Internet Assigned Numbers Authority

The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is a crucial part of the internet's infrastructure, responsible for coordinating some of the key elements that maintain the global uniqueness and functionality of the internet. It operates under the authority of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a nonprofit organization.

National Internet Registries (NIRs) are organizations that operate at the national level to manage the allocation and registration of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses within a specific country. They serve as intermediaries between the global Internet community, particularly the regional Internet registries (RIRs), and the individual end-users and organizations within their nation.

Proposed top-level domains (TLDs) refer to new internet domain extensions that have been suggested for approval by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). TLDs are the last part of a domain name, such as ".com," ".org," or ".net.

Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) are organizations that manage and allocate IP address resources (both IPv4 and IPv6) within specific regions of the world. They ensure the efficient distribution of IP addresses and handle other aspects of Internet resource management, such as Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs). RIRs operate under policies that are developed by the community of network operators and other stakeholders in their respective regions.

Top-level domains (TLDs) are the last segment of a domain name, appearing after the final dot. For example, in the domain name "example.com," the TLD is ".com." TLDs are part of the hierarchical Domain Name System (DNS) and are classified into several categories: 1. **Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs)**: These include the most commonly used TLDs, such as .com, .org, and .net.

The .int domain is a top-level domain (TLD) in the Domain Name System (DNS) of the Internet that is specifically designated for international organizations established by treaty between governments. The purpose of the .int domain is to provide a unique namespace for such entities to host their websites and online resources. Examples of organizations that might use a .

AFRINIC, the African Network Information Centre, is the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) for Africa. It is responsible for the allocation and management of Internet number resources, such as IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs), in the African region. Established in 2004, AFRINIC plays a crucial role in the development and growth of Internet infrastructure in Africa by supporting organizations with the registration and management of these resources.

The Address Family Identifier (AFI) is a term used in the context of network protocols and telecommunications to specify the type of network address being used in a particular packet or connection. It is most commonly associated with the Internet Protocol (IP), particularly in routing protocols such as Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) or Border Gateway Protocol (BGP).

The .int domain is a top-level domain (TLD) that is reserved for international organizations established by treaties between governments or other international bodies. It is not as commonly used as other TLDs, but it serves as a way to distinguish official international entities. A list of organizations with .int domain names typically includes well-known international organizations, such as: 1. **NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)** - [nato.int](http://www.nato.int) 2.

A National Internet Registry (NIR) is an organization that manages the allocation and registration of internet number resources, such as IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs), within a specific country or region. NIRs operate under the framework established by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and are often affiliated with regional internet registries (RIRs) like ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC, LACNIC, or AFRINIC.

A Regional Internet Registry (RIR) is an organization that is responsible for the allocation and management of Internet number resources within a specific geographical area. These resources primarily include Internet Protocol (IP) address space and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs). RIRs play a crucial role in distributing IP addresses to Internet Service Providers (ISPs), businesses, and other organizations within their regions.