1.
What is IANA?!

2.
Internet Assigned Numbers
Authority!
+ Responsible for global, unique Internet
identifier systems
+ One of the oldest Internet institutions, its
role dates back to the 1970s
+ “IANA” now refers to a series of functions
performed to coordinate unique Internet
identifier systems
+ Today, ICANN performs the IANA functions
2

3.
Primary IANA functions!
Protocol
Assignments
Number
Resources
Root
Zone
Management
(Top-­‐
level
Domain
Names)
3

4.
Root Zone Management !
(Top-level Domain Names)!
+ Domain Names allow Internet users to type
in “iana.org” instead of a series of numbers
+ ICANN’s IANA department operates and
maintains a number of key aspects of DNS
+ Root zone file change requests for ccTLDs
and gTLDs
4

5.
Number Resources!
+ Each device connected to Internet has
unique identifier called IP Address.
+ Examples:
+ 208.77.188.102
+ 2620:0:2d0:5:218::78e0
+ Large numbers of computers are grouped
into Autonomous Systems.
+ Large blocks of addresses allocated to
Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) for
distribution.
5

6.
Regional Internet Registries!
6

7.
Protocol Assignments!
+ ICANN facilitates protocol
registry management with
IETF and RFC Editor and
maintains the protocol
parameter registries
7

8.
The Evolution of IANA!
+ IANA functions first performed within academia
and funded through U.S. Government grants.
+ Internet community participated in process to
create the non-profit ICANN.
+ In 1998, IANA functions transitioned from the
University of Southern California’s Information
Sciences Institute to ICANN.
+ Today ICANN performs IANA functions under
contract with the U.S. Department of Commerce.
8

9.
Policy Implementation!
In performing the IANA functions, ICANN implements
policies developed by Internet stakeholders including:
+ Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) !
+ Internet Architecture Board (IAB)!
+ Regional Internet Registries !
+ Operators and managers of ccTLDs and gTLDs!
+ Governments!
+ Internet user community!
9

10.
Community Outreach!
To improve its operations,
ICANN’s IANA department is
actively involved in outreach
through:
+ ICANN Forums!
+ Meetings and discussions with
TLD operators, RIRs and others!
+ Helpdesk at IETF meetings!
10

11.
Learn More!
+ Find information about
IANA functions at
IANA.ORG
11

12.
Thank You &
Questions?!