One speed bane of the Internet is the TTL (Time To Live) of the Domain Name System (DNS). As most Internet service and recursive providers rely on cached DNS information, domain name updates can take as long as two weeks to process world-wide. This causes an overall drag that is in serious need of an overhaul. Two companies that have teamed up and are striving to eliminate TTL-induced delays are Neustar and OpenDNS. With the public release of the DNS Real-time Directory, the companies are hoping to speed up the Internet dramatically.
Neustar
Neustar, a clearinghouse and directory services provider, was founded in 1996 as a solution to technical and operational issues facing the communication industry at the time. The company has since grown to provide services to emerging ISPs, mobile network operators, VOIP and cable television operators. With corporate offices in Sterling, VA, Neustar has branched out to several offices located in the US, UK, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific. Neustar offers a variety of businesses services and has recently joined with OpenDNS in its latest venture.
OpenDNS
When looking for speedier DNS queries, many online businesses are looking at the services offered by OpenDNS. The free DNS resolution service founded in 2005 is an excellent alternative solution to DNS servers currently being processed by ISP servers. OpenDNS has placed its company servers in several locations and utilizes a large domain name cache. The combination of these two practices results in faster DNS query processing.
DNS Real-time Directory
Neustar and OpenDNS have combined to create the DNS Real-time Directory. This directory is a centrally located cloud-based system that allows customers and providers the ability to make DNS modifications in real time. These updates are then pushed out immediately to participating Internet and recursive providers. The result is nearly immediate updating of domain name information.
This real-time processing not only will speed up the Internet but will also prevent accidental drop-offs such as was seen with the Swedish domain .se earlier this year. A small error in scripting can cause an entire domain to fall off the Internet and, when some service providers make infrequent DNS updates, it can take weeks for domains to be processed properly once again. Implementation of the DNS Real-time Directory will mean errors can be corrected instantly and the results felt in near real-time.
OpenDNS has been using the directory for approximately a month and recently went public with the service. The company’s founder, David Ulevitch, states that with the DNS Real-time Directory in use, its customers can be assured of instantaneous update results despite TTL record indications. Disaster recovery can take a matter of a couple of hours rather than weeks when an error or typo is located.
Final Thoughts
The Domain Name System is constantly updating with new domains being registered every minute and current domains being moved from one web hosting provider to another. With this constant glut of data processing and updating, waiting forty-eight hours to nearly two weeks for a domain to show up properly on the Internet can be a frustrating waiting process. OpenDNS and Neustar are clearly looking to remedy the situation with the introduction of the DNS Real-time Directory.
January 26th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
I think your blog is great. I just added you to my Yahoo News Reader. Found it on Yahoo though. I love the suggestions and just trying to wrap my head around it, it’s mind boggling. Thanks