1. A domain (if you're talking about the DNS kind) makes it easier for people to access machines on a network. Basically it keeps people from having to type in IP addresses to access a computer. It can also be a way to group a bunch of host names.

For example, say that there are devices www, www1, www2, and www3. You could group them all to the domain "websites.com" by having www.websites.com, www1.websites.com, etc.

2. Top level domain names are the domain name groups such as .com, .net, .org, .us, .uk, etc.

3. Switching is kinda complicated, i suggest you consult the wikipedia gods....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packet_switching
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_switch

Hope that helps!

thanks alot man...thanks

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quote:

Originally posted by kdepa 1. A domain (if you're talking about the DNS kind) makes it easier for people to access machines on a network. Basically it keeps people from having to type in IP addresses to access a computer. It can also be a way to group a bunch of host names. For example, say that there are devices www, www1, www2, and www3. You could group them all to the domain "websites.com" by having www.websites.com, www1.websites.com, etc.

I'd have to add, that, apart from the DNS (and website-related domain) perspective, the concept of domains in computer networks is quite different: domain is a logical entity, which contains numerous "nodes" (machines or other devices), all using the same secutiry model. for example, if i have a domain administrative password, i can administer any machine in a domain. (this is oversimplified and not always true for complex security models).

domains were created with the common idea of sharing resources - but with some controls as to who can access what (for example, a departmental domain would let all the employees of that department to print to department printers, but guests would have to know some passwords to do the same).

domains can have subdomains. domains can be a part of a domain forest. there are interdomain trusts and other advanced concepts.

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writing lyrics aint what it used to be

2.

ccLTDs = Country code top-level domain;
assigned at IANAs own discretion, which relegates control to local groups when they feel the time is right ( for example .iq ( iraq ) is one of the more recent ccLTDs which was recently restarted and since 2005 operates under an Iraqi delegation .)

gLTD=
generic Top-level domain:
.com; .org; etc .....
These tend to be operated under ICANN regulation, and a lot of these big ones must operate under California state law ( unknowingly in most cases out of sheer ignorance from the domain owners part ) and must adhere to ICANNs UDRP ( Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy ) http://www.icann.org/udrp/udrp.htm



I'm actually surveying all the ccLTD delegates (249!)right now for a project to see global variations in UDRP rules ( each local delegate is under no obligation to operate under ICANN UDRP, sometimes they duplicate the guidelines, sometimes they create their own ), as well as preferantial assignation of domains like geographical location dependencies exclusivity, businesses registered with commerce licenses etc.

Spam regulation, and pornography bans are also becoming standard practice with the newer ccTLDs; problems which could not have possibly been envisionned when the first ccTLDs were assigned and subsequently rules which cannot be modified due to pressure from domain owners of domains on older ccLTDs which do not want to lose the domains they already own ( and affiliated market shares and such ).

There are also some oddities like .fm - Federated States of Micronesia; .nu - Niue; which have local delegates but whose control was ultimately taken over by economic interest groups and businesses subsequently making these ccLTDs operate under US law ( dependant on the state where the controlling company is located ( California for .fm and Massachusetts for .nu ).

Last edited by jdat on Aug-27-2006 at 09:57