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ProtocolWatch

IANA

The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is a crucial component of the overall architecture of the internet. It's responsible for the global coordination of the Internet Protocol (IP) addressing systems, as well as the Autonomous System Numbers used for routing internet traffic.

IANA is operated by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a non-profit private American corporation.

Here are the three main areas where IANA's operations are crucial:

1. Domain Names Management (DNS): IANA manages the Domain Name System root zone and will coordinate the delegation of Top-Level Domains (like .com, .edu, .org and country-specific domains like .us, .uk, .au). This involves liaising with domain name registries who run these domains, ensuring their system operations are correct, and making updates as necessary.

2. IP Addresses Allocation: IANA coordinates the pool of IP addresses, ensuring they are globally unique where needed. These are handed out to Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) in large blocks who then distribute them in smaller chunks to ISPs and other organizations in their designated regions.

3. Protocol Parameters Management: IANA works with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and other technical bodies to maintain various lists of codes and numbers that are used in technical standards (protocols) which drive the internet. This includes things like DNS parameters, HTTP status codes and many other parameters that internet protocols use.

It's important to note that while IANA is the central coordination function, much of the actual administration and responsibility is distributed. For example, domain names are ultimately managed by a multitude of different registrars and registries, and IP addresses are managed by the RIRs and ISPs.

To function effectively, IANA works closely with various internet governance entities, including ICANN, all five of the regional internet registries (RIRs), and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), among others. These relationships are formalized through Memorandums of Understanding, established processes, and collaborative community governance structures. These ensure that IANA functions continue to support the smooth operation of the global internet.