Peering - moderntld/www.modernnic.net GitHub Wiki

Peering (in computer networking terminology) is the voluntary interconnection of two or more network resources for the purpose of exchanging traffic between the users of each network. For our purposes in the alt-root scene, we define peering as the agreed mutual resolution of top-level domains across 2 or more alternative DNS roots.

Peering with ModernNIC

There's 2 primary routes to having your TLD peered with ModernNIC resources:

Option 1: Joining ModernNIC

This is the option we'd likely recommend to new or relatively inexperienced TLD operators. Joining ModernNIC entails your organization going through a TLD Application process to join the ModernNIC board. ModernNIC does not operate like traditional alt-roots, where all TLDs are controlled by a single central entity: we encourage TLD operators to provide their own policies, structure, and administration. TLD operators operate in a mostly independent setting, with few (but, to be clear, not zero) policies from ModernNIC directly.

Your organization would exist as a subset of ModernNIC, and we would be able to take over operations on a technical level if you ever have to close operations, offering long-term support to your userbase you may acquire. This is especially ideal for new operators as it might place a bit more trust behind them if their network can prove to be reliable.

The constraints and limitations of ModernNIC policies and the application process might not be ideal for specific use-cases though, in which case there are other options. A good example of Option 1 would be ModernTLD.

Option 2: Manually Establishing Peering Agreements

If you operate an existing alternative DNS, or for whatever reason you cannot join ModernNIC, you can always attempt to establish a peering agreement with ModernTLD by proposing it on our mailing list for further discussion. Peers established and approved this way are not guaranteed to be peered across the entire network (for example, if ModernNIC peers with OpenNIC, and you establish peering with ModernNIC, you would not necessarily be a part of the OpenNIC network). For that to take effect you would also need to manually establish an agreement with OpenNIC (or any other alt-root) as well.