (I've had the discussion about how
the root system works with government official many times and
invariably get "you're kidding" in response) but it is
reality.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Given this, to whom will you make your demand, regardless
of its legitimacy?</div>
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<br>
David, I understand that we agree that the current distribution of
root server operators in not fine, and should be changed. However,
the question is how to do so. I still think increasing the number is
a feasible alternative to look into, and we must, but lets not
discuss it for the present. Lets look at reallocation possibility
alone, to which your response is that 'how do you do it' and 'to
whom do you make the demand'.<br>
<br>
Ok, here I will need help with technical information again. Your
main point is that "the Internet is composed of a multitude of
privately operated autonomous networks and systems that agree
amongst themselves on a set of parameters to ensure the networks
interoperate. There simply is no central authority."<br>
<br>
However, we know that this is not fully true for everything about
the Internet's architecture. There indeed is a single root, and
single operative authority over it. And things do get changed in
this apex system which are mandatory and applicable to the whole
Internet. We did for instance have the Iraq' cctld re-delegated,
apart from other more regular changes done all the time.<br>
<br>
So, my technical question is, is it not that the root server
authority to 12/13 operators gets allocated in some way from a
central point, IANA, in a way that if needed, it can be reallocated,
like a cctld can be reallocated by appropriate changes in the root
zone file. I read that private key etc issues are involved, but any
such system is centrally managed, right. The original DNS message
from the root may simply carry the 13 IP addresses of root servers
that it wants to carry and not others, I see this a central lever
that can help enforce a policy decision if taken at ICANN or
whatever level. <br>
<br>
I can understand that downstream systems will be looking for
specific IP addressed they know as to be the root servers, but
still, is the whole changeover simply impossible, even if transiting
in phases, building redundancy etc. If a political decision is takne
at ICANN level (with its bottom up policy process and all) that this
is the way we want it to be, I dont think most actors will simply
refuse to comply, whereby still if one or two indeed do, the system
should be able to work around it through the mentioned levers of
control. <br>
<br>
If we indeed keep saying, the present system is as it is, and all
players with all kinds of vested interests have to agree to all
changes, well, we can keep saying it. It just gives proposals like
the one from China for an autonomous Internet more political weight
and traction. If we indeed want to resist such moves to cut the
Internet along national boundaries we will have to stick our neck
out, and do all we can do to address the legitimate demands of non
US and Southern actors. And democraticising the distribution to root
servers is one such legitimate demand. As I proposed we can start
with allocating one each to all RIRs. Are we as a group, IGC,
technical community etc ready to take an initiative in this
direction. <br>
<br>
SNIP<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:875CBC93-DF65-4E0D-B6CC-DBE0AD912FE5@virtualized.org"
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<div><br>
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<div>It seems to me that one of the fundamental impedance
mismatches that is occurring is the implicit assumption that
there is an overarching entity to which these sorts of
political demands can be made and which will act upon those
demands. From an Internet technologist's point of view, this
assumption is false: </div>
</div>
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<br>
If indeed legitimate political demands cannot be made and realised
in the global Internet space than there is a serious gap in our
political ecology here. This is not a natural condition for
societies to exist in a just and sustainable way. So, if what you
say is true, we should collectively take steps to fill this serious
gap/ void...<br>
<br>
regards, parminder <br>
<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:875CBC93-DF65-4E0D-B6CC-DBE0AD912FE5@virtualized.org"
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<div>
<div>the Internet is composed of a multitude of privately
operated autonomous networks and systems that agree amongst
themselves on a set of parameters to ensure the networks
interoperate. There simply is no central authority. The
venues in which the operators of those networks and systems
come to agreement on those parameters are places like ICANN,
the IETF, and the RIRs, however those bodies aren't in control
-- they merely implement the agreements (formal or informal)
that are made in their respective venues.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I know this doesn't fit with how governments want to view
the Internet. So it goes.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Regards,</div>
<div>-drc</div>
<div><br>
</div>
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