Understanding Internet Naming: From the Modern DNS Ecosystem to New Directions in Naming

In this dissertation we study current and proposed implementations ofInternet naming schemes. Creating reliable naming systems requires an up-to-date understanding of the current system's real-world operation.Therefore, our first goal is to understand the modern client-side Domain Name System (DNS) ecosystem through empirical study of both system components and operational DNS traffic. Next, we discuss two naming scenarios where the DNS is insufficient and propose solutions. One problem we examine---the second component of this dissertation---is that Internet transactions need a well-known rendezvous point to establish communication, often a DNS name. However, the static nature of these rendezvous points introduces brittleness to the process. Controversial rendezvous points (such as IP addresses and hostnames used to bootstrap into peer-to-peer networks) are often targeted by censors. Many factors can prevent the usage of a central hub in the absence of any adversary---central hubs can also be vulnerable to network failures, power failures, and human error. Rendezvous schemes based upon DNS are additionally vulnerable to failures of authoritative DNS servers and lapses in domain registration.Therefore, we design and evaluate a system that allows users to communicate without any centralized hub or fixed rendezvous point. Another problem we examine---and the third thrust of this dissertation---is that DNS does not encourage user-to-user information sharing in general. Publishing DNS records remains limited to systems administrators through often manual processes. Furthermore, we note that in general the DNS is used to name hosts, which most users are not interested in. Rather, users typically share content and pointers to other people on different Internet services; however, no DNS types exist to publish the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for a user's webpage or an Instant-Messaging screen name used by a user. Therefore, we discuss a new naming system centered around users, allowing for secure publication and consumption of names by users and their applications.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

EECS - Computer and Information Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher

Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Callahan, Tom

Contributors dc:contributor

• Rabinovich, Michael
• Allman, Mark

• Computer Science
• internet measurement
• internet naming
• dns
• bootstrapping
• peer-to-peer networks

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: some rights reserved. It is licensed for use under a Creative Commons license. Specific terms and permissions are available from this document's record in the OhioLINK ETD Center.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1365096731

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:case1365096731