Re: [ICANN-EU] Distributed root

[Marc Schneiders <marc@schneiders.org>]

On Fri, 27 Oct 2000, Jefsey Morfin wrote:
[...]
> What we shoud consider more seriously is why we have this current 
> "stability". This is because Bull Gates has not made a special screen in 
> the network connexions under Windows to chose one's default root or to load 
> it as an .ini file (what would be sensible). So it boils down this: the 
> real stability if the massive choice of Windows by the public (@large) and 
> therefore of the WinSocket. Let assume that today someone would propose a 
> SuperSocket with a simple way to adapt the PC root, things would change 
> dramitically. BTW is the dominant position on WinSock an issue in the MS case?

It is not very difficult to change your nameservers in Windows. There
are, I believe, even programs distributed by alternative roots, that
do this for you. The point is, that users have had no reason to use
any altroot so far. If there had already been a very active .XXX, it
might have been different.

The good news is (if you are for altroots), that most windows users
either have no nameservers set at all, and then use those assigned by
the ISP at connection, or they have those of their ISP in the TCP/IP
config, automagically put there by the CD that was dropped in
their snailmailbox. So all you have to do, is get some major
ISP's to join you for a start.

But then, it would be a mess. I think I am going to light some blessed
candles for ICANN in November. One root, somewhat more easy to get in
than @$50,000, is still my ideal. It doesn't have to be perfect. If
only it isn't rotten.

-- 
Marc Schneiders
------------------------------------
"Policies that derive from a 
"seek world peace" style of thinking 
have a very poor history 
of administrative utility."
(Dave Crocker)
------------------------------------