The Internet Ecosystem I : How the Internet Works

Caribbean Internet Governance Forum Nate Davis, Chief Operating Officer

7 August 2014

Organizations, Roles, and Relationships •  What are the key components in how

the Internet works? •  Who are the supporting organizations? •  Who are the interested parties? •  Where are the points of intersection?

2

Internet Ecosystem

3

Internet Ecosystem Components

•  Shared global services and operations

•  Open standards development

•  Naming & addressing communities

4

Open Standards Development •  Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) •  Internet Architecture Board (IAB) •  Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) •  World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) •  ITU Telecommunications

Standardization Sector (ITU-T) •  Specialized Standards Bodies

5

Shared global services and operations •  Root Servers Operators •  Internet exchange points (IXPs) •  Country Code Top-Level Domains

(ccTLDs) •  Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) •  Network Operators •  Equipment manufacturers

6

Root Servers

7

http://www.root-servers.org

Naming & Addressing

•  Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) •  Internet Assigned Numbers Authority

(IANA) •  Internet Corporation for Assigned

Names and Numbers (ICANN)

8

Regional Internet Registries

9

RIR Structure

Not-for-profit Membership Organization

Community Regulated

•  Fee for services, not number resources

•  100% community funded

•  Open

•  Broad-based - Private sector - Public sector - Civil society

•  Community developed policies

•  Member-elected executive board

•  Open and transparent

10

RIR Services Number Resources Organization Policy

Development

•  IP address allocation & assignment

•  ASN assignment •  Directory

services •  Whois •  IRR

•  Reverse DNS

•  Elections

•  Meetings

•  Information dissemination •  Website •  Newsletters •  Roundtables

•  Training

•  Maintain e-mail discussion lists

•  Conduct public policy meetings

•  Publish policy documents

11

About ARIN •  Regional Internet Registry (RIR) •  100% community funded •  Services 25 economies in the Caribbean

and North America

12

Supports the operation of the Internet through the management of Internet number resources throughout its service region Coordinates the development of policies by the community for the management of Internet Protocol number resources Advances the Internet through informational outreach

13

193.0.0.131

196.216.2.1

192.149.252.7

200.160.2.15

202.12.29.20

192.0.0.214

206.131.253.68

192.0.34.163

On the Internet, you’re nothing but an IP address!

202.12.29.142

www.nro.net www.afrinic.net

www.arin.net

www.lacnic.net

www.apnic.net

www.ripe.net

www.isoc.org

www.icann.org

14

Who Provisions IP Addresses & ASNs?

15

The Internet

2001:0C00:8888:: My Computer

www.cernet.cn?

Using Domain Names

DNS

1. My Computer asks the DNS where to find www.cernet.cn

16

The Internet

2001:0C00:8888:: My Computer

202.112.0.46 2001:0400::

Using Domain Names

DNS

2. The DNS provides the IPv4 or IPv6 address for the requested URL.

17

The Internet

2001:0C00:8888:: My Computer www. cernet.cn

2001:0400::

202.112.0.46 2001:0400::

Using Domain Names

DNS

3. My Computer queries the appropriate server for the IP address provided by the DNS.

18

IP Addresses are Not Domain Names •  IP Address [Identifier] –  “Computer-friendly” –  Unique number identifies computer on Internet –  Used for routing (moving information across an inter-

network from a source to a destination)

•  DNS Name [Reference] –  “People-Friendly” –  Maps host name to unique IP address –  A means of storing and retrieving information

about hostnames and IP addresses in a distributed data base

19

What is a Domain Name?

• A domain name is label that a person uses in place of an IP address to locate a site on the Internet, like www.arin.net

20

What is the Domain Name System (DNS)? •  The Domain Name System

(DNS) is a way to store and retrieve information about domain names and IP addresses.

21

What is an Autonomous System Number (ASN)? •  A globally unique number (16 or 32 bit) used

by routing protocols (like BGP) to identify an autonomous system (a connected group of IP networks that adhere to a single, clearly defined routing policy)

– 4,294,967,296 AS numbers (or 232) – e.g. 36863 (16 bit), 393225 (32 bit)

22

What is Routing?

Routing is the act of moving information across an internetwork from a source to a destination.

23

Why DNSSEC? What is it?

•  Standard DNS (forward or reverse) responses are not secure – Easy to spoof – Notable malicious attacks

•  DNSSEC attaches signatures – Validates responses – Can not spoof

24

Internet Ecosystem

25

Internet Ecosystem Components

•  Education and Capacity Building

•  Local, national, regional policy development

•  Users, Individual & Organizations

26

Education & Capacity Building

•  Governments •  Universities & Academic Institutions •  Internet Society (ISOC) •  Multilateral Institutions & Development

Agencies •  Community Organizations & Businesses

27

Policy Development

•  Local, National, and Regional •  Governments •  Multilateral Institutions and

Development Agencies •  Internet Governance Policy Discussion

Fora

28

Users •  Individuals •  Governments •  Multilateral Institutions •  Policy Discussion Forums •  Service Creators & Vendors who use

the Internet to communicate, offer services, content, applications, etc.

29

30

Internet Governance Matters •  The Internet is seen as – A global force – An ecosystem

•  Many implications – Economic – Social – Political

Worldwide Resource => Many Competing Interests

31

The Internet Touches Everyone and Everyone has a stake in how it works

32

33

Thank You