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| − | '''OpenNIC''' is a user owned and controlled [[Network Information Center]] offering a democratic, non-national, alternative to the traditional [[ICANN]]-operated [[Top-Level Domain]] registries.
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| − | [[As of 2006]] users of the OpenNIC [[Domain Name System|DNS]] servers are able to resolve all existing [[ICANN]] [[top-level domain]]s including the general-purpose [[TLD]]'s (such as .com or .org) and the two-letter country codes (such as .au or .uk). In addition, users are able to resolve [[top-level domain]]s in the OpenNIC namespace as well as other [[alternative DNS root]] servers with which there are peering agreements.
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| − | Membership in the OpenNIC is open to every user of the [[Internet]]. All decisions are made either by a democratically elected administrator or through a direct ballot of the interested members and all decisions, regardless of how they are made, are appealable to a vote of the general membership.
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| − | 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 provider]]s have this configuration.
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| − | __TOC__
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| − | == The History of OpenNIC ==
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| − | On June 1st of 2000, an [http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2000/6/1/182041/9992 article] was posted on [http://www.kuro5hin.org/ kuro5hin.org] advocating the need for a democratically governed [[domain name system]]. Out of the resulting discussion, the OpenNIC was born. By the end of July the root-servers were in full operation, several [[top-level domain]]s had been introduced, and OpenNIC began peering of the [[AlterNIC]] namespace. In March of 2001 peering began of [[Pacific Root]] and in September a [http://paradox.homeip.net/htdig/ search engine] was announced which was dedicated to the OpenNIC namespace.
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| − | Since its first year of operation, OpenNIC has been mentioned frequently on [http://www.kuro5hin.org/ kuro5hin.org], [http://slashdot.org/ Slashdot], [http://wired.com/ Wired.com] and other internet news sites, and is commonly suggested on newsgroups and forums to those seeking an alternative to [[ICANN]] name resolution. It has become a stable, well-established [[root server]] used by members of the internet around the world.
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| − | == OpenNIC Top Level Domains ==
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| − | Each OpenNIC [[Top Level Domain]] has its own policies regarding acceptable use. New [[TLD]]'s may be created subject to OpenNIC [http://www.opennic.unrated.net/new_tlds.html stated policies].
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| − | ;.fur
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| − | : Sites related to or otherwise associated with [[furry fandom]]. This TLD's purpose in life is to bring a unique identity to furry fans across the internet.
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| − | ; .geek
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| − | : 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.
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| − | ; .glue
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| − | : Used for root server administration and for peering purposes. The only domain names that exist for this TLD are those that are used for each system on the peer.
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| − | ; .indy
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| − | : Intended for use by organizations and individuals of the independent media and arts, and keeping primarily with the spirit of "[[indie (culture)|indie]]" press, music, etc. The definition is flexible, however corporate media outlets need not apply.
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| − | ;.null
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| − | : Miscellaneous non-commercial individual sites. Described by its authority to be the OpenNIC analog of [[Usenet]]'s [[Alt.* hierarchy|alt hierarchy]].
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| − | ; .oss
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| − | : Reserved exclusively for [[open-source software]] projects.
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| − | ;.parody
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| − | : A venue for non-commercial [[parody]] work. Having a TLD designated to works of parody removes any claims that a website could be mistaken for a business site, and thus eliminates the possibility of claims of [[trademark]] infringement.
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| − | 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.
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| − | == External links ==
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| − | * [http://www.opennic.unrated.net/ OpenNIC main site]
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| − | * OpenNIC: [http://www.opennic.unrated.net/public_servers.html Public Name Servers]
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| − | * OpenNIC: [http://scoop.opennic.unrated.net/ Members' Forum]
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| − | * OpenNIC: [http://paradox.homeip.net/htdig/ Search 1] [http://sourpuss.net/grep/ Search 2]
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| − | * [http://www.xwhois.com/ XWhois]
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| − | [[Category:Domain Name System]]
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| − | {{wikipedia}}
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