The Domain Name System (DNS) provides for the translation of
easy-to-remember named to numeric IP addresses for internet users. It is
critical that this vital piece of infrastructure be protected from attack
and upgraded to handle increasing loads. Several years ago, an organization
was created to coordinate responses to security breaches of the DNS as well
as to study DNS operations data and research new practices for the DNS.
Unfortunately, that organization appears to support only ICANN-sanctioned
DNS operations and not the Inclusive Namespace.

      The INS-AORC is part of the WorldRoot Consortium, which operates one
of the Inclusive Namespace root networks. INS-AORC has been created to fill
the void caused by the ICANN-centric OARC's refusal to recognize the
Inclusive Namespace, a namespace that contains more than 95% of the world's
Top-Level domains. INS-AORC will provide support for the ICANN-centric DNS
operations as well as the greater internet as the Inclusive Namespace, by
definition, includes the ICANN-centric DNS tree as well.

      The AORC has the following mission:

        a.. Emergency Response. The AORC lists and other communication
mechanisms provide the INS community a place to exchange information during
attacks on any of the DNS infrastructure or any other times when DNS
destabilization is occurring.
        b.. Analysis of DNS Operations.  The internet continues to add new
users every year and it is important to look at DNS traffic and determine
how to optimize server deployment to meet tomorrow's traffic needs as well
as how to harden the infrastructure against malefactors who would try to
harm or compromise the DNS infrastructure. Keeping long-term records of DNS
performance is also crucial to planning for the future. Finally, analyzing
the characteristics of attacks against the DNS infrastructure will provide
valuable information about how to mitigate such attacks in the future.
        c.. AORC Performance Lab. The AORC performance lab is in the process
of being assembled. This testing center will contain state-of-the-art
equipment and software that will be used to stress-test DNS software and
hardware by simulating heavy loads and attacks. The results of these tests
will be made available to AORC members for their use in hardening their DNS
servers and infrastructure.
        d.. Public Education and Assistance.  End users, both individuals
and businesses have a limited understanding of the DNS often suffer from
problems due to misconfigured software or hardware. AORC will publish how-to
guides for the general public and businesses targeting various levels of
knowledge, from beginner to advanced. AORC will also seek to educate the
general public about the basic working of the DNS and its central importance
in the operation of the internet
      The AORC can be viewed as the research arm of the WorldRoot
Consortium, a global organization whose members operate one of the most
widely used Inclusive Namespace root network in the world. The WorldRoot
Consortium supports the Top Level Domain Association and relies on the TLDA
for adjudication of TLD collisions.

      INS-AORC participants are actually members of the WorldRoot Consortium
and fall into one or more of the following categories:

        a.. Those who operate nameservers of any size, from root servers to
TLD servers to ISPs.
        b.. Producers of DNS software and hardware
        c.. Those who protect the internet public (such as computer crimes
investigators and other law enforcement) and public policy professionals who
are interested in seeing to it that the internet remains a stable force for
their constituents.
        d.. Scientists and technology researchers who need access to
research produced and DNS operations statistics created by INS-AORC
      The INS-AORC is the research and outreach arm of the WorldRoot
Consortium whose membership dues support the operation of the WorldRoot and
the activities of INS-AORC

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      To join the WorldRoot Consortium, visit the WorldRoot website
as http://worldroot.net

      For additional information or questions on the INS-AORC, please
contact  informat A T ins-aorc.info or visit the INS-AORC website
at http://ins-aorc.info

      To join the AORC DNS Operations list (no political censors here) just
visit  http://lists.ins-aorc.org/mailman/listinfo/dns-operations